History of China
History of China
ANCIENT
3 Sovereigns and 5 Emperors
Xia Dynasty 2100–1600 BC
Shang Dynasty 1600–1046 BC
Zhou Dynasty 1045–256 BC
 Western Zhou
 Eastern Zhou
   Spring and Autumn Period
   Warring States Period
IMPERIAL
Qin Dynasty 221 BC–206 BC
Han Dynasty 206 BC–220 AD
  Western Han
  Xin Dynasty
  Eastern Han
Three Kingdoms 220–280
  Wei, Shu and Wu
Jin Dynasty 265–420
  Western Jin 16 Kingdoms
304–439
  Eastern Jin
Southern and Northern Dynasties
420–589
Sui Dynasty 581–618
Tang Dynasty 618–907
  (Second Zhou 690–705)
5 Dynasties and
10 Kingdoms

907–960
Liao Dynasty
907–1125
Song Dynasty
960–1279
  Northern Song W. Xia
  Southern Song Jin
Yuan Dynasty 1271–1368
Ming Dynasty 1368–1644
Qing Dynasty 1644–1911
MODERN
Republic of China 1912–1949
People's Republic
of China

1949–present
Republic of
China (Taiwan)

1949–present
Territories occupied by different dynasties as well as modern political states throughout the history of China

The following is a chronology of the dynasties in Chinese history.

Contents

Background [link]

Chinese history is not as tidy[clarification needed] as is often described and it was rare for one dynasty to change peacefully into the next. Dynasties were often established before the overthrow of an existing regime, or continued for a time after they had been defeated. For example, the conventional date 1644 marks the year in which the Manchu Qing dynasty armies occupied Beijing and brought Qing rule to China proper, succeeding the Ming dynasty. However, the Qing dynasty itself was established in 1636 (or even 1616, albeit under a different name), while the last Ming dynasty pretender was not deposed until 1662. This change of ruling houses was a messy and prolonged affair, and the Qing took almost twenty years to extend their control over the whole of China. It is therefore inaccurate to assume China changed suddenly and all at once in the year 1644.

In addition, China was divided for long periods of its history, with different regions being ruled by different groups. At times like these, there was not any single dynasty ruling a unified China. As a case in point, there is much dispute about times in and after the Western Zhou period.

Dynasties [link]

Dynasty Rulers Ruling House or Clan Years
Three Sovereigns and the Five Emperors 三皇五帝 Sān Huáng Wǔ Dì As English (list) various 2500-2070 BC 430
Xia Dynasty Xià Unknown, Possibly Toponym (list) (姒) 2070–1600 BC 470
Shang Dynasty Shāng Toponym (list) (子) 1600–1029 BC 571
Western Zhou Dynasty 西周 Xī Zhōu Toponym (list) (姬) 1029–771 BC 275
Eastern Zhou Dynasty

Traditionally divided into
Spring and Autumn Period
Warring States Period

東周 / 东周


春秋
戰國 / 战国

Dōng Zhōu

Chūnqiū
Zhànguó

Toponym


"Histories"
(literally "Spring and Autumns")
"Warring States"

(list)


(list)
(list)

(姬)


various

770–256 BC


722–476 BC
475–221 BC

514


246
254

Qin Dynasty Qín Unknown, Possibly Toponym (list) Yíng (嬴) 221–206 BC 15
Western Han Dynasty 西漢 / 西汉 Xī Hàn Toponym (list) Liú (劉 / 刘) 206 or 202 BC–9 AD, 23-25 AD 215
Xin Dynasty Xīn "New" (list) Wáng (王) 9–23 AD 14
Eastern Han Dynasty 東漢 / 东汉 Dōng Hàn Toponym (list) Liú (劉 / 刘) 25–220 195
Three Kingdoms 三國 / 三国 Sān Guó As English (list) Cáo (曹)
Liú (劉 / 刘)
Sūn (孫 / 孙)
220–265 or 280 45
Western Jin Dynasty 西晉 / 西晋 Xī Jìn Ducal title (list) Sīmǎ (司馬 / 司马) 265–317 52
Eastern Jin Dynasty 東晉 / 东晋 Dōng Jìn Ducal title (list) Sīmǎ (司馬 / 司马) 317–420 103
Southern and Northern Dynasties 南北朝 Nán Běi Cháo As English (list) various 386 or 420–589 169
Sui Dynasty Suí Ducal title
(随 homophone)
(list) Yáng (楊 / 杨) 581–618 37
Tang Dynasty Táng Ducal title (list) (李) 618–907 289
Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms 五代十國 / 五代十国 Wǔ Dài Shí Guó As English (list) various 907–960 53
Northern Song Dynasty 北宋 Běi Sòng Toponym (list) Zhào (趙 / 赵) 960–1127 167
Southern Song Dynasty 南宋 Nán Sòng Toponym (list) Zhào (趙 / 赵) 1127–1279 152
Liao Dynasty 遼 / 辽 Liáo "Vast" or "Iron"
(Khitan homophone)
(list) Yelü (Ei.ra.u.ud.svg; 耶律) 907 or 916–1125 209
Jin Dynasty Jīn "Gold" (list) Wanggiyan
(Wo-on gia-an.png; 完顏 / 完颜)
1115–1234 119
Western Xia 西夏 Xī Xià Toponym (list) Lie (Tangut Lie.png; 李) 1038–1227 189
Yuan Dynasty Yuán "Great" or "Primacy" (list) Borjigin
(ᠪᠣᠷᠵᠢᠭᠢᠨ; 孛兒只斤 / 孛儿只斤)
1271–1368 97
Ming Dynasty Míng "Bright" (list) Zhū (朱) 1368–1644 or 1662 276
Qing Dynasty Qīng "Pure" or "Gold"
(Manchu homophone)
(list) Aisin Gioro
(ᠠᡳᠰᡳᠨ ᡤᡳᠣᡵᠣ; 愛新覺羅 / 爱新觉罗)
1636 or 1644–1911 268
Timeline graph

See also [link]

References [link]

  • China Handbook Editorial Committee, China Handbook Series: History (trans., Dun J. Li), Beijing, 1982, 188-89; and Shao Chang Lee, "China Cultural Development" (wall chart), East Lansing, 1984.

https://wn.com/Dynasties_in_Chinese_history

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