《明史·志·卷二十六》
六年，皇帝以五帝、三王以及汉、唐、宋创立帝业的君主，都应在京城设庙祭祀，于是在钦天山的南面建历代帝王庙。
六年，帝以五帝、三王及汉、唐、宋创业之君，俱宜于京师立庙致祭，遂建历代帝王庙于钦天山之阳。
In the sixth year, the emperor ordered that the five emperors, three kings, and the monarchs who established the imperial enterprise of Han, Tang and Song should be worshipped in temples in the capital, so the Temple of Past Emperors was built on the south side of Qintianshan.