≈ 2070 BCE – ≈ 1600 BCE
Xia夏
Traditional early dynasty. The dates are approximate, and its identification with archaeological cultures remains debated.
Chinese dynasties by year
Find dynasties and concurrent states by year, period or name.
Results 79
Transition years may match more than one entry. Early dates marked ≈ are approximate; periods can overlap dynasties.
≈ 1600 BCE – 1046 BCE
Shang商
Bronze Age dynasty known for oracle-bone inscriptions. Its founding date is approximate.
≈ 1046 BCE – 771 BCE
Western Zhou西周
Zhou rule before the court moved east in 770 BCE. The early chronology uses an estimated founding year.
770 BCE – 476 BCE
Spring and Autumn春秋
Historical period during Eastern Zhou. This chronology uses 770–476 BCE; other periodizations use different boundaries.
770 BCE – 256 BCE
Eastern Zhou东周
Zhou royal court at Luoyang; the royal line ended in 256 BCE, before the Warring States period ended.
475 BCE – 221 BCE
Warring States战国
Period of competing states, here dated 475–221 BCE. It continued after the Zhou royal line ended.
221 BCE – 206 BCE
Qin秦
First unified imperial dynasty.
206 BCE – 9 CE
Western Han西汉
Han from Liu Bang’s kingship in 206 BCE; imperial rule from 202 BCE. Wang Mang took power in 9 CE.
9 CE – 23 CE
Xin新
Founded by Wang Mang.
23 CE – 25 CE
Gengshi更始
Han restoration under the Gengshi Emperor.
25 CE – 220 CE
Eastern Han东汉
Han restored with its capital at Luoyang.
220 CE – 265 CE
Cao Wei曹魏
One of the Three Kingdoms.
221 CE – 263 CE
Shu Han蜀汉
One of the Three Kingdoms.
222 CE – 280 CE
Eastern Wu东吴
One of the Three Kingdoms.
265 CE – 316 CE
Western Jin西晋
Jin before the court moved south.
301 CE – 376 CE
Former Liang前凉
Zhang-family rule in the Hexi region, counted from Zhang Gui’s appointment in 301; later royal titles give other starting dates.
304 CE – 439 CE
Sixteen Kingdoms十六国时期
Period of concurrent states in northern China and Sichuan; the sixteen states are listed separately.
304 CE – 329 CE
Han Zhao (Former Zhao)汉赵（前赵）
Liu Yuan founded Han in 304; Liu Yao changed its name to Zhao in 319.
304 CE – 347 CE
Cheng Han成汉
Li-family state in Sichuan: Cheng from 304, renamed Han in 338; Eastern Jin conquered it in 347.
317 CE – 420 CE
Eastern Jin东晋
Jin court south of the Yangtze.
319 CE – 351 CE
Later Zhao后赵
Shi Le’s state in northern China, distinct from Liu-family Han Zhao.
337 CE – 370 CE
Former Yan前燕
Murong-family state, counted from Murong Huang’s royal title in 337; conquered by Former Qin.
350 CE – 352 CE
Ran Wei冉魏
Ran Min’s short-lived state at Ye. Contemporary with the Sixteen Kingdoms but outside the conventional list of sixteen.
351 CE – 395 CE
Former Qin前秦
Fu-family state established in 351. The final phase is dated to 395 here; some tables end it in 394.
384 CE – 394 CE
Western Yan西燕
Murong-family state in the west, separate from Later Yan and outside the conventional sixteen-state list.
384 CE – 407 CE
Later Yan后燕
Murong Chui’s state. This chronology ends it with Gao Yun’s accession in 407; some tables use 409.
384 CE – 417 CE
Later Qin后秦
Yao-family state centred on Chang’an, conquered by Liu Yu’s Eastern Jin forces in 417.
385 CE – 400 CE / 409 CE – 431 CE
Western Qin西秦
Qifu-family state. It submitted to Later Qin in 400 and was restored in 409.
386 CE – 403 CE
Later Liang (Sixteen Kingdoms)后凉
Lü-family state in the Hexi region; distinct from Later Liang of the Five Dynasties.
386 CE – 534 CE
Northern Wei北魏
One of the Northern Dynasties.
397 CE – 414 CE
Southern Liang南凉
Tufa-family state in the northwest; distinct from the Liang dynasty south of the Yangtze.
397 CE – 439 CE
Northern Liang北凉
Hexi state founded under Duan Ye in 397; the Juqu family took power in 401. Northern Wei conquered its core territory in 439.
398 CE – 410 CE
Southern Yan南燕
Murong De’s state, centred on present-day Shandong; conquered by Eastern Jin in 410.
400 CE – 421 CE
Western Liang西凉
Li Gao’s state in the western Hexi corridor; its final stronghold fell in 421.
407 CE – 431 CE
Xia (Helian)胡夏
Helian Bobo’s state based at Tongwancheng, distinct from the ancient Xia and the later Tangut Western Xia.
407 CE – 436 CE
Northern Yan北燕
Yan state counted from Gao Yun’s accession in 407; the Feng family ruled from 409.
420 CE – 479 CE
Liu Song刘宋
One of the Southern Dynasties.
