Tools

Chart of Chinese dynasties

Years run down the page. The first column is the line of dynasties that held the central plain; the columns beside it are the states and periods alongside. Hover over a block for its years.

2000 BCE1900 BCE1800 BCE1700 BCE1600 BCE1500 BCE1400 BCE1300 BCE1200 BCE1100 BCE1000 BCE900 BCE800 BCE700 BCE600 BCE500 BCE400 BCE300 BCE200 BCE100 BCE10020030040050060070080090010001100120013001400150016001700180019002000Xia 2070 BCE–1600 BCE, 471 years (21st–17th century BCE; years from the Xia–Shang–Zhou Chronology Project)XiaShang 1600 BCE–1046 BCE, 555 years (17th–11th century BCE; years from the Xia–Shang–Zhou Chronology Project)ShangWestern Zhou 1046 BCE–771 BCE, 276 years (11th century–771 BCE; first year from the Xia–Shang–Zhou Chronology Project)Western ZhouEastern Zhou 770 BCE–256 BCE, 515 yearsEastern ZhouSpring and Autumn 770 BCE–476 BCE, 295 years (the first part of Eastern Zhou)Spring andAutumnWarring States 475 BCE–221 BCE, 255 years (to the Qin unification)Warring StatesWestern Han 202 BCE–9, 211 yearsWestern HanEastern Han 25–220, 196 yearsEastern HanWei 220–266, 47 years (Three Kingdoms)WeiShu Han 221–263, 43 years (Three Kingdoms)Shu HanWu 222–280, 59 years (Three Kingdoms)WuWestern Jin 266–316, 51 yearsWestern JinEastern Jin 317–420, 104 yearsEastern JinSixteen Kingdoms 304–439, 136 yearsSixteenKingdomsLiu Song 420–479, 60 years (Southern Dynasties)Liu SongSouthern Liang 502–557, 56 years (Southern Dynasties)Southern LiangNorthern Wei 386–535, 150 years (Northern Dynasties)Northern WeiNorthern Qi 550–577, 28 years (Northern Dynasties)Northern QiSui 581–619, 39 yearsSuiTang 618–907, 290 yearsTangLiao 916–1125, 210 years (Khitan)LiaoNorthern Song 960–1127, 168 yearsNorthern SongWestern Xia 1038–1227, 190 yearsWestern XiaJin 1115–1234, 120 yearsJinWestern Liao 1124–1218, 95 years (the Liao, moved west)Western LiaoSouthern Song 1127–1279, 153 yearsSouthern SongMongol Empire 1206–1260, 55 yearsMongol EmpireYuan 1260–1368, 109 years (ended the Southern Song in 1279)YuanMing 1368–1644, 277 yearsMingQing 1616–1912, 297 years (founded as Later Jin in 1616, named Qing in 1636, entered Beijing in 1644)QingQing 1616–1912, 297 years (founded as Later Jin in 1616, named Qing in 1636, entered Beijing in 1644)QingPeople's Republic of China 1949–, 77 years so farPeople'sRepublic ofChinaRepublic of China (Taiwan period) 1949–, 77 years so farRepublic ofChinaTaiwan periodQin 221 BCE–207 BCE, 15 yearsQinWestern Chu 206 BCE–202 BCE, 5 years (the Chu–Han contention)Western ChuXin 9–23, 15 years (Wang Mang)XinGengshi 23–25, 3 years (Xuan Han)GengshiSouthern Qi 479–502, 24 years (Southern Dynasties)Southern QiEastern Wei 534–550, 17 years (Northern Dynasties)Eastern WeiWestern Wei 535–557, 23 years (Northern Dynasties)Western WeiSouthern Chen 557–589, 33 years (Southern Dynasties)Southern ChenNorthern Zhou 557–581, 25 years (Northern Dynasties)Northern ZhouWu Zhou 690–705, 16 years (Wu Zetian's reign, breaking the Tang)Wu ZhouFive Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms 907–960, 54 yearsFive Dynasties and Ten KingdomsYuan 1260–1368, 109 years (ended the Southern Song in 1279)YuanNorthern Yuan 1368–1388, 21 years (the Yuan, withdrawn north)Northern YuanSouthern Ming 1644–1662, 19 years (the Ming, continued in the south)Southern MingRepublic of China (mainland period) 1912–1949, 38 yearsRepublic of China (mainland period)
