Dynasties in Chinese history

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 & 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 described 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 not any 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 BC	628+
Xià Dynasty	夏	xià	(H - E)	2100 BC — 1600 BC	470
Shang Dynasty	商	shāng	(H - E)	1600 BC — 1046 BC	554
Western Zhou Dynasty	西周	xī zhōu	(H - E)	1046 BC — 771 BC	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 BC — 256 BC 722 BC — 476 BC 475 BC — 221 BC	514 246 254
Qin Dynasty	秦	qín	(H - E)	221 BC — 206 BC	15
Western Han Dynasty	西漢	xī hàn	(H - E)	206 BC — AD 9	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

See also

• History of China
• Timeline of Chinese history
• Table of Chinese monarchs
• List of recipients of tribute from China
• List of tributaries of Imperial China
• Xia Shang Zhou Chronology Project
• Dynastic cycle

References

This article contains Chinese text. Without proper rendering support, you may see question marks, boxes, or other symbols instead of Chinese characters.

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

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