PRINCIPAL CHINESE DYNASTIES AND PERIODS

Hsia (not fully verified)

c. 2100–c. 1600 B.C.E

Shang or Yin (largely verified)

c. 1600–c. 1028

Chou

c. 1027–256

Western Chou

c. 1100–771

Eastern Chou

c. 770–256

  Spring and Autumn period

722–468

  Warring States period

403–221

Ch’in

221–207

Han

206 B.C.E.–220 C.E.

Western or Former Han

206 B.C.E.–8 C.E.

Hsin (New)

9–23

Liu Hsüan (Han)

23–25

Eastern or Later Han

25–220

Three Kingdoms

220–265

Wei (North China)

220–265

Shu (Szechwan)

221–263

Wu (Lower Yangtze Valley)

222–280

Chin

265–420

Western Chin

265–316

Eastern Chin

317–420

Southern and Northern Dynasties

420–589

Sixteen Kingdoms (North China)

304–439

Northern Dynasties1

386–581

  Northern Wei (Tabgatch)

386–534

  Eastern Wei

534–550

  Western Wei

535–557

  Northern Ch’i

550–577

  Northern Chou

557–581

Southern Dynasties2

420–589

Sung (Former or Liu)

420–479

Ch’i

479–502

Liang

502–557

Ch’en

557–589

Sui

581–618

T’ang

618–684, 705–907

Chou (Empress Wu)

684–705

Five Dynasties3

907–960

Later Liang

907–923

Later T’ang

923–936

Later Chin

936–946

Later Han

947–950

Later Chou

951–960

Sung (Later or Chao)

960–1279

Northern Sung

960–1127

Southern Sung

1127–1279

Liao (Khitan)

916–1125

Western Liao

1125–1201

Western Hsia (Tangut)

1032–1227

Chin (Jürchen)

1115–1234

Yüan (Mongol)

1260–1368

Ming

1368–1644

Ch’ing (Manchu)

1644–1911 C.E.

 

Note: B.C.E. and C.E. stand for Before the Common Era and the Common Era. They coincide with B.C. and A.D.

1. The Northern Dynasties were dominated by rnorn-Simtic groups.

2. Wu and Eastern Chin plus the Southern Dynasties are collectively known as the Six Dynasties.

3. The Five Dynasties, dominated by non-Sinitic peoples, coexisted with a series of smaller and even more ephemeral Ten Kingdoms.