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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 |
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Song Dynasty 960–1279 |
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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 |
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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).
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 |
東周
春秋 |
dōng zhōu
chūn qiū |
(H - E) |
770 BCE — 256 BCE
722 BCE — 476 BC |
514
246 |
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) |
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Qing Dynasty | 清 | qīng | (H - E) | 1644 — 1912 | 268 |