Dynasties of China: Difference between revisions
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==Background== |
==Background== |
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It was rare for one dynasty to change peacefully into the next, since 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 [[Qing Dynasty]] armies [[Manchu conquest of China|completely subjugated]] loyalists of the preceding [[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. |
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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. |
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. In the [[Chinese historiography|Chinese historiographical]] tradition, each new dynasty [[Twenty-Four Histories|would write the history]] of the dynasty which preceded it. This cycle was disrupted, however, when the [[Xinhai Revolution]] overthrew the Qing Dynasty in favor of a [[Republic of China (1912–1949)|republic]]. Even [[Draft History of Qing|an attempt]] by Republicans to draft the history of the Qing was disrupted by the [[Chinese Civil War]], which resulted in the division of China into the [[People's Republic of China]] on [[mainland China]] and the [[Republic of China]] on [[Taiwan]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.chinapost.com.tw/commentary/the-china-post/joe-hung/2012/11/05/359927/p2/Chiang-Kai-shek.htm|title=Chiang Kai-shek and retrocession|date=November 5, 2012|accessdate=December 2, 2012|publisher=China Post|location=Taiwan|page=2}}</ref> |
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==Dynasties== |
==Dynasties== |
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Revision as of 21:34, 2 December 2012
| Part of a series on the |
| History of China |
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The following is a chronology of the dynasties in Chinese history.
Background
It was rare for one dynasty to change peacefully into the next, since 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 Qing Dynasty armies completely subjugated loyalists of the preceding 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. In the Chinese historiographical tradition, each new dynasty would write the history of the dynasty which preceded it. This cycle was disrupted, however, when the Xinhai Revolution overthrew the Qing Dynasty in favor of a republic. Even an attempt by Republicans to draft the history of the Qing was disrupted by the Chinese Civil War, which resulted in the division of China into the People's Republic of China on mainland China and the Republic of China on Taiwan.[1]
Dynasties
| Dynasty | Rulers | Ruling House or Clan | Years | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Chinese | Pinyin | Meaning | ||||
| Three Sovereigns and the Five Emperors | 三皇五帝 | Sān Huáng Wǔ Dì | As English | (list) | various | 2852[2]-2070 BC | 782 |
| Xia Dynasty | 夏 | Xià | Unknown, Possibly Toponym | (list) | Sì (姒) | 2070–1600 BC | 470 |
| Shang Dynasty | 商 | Shāng | Toponym | (list) | Zǐ (子) | 1600–1029 BC | 571 |
| Western Zhou Dynasty | 西周 | Xī Zhōu | Toponym | (list) | Jī (姬) | 1029–771 BC | 275 |
| Eastern Zhou Dynasty Traditionally divided into |
東周 / 东周
|
Dōng Zhōu Chūnqiū |
Toponym
|
(list) |
Jī (姬)
|
770–256 BC
|
514
|
| Qin Dynasty | 秦 | Qín | Unknown, Possibly Toponym | (list) | Yíng (嬴) | 221–206 BC | 15 |
| Western Han Dynasty | 西漢 / 西汉 | Xī Hàn | Toponym | (list) | Liú (劉 / 刘) | 206 or 202 BC–9 AD, 23-25 AD | 215 |
| Xin Dynasty | 新 | Xīn | "New" | (list) | Wáng (王) | 9–23 AD | 14 |
| Eastern Han Dynasty | 東漢 / 东汉 | Dōng Hàn | Toponym | (list) | Liú (劉 / 刘) | 25–220 | 195 |
| Three Kingdoms | 三國 / 三国 | Sān Guó | As English | (list) | Cáo (曹) Liú (劉 / 刘) Sūn (孫 / 孙) |
220–265 or 280 | 45 |
| Western Jin Dynasty | 西晉 / 西晋 | Xī Jìn | Ducal title | (list) | Sīmǎ (司馬 / 司马) | 265–317 | 52 |
| Eastern Jin Dynasty | 東晉 / 东晋 | Dōng Jìn | Ducal title | (list) | Sīmǎ (司馬 / 司马) | 317–420 | 103 |
| Southern and Northern Dynasties | 南北朝 | Nán Běi Cháo | As English | (list) | various | 386 or 420–589 | 169 |
| Sui Dynasty | 隋 | Suí | Ducal title (随 homophone) |
(list) | Yáng (楊 / 杨) | 581–618 | 37 |
| Tang Dynasty | 唐 | Táng | Ducal title | (list) | Lǐ (李) | 618–907 | 289 |
| Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms | 五代十國 / 五代十国 | Wǔ Dài Shí Guó | As English | (list) | various | 907–960 | 53 |
| Northern Song Dynasty | 北宋 | Běi Sòng | Toponym | (list) | Zhào (趙 / 赵) | 960–1127 | 167 |
| Southern Song Dynasty | 南宋 | Nán Sòng | Toponym | (list) | Zhào (趙 / 赵) | 1127–1279 | 152 |
| Liao Dynasty | 遼 / 辽 | Liáo | "Vast" or "Iron" (Khitan homophone) |
(list) | Yelü ( ; 耶律)
|
907 or 916–1125 | 209 |
| Jin Dynasty | 金 | Jīn | "Gold" | (list) | Wanggiyan (  ; 完顏 / 完颜)
|
1115–1234 | 119 |
| Western Xia | 西夏 | Xī Xià | Toponym | (list) | Li ( ; 李)
|
1038–1227 | 189 |
| Yuan Dynasty | 元 | Yuán | "Great" or "Primacy" | (list) | Borjigin (ᠪᠣᠷᠵᠢᠭᠢᠨ; 孛兒只斤 / 孛儿只斤) |
1271–1368 | 97 |
| Ming Dynasty | 明 | Míng | "Bright" | (list) | Zhū (朱) | 1368–1644 or 1662 | 276 |
| Qing Dynasty | 清 | Qīng | "Pure" or "Gold" (Manchu homophone) |
(list) | Aisin Gioro (ᠠᡳᠰᡳᠨ ᡤᡳᠣᡵᠣ; 愛新覺羅 / 爱新觉罗) |
1636 or 1644–1911 | 268 |
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
Notes
- ^ "Chiang Kai-shek and retrocession". Taiwan: China Post. November 5, 2012. p. 2. Retrieved December 2, 2012.
- ^ Hucker, Charles (1995). China's Imperial Past: An Introduction to Chinese History and Culture. Stanford University Press. p. 22. ISBN 9780804723534.
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.