Dynasties in Chinese history

History of China
History of China
ANCIENT
3 Sovereigns and 5 Emperors
Xia Dynasty 2100–1600 BCE
Shang Dynasty 1600–1046 BCE
Zhou Dynasty 1122–256 BCE
  Western Zhou
  Eastern Zhou
    Spring and Autumn Period
    Warring States Period
IMPERIAL
Qin Dynasty 221 BCE–206 BCE
Han Dynasty 206 BCE–220 CE
  Western Han
  Xin Dynasty
  Eastern Han
Three Kingdoms 220–280
  Wei, Shu & Wu
Jin Dynasty 265–420
  Western Jin 16 Kingdoms 304–439
  Eastern Jin
Southern & Northern Dynasties 420–589
Sui Dynasty 581–618
Tang Dynasty 618–907
  ( Second Zhou 690–705 )
5 Dynasties &
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 (Mainland China) 1949–present

Republic of China
(Taiwan)
1945–present
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The following is a chronology of the dynasties in Chinese history. In reality, Chinese history is rarely as neat as it is portrayed and it was rare indeed for one dynasty to end calmly and give way quickly and smoothly to a new one. Dynasties were often established before the overthrow of an existing regime, or continued for a time after they had been defeated.

In addition, China was divided for long periods of its history, with different regions being ruled over by different groups. At times like these, there was no dynasty ruling a unified China. As a case in point, there is much dispute about times in and after the Western Zhou period. One example of the potential for confusion will suffice:

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 disposed of until 1662. The 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 changes all at once in the year 1644.

For more details on the dynasties listed here and their emperors, follow the relevant links in the table. Click on H for the history of the dynasty, and E for a table of its emperors (or other rulers).

Chronology of dynasties

Dynasty Links Years
Three Sovereign Ones and the Five Emperors 三皇五帝 sān huáng wǔ dì (H - E) before 2070 BCE 628+
Xià Dynasty 夏 xià (H - E) 2100 BCE — 1600 BCE 470
Shang Dynasty 商 shāng (H - E) 1600 BCE — 1046 BCE 554
Western Zhou Dynasty 西周 xī zhōu (H - E) 1046 BCE — 771 BCe 275
Eastern Zhou Dynasty

Traditionally divided into
Spring and Autumn Period
Warring States Period

 東周

春秋
戰國

 dōng zhōu

chūn qiū
zhàn guó

 (H - E)

(H - E)
(H - E)

 770 BCE — 256 BCE

722 BCE — 476 BC
475 BCE — 221 BCE

 514

246
254
Qin Dynasty 秦 qín (H - E) 221 BCE — 206 BCE 15
Western Han Dynasty 西漢 xī hàn (H - E) 206 BCE — 9 CE 215
Xin Dynasty 新 xīn (H - E) 9 — 23 14
Eastern Han Dynasty 東漢 dōng hàn (H - E) 25 — 220 195
Three Kingdoms 三國 sān guó (H - E) 220 — 265 45
Western Jin Dynasty 西晉 xī jìn (H - E) 265 — 317 52
Eastern Jin Dynasty 東晉 dōng jìn (H - E) 317 — 420 103
Southern and Northern Dynasties 南北朝 nán běi cháo (H - E) 420 — 589 169
Sui Dynasty 隋 suí (H - E) 581 - 618 37
Tang Dynasty 唐 táng (H - E) 618 — 907 289
Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms 五代十國 wǔ dài shí guó (H - E) 907 — 960 53
Northern Song Dynasty 北宋 běi sòng (H - E) 960 — 1127 167
Southern Song Dynasty 南宋 nán sòng (H - E) 1127 — 1279 152
Liao Dynasty 遼 liáo (H - E) 916 — 1125 209
Jin Dynasty 金 jīn (H - E) 1115 — 1234 119
Yuan Dynasty 元 yuán (H - E) 1271 — 1368 97
Ming Dynasty 明 míng (H - E) 1368 — 1644 276
Shun Dynasty 順 shùn (H - E)
1644
 <1
Qing Dynasty 清 qīng (H - E) 1644 — 1912 268
Timeline graph (also available in SVG)
Timeline graph (also available in SVG)

See also

References