Chinese Dynasties

China has got the long history that can betraced back 5000 years ago. There are numerous dynasties that started from the first Xia Dynasty to the last Qing Dynasty, the splendid culture heritage is marked in the ruins and relics in China. It will be helpful if you know these Chinese dynasties roughly when you travel to China.

Designation of Dynasty, Subdivisions, and Years

Years of Dynastic Period

Mythical Rulers
Fu Xi (Tai Hao): 2953 B.C.
Shen Nong (Yan Di): 2838 B.C.
Five Emperors*
1. You Xiong (Huang Di): 2698-2599 B.C.
2. Jin Tian (Shao Han): 2598-2515 B.C.
3. Gao Yang (Zhuan Xu): 2514-2437 B.C.
4. Gao Xin (Di Ku): 2436-2367 B.C.
5. Gao Xin (Di Zhi): 2366-2357 B.C.

2953-2357 B.C.

Patriarchs
Tao Tang (Yao): 2357-2258 B.C.
You Yu (Shun): 2255-2205 B.C.

2357-2205 B.C.

Xia Dynasty
Dating estimates from archeological sites

2205-1766 [1806] B.C.
[~2000-1500 B.C.]
[~2100-1600 B.C.]

Shang Dynasty
Dating estimates from archeological sites

1766-1121 B.C.
[1700-1027 B.C.]
[1600-1066 B.C.]

Zhou Dynasty
Kingdom of Zhou (Eastern Zhou): 1121 [1027/1134]-770 B.C.
Chun Qiu (Period of the Annals; Spring and Autumn): 770-464 [476] B.C.
Zhan Guo (Warring States): 464 [475]-221 B.C.

1121-255 B.C.
[1066-221 B.C.]
[770-221 B.C.]

Qin Dynasty
Qin Shi Huang Di [first emperor]: 221-210 B.C.

221-206 B.C.

Han Dynasty**
Western Han: 206 B.C.-25 A.D. [9 A.D.]
Eastern Han: 25 A.D.-220 A.D.

206 B.C.-220 A.D.

Three Kingdoms
Wei (North): 220-265 A.D.
Shu (West): 221-265 A.D.
Wu (South): 222 [229]-280 A.D.

220-280 A.D.

Jin Dynasty
Western Jin: 265-317 A.D.
Eastern Jin: 317-420 A.D.

265-420 A.D.

Song Dynasty

420-479 A.D.

Six Dynasties
1. Qi Dynasty: 479-502 A.D.
2. Liang Dynasty: 502-557 A.D.
3. Chen Dynasty: 557-589 A.D.
4. Wei Dynasty: 386-557 [533] A.D.
Northern Wei Dynasty: 386-535 A.D.
Western Wei Dynasty: 535-557 A.D.
Eastern Wei Dynasty: 534-550 A.D.
5. Northern Qi Dynasty: 550-589 [577] A.D.
6. Northern Zhou Dynasty: 557-589 A.D.

479-589 A.D.

Sui Dynasty

589 [581]-618 A.D.

Tang Dynasty

618-907 A.D.

Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms ***
1. Later Liang: 907-923 A.D.
2. Later Tang: 923-936 A.D.
3. Later Jin: 936-947 A.D.
4. Later Han: 947-951 A.D.
5. Later Zhou: 951-960 A.D.

907-960 A.D.

Song Dynasty
Northern Song: 960-1127 A.D.
Southern Song: 1127-1280 A.D. (Jin)

960-1280 A.D.

Yuan Dynasty (Mongol)

1280-1368 A.D.

Ming Dynasty

1368-1644 A.D.

Qing Dynasty (Manchu)

1644-1911 A.D.