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 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
Related articles  Chinese historiography Timeline of Chinese history Dynasties in Chinese history Linguistic history Art history Economic history Education history Science and technology history Legal history Media history Military history Naval history

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.

Chinese history is not as neat 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.

Dynasty				Rulers	Years
Three Sovereigns and the Five Emperors	三皇五帝	sān huáng wǔ dì	As English	(list)	2500-2070 BCE	???
Xia Dynasty	夏	xià	Summer	(list)	2070–1600 BCE	470
Shang Dynasty	商	shāng	Trade	(list)	1600–1029 BCE	554
Western Zhou Dynasty	西周	xī zhōu	Cycle / circuit (west)	(list)	1029–771 BCE	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 chūn qiū zhàn guó	Cycle / circuit (east)	(list) (list) (list)	770–256 BCE 722–476 BCE 475–221 BCE	514 246 254
Qin Dynasty	秦	qín	None	(list)	221–206 BCE	15
Western Han Dynasty	西漢 / 西汉	xī hàn	None	(list)	206 BCE–9 CE	215
Xin Dynasty	新	xīn	New	(list)	9–23	14
Eastern Han Dynasty	東漢 / 东汉	dōng hàn	None	(list)	25–220	195
Three Kingdoms	三國 / 三国	sān guó	As English	(list)	220–265	45
Western Jin Dynasty	西晉 / 西晋	xī jìn	Advance (west)	(list)	265–317	52
Eastern Jin Dynasty	東晉 / 东晋	dōng jìn	Advance (east)	(list)	317–420	103
Southern and Northern Dynasties	南北朝	nán běi cháo	As English	(list)	420–589	169
Sui Dynasty	隋	suí	None	(list)	581–618	37
Tang Dynasty	唐	táng	Boastful	(list)	618–907	289
Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms	五代十國 / 五代十国	wǔ dài shí guó	As English	(list)	907–960	53
Northern Song Dynasty	北宋	běi sòng	None	(list)	960–1127	167
Southern Song Dynasty	南宋	nán sòng	None	(list)	1127–1279	152
Liao Dynasty	遼 / 辽	liáo	Distant	(list)	916–1125	209
Jin Dynasty	金	jīn	Gold	(list)	1115–1234	119
Yuan Dynasty	元	yuán	Primary	(list)	1271–1368	97
Ming Dynasty	明	míng	Bright	(list)	1368–1644	276
Qing Dynasty	清	qīng	Pure	(list)	1644–1911	268

Timeline graph

See also

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

References

• 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.