『휘찬여사』는 1639년 완성된 것으로 행장에서 적고 있으나 20여 년의 온축을 거친 사서이다. 『고려사』 「열전」의 차례와 비교하면 공주, 열녀 등 항목이 생략되고 대신 유학전, 탁행전, 행인전, 문원전 등이 들어갔다. 성리학의 원류 인물과 유학의 행실, 학문, 문장에 대해 증대된 관심이 반영되었다. 『고려사』와 비교하여 분량이 1/3에 불과하지만 「열전」의 경우에는 크게 줄이지 않았다. 『휘찬여사』에서는 고려 말 절의를 지킨 인물들을 현창하는 데서 보이듯이 왕조에 충성을 하는 것을 도덕적인 이상으로 간주하고 있다. 또한 유학이나 문원의 설정에서 보이듯이 유학자나 문장가들에게 대해서는 높이 평가를 하고 있다. 그리하여 무인집권기 권세에 기대거나 실절하였던 인물에 대해서는 비판적인 평가를 가하는 한편, 고려 말 왕조를 지키기 위한 노력을 기울인 문신과 유학자에 대해 긍정적으로 평가하고 있다. 인물의 활동에 대해서는 왕권의 강조, 왕의 신하를 함부로 죽인 것에 대한 비판, 신하의 간쟁 중시, 삼년상 등 유학적 질서의 준행 강조, 불교에 대한 배척, 대의를 중심한 평가, 실절한 인물에 대한 비판, 척화에 대한 적극적인 평가 등이 이루어졌다. 『고려사』와 비교하여 더욱 강화된 도덕적 잣대를 대고 있다. 홍여하는 조선 전기 『고려사』에서 미숙하게 적용되었던 춘추의 의례를 우리나라 역사에 본격적으로 도입하여 고려사를 새로이 보려고 하였다. 『휘찬여사』 「열전」은 조선 초기보다 엄격한 유교적 도덕률이 적용되었던 17세기 사상계의 흐름을 반영하고 있다.
The biography of Hong Yeoha states that the compilation of the Hwichanyeosa (彙纂麗史) was completed in 1639. However, it took about 20 years to compile this book. A comparison with the Biography 〈Yeoljeon〉 of the Goryeosa (高麗史) reveals that while Hong Yeoha’s book included sections dealing with Confucian scholars such the Yuhakjeon, Takhaengjeon, Hanginjeon and Munwonjeon, it did not include sections on Gongju (Princess) and Yeolnyeo (virtuous woman). This reflected the spread of Neo-Confucian ideology and the growing interest in Confucian scholars and Confucianism during the 17th century. Each entry of the Biography section included the principles of description at the beginning. The number of volumes in this book only amount to one-third of the volumes found in the Goryeosa. However, this number was rather significant when the comparison is limited to the Biography section. One central element of this book was the differences in the evaluations of historical figures from those found in the Goryeosa. While Hong Yeoha criticized those who clung to power, worshipped Buddhism, and did not maintain their integrity, he positively evaluated those who displayed integrity, morality, loyalty and Confucianism; a denouement that shows the strengthening of Neo-Confucianism based moral standards. Hong introduced Kim Bodang, who had revolted against the military regime of Goryeo, as an example to be followed; meanwhile, he criticized those who had flattered the military regime. Hong restored some of the individuals who had been identified as the disloyal subjects in the Goryeosa to the status of loyal subjects in the Biography of Famous Subjects. He also positively described figures that had opposed the formation of the Joseon dynasty such as Jeong Mongju, Yi Saek and Gil Jae from the standpoint of integrity. In terms of the activities of people, Hong evaluated people based on criteria such as the emphasis placed on royal authority, criticism of the killing of royal subjects, advice from royal subjects, compliance with Confucian order such as the three-year mourning period, the exclusion of Buddhism, righteousnessbased evaluations, criticism of those who did not maintain integrity, and affirmative attitudes toward Rejection for the other races. Hong Yeoha intended to view the history of Goryeo from the standpoint of righteousness by introducing the rites of 〈Spring and Autumn〉 to Korean history. In the description of history, Hong’s criticism involved the differentiating of the methods used to describe characters. He applied more rigid moral standards in his Biography than was the case in the Biography section of the Goryeosa. As such, the Biography of the Hwichanyeosa reflected the trend of thought during the 17th century, which featured more rigid Confucian morality than early Joseon.