diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 13410220b..d5864184c 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -14,8 +14,7 @@ from Google.
 Jujutsu is a Git-compatible
 [DVCS](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Distributed_version_control). It combines
 features from Git (data model, speed), Mercurial (anonymous branching, simple
-CLI free from "the index",
-[revsets](https://www.mercurial-scm.org/repo/hg/help/revsets)), and Pijul/Darcs
+CLI free from "the index", [revsets](docs/revsets.md)), and Pijul/Darcs
 (first-class conflicts), with features not found in either of them
 (working-copy-as-a-commit, undo functionality, automatic rebase).
 
diff --git a/docs/revsets.md b/docs/revsets.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..ffdc49c33
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/revsets.md
@@ -0,0 +1,138 @@
+# Revsets
+
+Jujutsu supports a functional language for selecting a set of revisions.
+Expressions in this language are called "revsets" (the idea comes from
+[Mercurial](https://www.mercurial-scm.org/repo/hg/help/revsets)). The language
+consists of symbols, operators, and functions.
+
+Most `jj` commands accept a revset (or multiple). Many commands, such as
+`jj diff -r <revset>` expect the revset to resolve to a single commit; it is
+an error to pass a revset that resolves to more than one commit (or zero
+commits) to such commands.
+
+The words "revisions" and "commits" are used interchangeably in this document.
+
+The commits listed by `jj log` without arguments are called "visible commits".
+Other commits are only included if you explicitly mention them (e.g. by commit
+ID or a Git ref pointing to them).
+
+
+## Symbols
+
+The symbol `root` refers to the virtual commit that is the oldest ancestor of
+all other commits.
+
+The symbol `@` refers to the working copy commit in the current workspace (
+Jujutsu supports only one workspace per repo
+[so far](https://github.com/martinvonz/jj/issues/13)).
+
+A full commit ID refers to a single commit. A unique prefix of the full commit
+ID can also be used. It is an error to use a non-unique prefix.
+
+A full change ID refers to all visible commits with that change ID (there is
+typically only one visible commit with a given change ID). A unique prefix of
+the full change ID can also be used. It is an error to use a non-unique prefix.
+
+Use double quotes to prevent a symbol from being interpreted as an expression.
+For example, `"x-1"` is the symbol `x-1`, not the parents of symbol `x`.
+Taking shell quoting into account, you may need to use something like
+`jj log -r '"x-1"'`.
+
+### Priority
+
+Jujutsu attempts to resolve a symbol in the following order:
+
+1. `@`
+2. `root`
+3. Tag name
+4. Branch name
+5. Git ref
+6. Commit ID
+7. Change ID
+
+
+## Operators
+
+The following operators are supported. `x` and `y` below can be any revset, not
+only symbols.
+
+* `x & y`: Revisions that are in both `x` and `y`.
+* `x | y`: Revisions that are in either `x` or `y` (or both).
+* `x ~ y`: Revisions that are in `x` but not in `y`.
+* `x-`: Parents of `x`.
+* `x+`: Children of `x`.
+* `:x`: Ancestors of `x`, including the commits in `x` itself.
+* `x:`: Descendants of `x`, including the commits in `x` itself.
+* `x:y`: Descendants of `x` that are also ancestors of `y`, both inclusive.
+  Equivalent to `x: & :y`. This is what `git log` calls `--ancestry-path x..y`.
+* `x..y`: Ancestors of `y` that are not also ancestors of `x`, both inclusive.
+  Equivalent to `:y ~ :x`. This is what `git log` calls `x..y` (i.e. the same as
+  we call it).
+
+You can use parentheses to control evaluation order, such as `(x & y) | z` or
+`x & (y | z)`.
+
+
+## Functions
+
+You can also specify revisions by using functions. Some functions take other
+revsets (expressions) as arguments.
+
+* `parents(x)`: Same as `x-`.
+* `children(x)`: Same as `x+`.
+* `ancestors(x)`: Same as `:x`.
+* `descendants(x)`: Same as `x:`.
+* `all()`: All visible commits in the repo.
+* `none()`: No commits. This function is rarely useful; it is provided for
+  completeness.
+* `branches()`: All local branch targets. If a branch is in a conflicted state,
+  all its possible targets are included.
+* `remote_branches()`: All remote branch targets across all remotes. If a
+  branch is in a conflicted state, all its possible targets are included.
+* `tags()`: All tag targets. If a tag is in a conflicted state, all its
+  possible targets are included.
+* `git_refs()`:  All Git ref targets as of the last import. If a Git ref
+  is in a conflicted state, all its possible targets are included.
+* `git_head()`: The Git `HEAD` target as of the last import.
+* `heads([x])`: Commits in `x` that are not ancestors of other commits in `x`.
+  If `x` was not specified, it selects all visible heads (as if you had said
+  `heads(all())`).
+* `merges([x])`: Merge commits within `x`. If `x` was not specified, it selects
+  all visible merge commits (as if you had said `merges(all())`).
+* `description(needle[, x])`: Commits with the given string in their
+  description. If a second argument was provided, then only commits in that set
+  are considered, otherwise all visible commits are considered.
+
+
+## Examples
+
+Show the parent(s) of the working copy commit (like `git log -1 HEAD`):
+```
+jj log -r @-
+```
+
+Show commits not on any remote branch:
+```
+jj log -r 'remote_branches()..all()'
+```
+
+Show all ancestors of the working copy (almost like plain `git log`)
+```
+jj log -r :@
+```
+
+Show the initial commits in the repo (the ones Git calls "root commits"):
+```
+jj log -r root+
+```
+
+Show some important commits (like `git --simplify-by-decoration`):
+```
+jj log -r 'tags() | branches()'
+```
+
+Show local commits leading up to the working copy, as well as descendants of
+those commits:
+```
+jj log -r '(remote_branches()..@):'
+```