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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 & 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
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 not as neat as is often 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 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. One example of the potential for confusion will suffice:

This 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.

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 Sovereigns and the Five Emperors 三皇五帝 sān huáng wǔ dì (H - E) before 2070 BC 628+
Xià Dynasty 夏 xià (H - E) 2070 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 — 1911 268
Empire of China (Yuan Shikai)
[1912-1916]
<1
Timeline graph

See also

References

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