Dynasties in Chinese history

Territories occupied by different dynasties as well as modern political states throughout the history of China

Many Chinese dynasties have ruled the country during its history. China is a society which has had a very long history. This history was affected by the dynasties which have ruled it. They have slowly changed China into its current form.

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	2852-2070 BC	782
Xia Dynasty	夏	Xià	Summer	(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 Spring and Autumn Period Warring States Period	東周 / 东周 春秋 戰國 / 战国	Dōng Zhōu Chūnqiū Zhànguó	Toponym "Histories" (literally "Spring and Autumns") "Warring States"	(list) (list) (list)	Jī (姬) various	770–256 BC 722–476 BC 475–221 BC	514 246 254
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
Kingdom of Dali	大理国	Dàlǐ Guó	Toponym	(list)	Duan (段)	937–1253	316
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

Timeline graph

Xia dynasty

The Xia dynasty lasted from 2070 BC until 1600 BC. It was the first ruling dynasty in Chinese history. The Xia was probably created by emperor Yu the Great. It is not known for certain if the Xia dynasty actually existed. Many people think that the Xia dynasty is only a legend. This is because there is no evidence that can prove that there was some dynasty before 1600 BC. There were found some archaeological excavations from 1500 BC which may come from the Xia dynasty. For example one of the excavations causes archaeologists to believe that the foundations of China were created during the Xia dynasty. Also there are findings of the oldest Chinese calendar called a lunar calendar. Xia dynasty was ended by a dynasty named Shang.

Shang dynasty

The Shang dynasty lasted from 1600 BC until 1046 BC. It started when Tang took control from the last Xia emperor, Jie. The dynasty ended with the suicide of Di Xin.

The Shang dynasty was important for Chinese culture. The first Chinese character fonts were created at this time. They were mainly used by seers and shaman. People made their own ritual vessels, agricultural and craft tools and even weapons. Everything was made of cast bronze.

In agriculture, millets, wheats and rice were the main crops. Mulberries were also grown. They were used to feed mulberry silkworms.

Zhou dynasty

The Zhou dynasty lasted from 1045 BC until 256 BC. The Shangs had became weak because they were always fighting with a neighboring tribes. This was good for the less advanced Zhou. They defeat the Shang in the current town of An-yang. After that, the Zhou dynasty took the government. They ruled for the longest time of all Chinese dynasties.

Zhous were nomadic shepherds from the Shanxi province. The rulers of Zhou dynasty divided the country into four smaller areas. Each of these areas were controlled by relatives and members of aristocracy. Princes controlled fortified towns with a peasant background. They also helped the rulers at times of war. This form of government allowed the Zhou rulers to control more area.

Dynasties In Chinese History Media

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  A depiction of Yu, the initiator of dynastic rule in China, by the Southern Song court painter Ma Lin.

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  An illustration of the Battle of Shanhai Pass, a decisive battle fought during the Ming–Qing transition. The victorious Qing dynasty extended its rule into China proper thereafter.

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  A photograph of the Xuantong Emperor, widely considered to be the last legitimate monarch of China, taken in AD 1922.

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  Imperial seal of the Qing dynasty with "<span title=" transliteration" class="Unicode" style="white-space:normal; text-decoration: none">Dà Qīng Dìguó zhī xǐ" (大清帝國之璽; "Seal of the Great Qing Empire") rendered in seal script. Seals were a symbol of political authority and legitimacy.

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  A German map of the Chinese Empire during the height of the Qing dynasty. The Qing dynasty is considered to be a "Central Plain dynasty", a "unified dynasty", and a "conquest dynasty".

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  Approximate territories controlled by the various dynasties and states throughout Chinese history, juxtaposed with the modern Chinese borders.

Notes

This article contains Chinese text. Without the correct software, you may see question marks, boxes, or other symbols instead of Chinese characters.

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.

Other websites

• Columbia University. Dynasties song sung to the tune of "Frère Jacques" that repeats the major Chinese dynasties in chronological order.