479 CE – 502 CE
Southern Qi南齐
One of the Southern Dynasties.
502 CE – 557 CE
Liang梁
One of the Southern Dynasties.
534 CE – 550 CE
Eastern Wei东魏
One of the Northern Dynasties.
535 CE – 557 CE
Western Wei西魏
One of the Northern Dynasties.
550 CE – 577 CE
Northern Qi北齐
One of the Northern Dynasties.
555 CE – 587 CE
Western Liang (Southern Dynasties)西梁（后梁）
Xiao-family court at Jiangling under northern protection; distinct from the Five Dynasties’ Later Liang.
557 CE – 581 CE
Northern Zhou北周
One of the Northern Dynasties.
557 CE – 589 CE
Chen陈
One of the Southern Dynasties.
581 CE – 618 CE
Sui隋
Reunified north and south in 589.
618 CE – 690 CE / 705 CE – 907 CE
Tang唐
Interrupted by Wu Zhou, 690–705.
690 CE – 705 CE
Wu Zhou武周
Wu Zetian’s Zhou dynasty.
738 CE – 902 CE
Nanzhao南诏
Southwestern kingdom, counted from the unification of the six zhao in 738.
902 CE – 979 CE
Ten Kingdoms十国时期
Ten regional states from Wu’s foundation in 902 to Northern Han’s fall in 979.
902 CE – 937 CE
Wu (Yang Wu)吴（杨吴）
Yang-family state, counted from Yang Xingmi’s title as King of Wu in 902; replaced by Southern Tang.
907 CE – 923 CE
Later Liang后梁
One of the Five Dynasties.
907 CE – 925 CE
Former Shu前蜀
Wang-family state centred on Chengdu, conquered by Later Tang in 925.
907 CE – 951 CE
Chu (Ma Chu)楚（马楚）
Ma-family state in Hunan. Ma Yin became King of Chu in 907; the formal kingdom was established in 927.
907 CE – 978 CE
Wuyue吴越
Qian-family state centred on Hangzhou; its territory was ceded to Song in 978.
909 CE – 945 CE
Min闽
Wang-family state in Fujian, counted from the title King of Min in 909; its imperial title began in 933.
916 CE – 1125 CE
Liao辽
Khitan dynasty; imperial title from 916.
917 CE – 971 CE
Southern Han南汉
Liu-family state in the Lingnan region, counted from the imperial proclamation of 917.
923 CE – 936 CE
Later Tang后唐
One of the Five Dynasties.
924 CE – 963 CE
Jingnan (Nanping)荆南（南平）
Gao-family state centred on Jiangling, also called Nanping; absorbed by Song in 963.
934 CE – 965 CE
Later Shu后蜀
Meng-family state centred on Chengdu; distinct from Former Shu and conquered by Song in 965.
936 CE – 947 CE
Later Jin后晋
One of the Five Dynasties.
937 CE – 975 CE
Southern Tang南唐
State in the lower Yangtze region that succeeded Wu; surrendered to Song in 975.
937 CE – 1094 CE / 1096 CE – 1253 CE
Dali大理
Duan-family kingdom in Yunnan. Its rule was interrupted by Dazhong in 1094–1096; Mongol conquest followed in 1253.
947 CE – 950 CE
Later Han后汉
One of the Five Dynasties.
951 CE – 960 CE
Later Zhou后周
One of the Five Dynasties.
951 CE – 979 CE
Northern Han北汉
Liu-family state centred on Taiyuan; the last of the Ten Kingdoms, conquered by Song in 979.
960 CE – 1127 CE
Northern Song北宋
Song before the court moved south.
1038 CE – 1227 CE
Western Xia西夏
Tangut empire established in 1038.
1094 CE – 1096 CE
Dazhong大中
Gao Shengtai’s state during the interruption of Duan-family rule in Dali.
1115 CE – 1234 CE
Jin金
Jurchen dynasty, distinct from Jin (晋).
1124 CE – 1218 CE
Western Liao (Qara Khitai)西辽
Khitan state founded by Yelü Dashi after moving west; also known as Qara Khitai.
1127 CE – 1279 CE
Southern Song南宋
Song court after the move south.
1206 CE – 1271 CE
Mongol state before Yuan大蒙古国
Mongol state from Chinggis Khan’s accession in 1206 to the adoption of the Yuan name in 1271; the wider empire had other branches.
1271 CE – 1368 CE
Yuan元
Yuan name from 1271; Southern Song ended in 1279.
1368 CE – 1644 CE
Ming明
Established in 1368; Beijing fell in 1644.
1616 CE – 1636 CE
Later Jin (Jurchen)后金
Jurchen state founded by Nurhaci in 1616; renamed Qing in 1636. Distinct from the Five Dynasties’ Later Jin.
1636 CE – 1912 CE
Qing清
Qing name from 1636; imperial abdication in 1912.
1644 CE – 1662 CE
Southern Ming南明
Ming successor courts in the south after 1644, here ending with the Yongli emperor’s death in 1662.
Major dynasties and periods from Xia to Qing, including all Sixteen Kingdoms and Ten Kingdoms.
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