Dynasties of China

Approximate territories occupied by the various dynasties and states throughout the history of China.

The following is a chronology of the dynasties in Chinese history.

Background

It was rare for one dynasty to change peacefully into the next (as is said in ancient stories), since dynasties were often established before the overthrow of an existing reign, 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.

Dynasties

Dynasty				Rulers	Ruling House or clan of houses	Years
Name	Chinese	Pinyin	Meaning
Xia dynasty	夏	Xià		(list)	Sì (姒)	2070–1600 BC	470
Shang dynasty	商	Shāng	Toponym	(list)	Zǐ (子)	1600–1046 BC	571
Western Zhou dynasty	西周	Xī Zhōu	Toponym	(list)	Jī (姬)	1046–771 BC	275
Eastern Zhou dynasty	東周 / 东周	Dōng Zhōu	Toponym	(list)	Jī (姬)	770–256 BC	514
Spring and Autumn period	春秋	Chūn Qiū	As English			771-476 BC	295
Warring States period	戰國 / 战国	Zhàn Guó	As English			476-221 BC	255
Qin dynasty	秦	Qín	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	Traditional: 五代十國 / Simplified: 五代十国	Wǔ Dài Shí Guó	As English	(list)	various	907–960	53
Kingdom of Dali	大理国	Dà Lǐ 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"	(list)	Aisin Gioro ( ᠠᡳᠰᡳᠨ ᡤᡳᠣᡵᠣ}; 愛新覺羅 / 爱新觉罗)	1636 or 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.

External links

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