2000 BCE1900 BCE1800 BCE1700 BCE1600 BCE1500 BCE1400 BCE1300 BCE1200 BCE1100 BCE1000 BCE900 BCE800 BCE700 BCE600 BCE500 BCE400 BCE300 BCE200 BCE100 BCE10020030040050060070080090010001100120013001400150016001700180019002000Xia 2070 BCE–1600 BCE, 471 years (21st–17th century BCE; years from the Xia–Shang–Zhou Chronology Project)XiaShang 1600 BCE–1046 BCE, 555 years (17th–11th century BCE; years from the Xia–Shang–Zhou Chronology Project)ShangWestern Zhou 1046 BCE–771 BCE, 276 years (11th century–771 BCE; first year from the Xia–Shang–Zhou Chronology Project)WesternZhouEastern Zhou 770 BCE–256 BCE, 515 yearsEasternZhouSpring and Autumn 770 BCE–476 BCE, 295 years (the first part of Eastern Zhou)SpringandAutumnWarring States 475 BCE–221 BCE, 255 years (to the Qin unification)WarringStatesWestern Han 202 BCE–9, 211 yearsWesternHanEastern Han 25–220, 196 yearsEasternHanWei 220–266, 47 years (Three Kingdoms)WeiShu Han 221–263, 43 years (Three Kingdoms)Shu HanWu 222–280, 59 years (Three Kingdoms)WuWestern Jin 266–316, 51 yearsWesternJinEastern Jin 317–420, 104 yearsEasternJinSixteen Kingdoms 304–439, 136 yearsSixteenKingdomsLiu Song 420–479, 60 years (Southern Dynasties)Liu SongSouthern Liang 502–557, 56 years (Southern Dynasties)SouthernLiangNorthern Wei 386–535, 150 years (Northern Dynasties)NorthernWeiSui 581–619, 39 yearsSuiTang 618–907, 290 yearsTangLiao 916–1125, 210 years (Khitan)LiaoNorthern Song 960–1127, 168 yearsNorthernSongWestern Xia 1038–1227, 190 yearsWesternXiaJin 1115–1234, 120 yearsJinWestern Liao 1124–1218, 95 years (the Liao, moved west)WesternLiaoSouthern Song 1127–1279, 153 yearsSouthernSongMongol Empire 1206–1260, 55 yearsMongolEmpireYuan 1260–1368, 109 years (ended the Southern Song in 1279)YuanMing 1368–1644, 277 yearsMingQing 1616–1912, 297 years (founded as Later Jin in 1616, named Qing in 1636, entered Beijing in 1644)QingQing 1616–1912, 297 years (founded as Later Jin in 1616, named Qing in 1636, entered Beijing in 1644)QingPeople's Republic of China 1949–, 77 years so farPeople'sRepublicof ChinaRepublic of China (Taiwan period) 1949–, 77 years so farRepublicof ChinaQin 221 BCE–207 BCE, 15 yearsQinWestern Chu 206 BCE–202 BCE, 5 years (the Chu–Han contention)Western ChuXin 9–23, 15 years (Wang Mang)XinGengshi 23–25, 3 years (Xuan Han)GengshiSouthern Qi 479–502, 24 years (Southern Dynasties)Southern QiEastern Wei 534–550, 17 years (Northern Dynasties)Eastern WeiWestern Wei 535–557, 23 years (Northern Dynasties)Western WeiNorthern Qi 550–577, 28 years (Northern Dynasties)Northern QiSouthern Chen 557–589, 33 years (Southern Dynasties)Southern ChenNorthern Zhou 557–581, 25 years (Northern Dynasties)Northern ZhouWu Zhou 690–705, 16 years (Wu Zetian's reign, breaking the Tang)Wu ZhouFive Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms 907–960, 54 yearsFive Dynasties and Ten KingdomsYuan 1260–1368, 109 years (ended the Southern Song in 1279)YuanNorthern Yuan 1368–1388, 21 years (the Yuan, withdrawn north)Northern YuanSouthern Ming 1644–1662, 19 years (the Ming, continued in the south)Southern MingRepublic of China (mainland period) 1912–1949, 38 yearsRepublic of China

Dynasties and years from Wikipedia's History of China template (in Chinese); the Xia, the Shang and the start of the Western Zhou from the Xia–Shang–Zhou Chronology Project.

Dynasties by year

DynastyYearsLengthNote
Xia 2070 BCE–1600 BCE471 years 21st–17th century BCE; years from the Xia–Shang–Zhou Chronology Project
Shang 1600 BCE–1046 BCE555 years 17th–11th century BCE; years from the Xia–Shang–Zhou Chronology Project
Western Zhou 1046 BCE–771 BCE276 years 11th century–771 BCE; first year from the Xia–Shang–Zhou Chronology Project
Eastern Zhou 770 BCE–256 BCE515 years
Spring and Autumn 770 BCE–476 BCE295 years the first part of Eastern Zhou
Warring States 475 BCE–221 BCE255 years to the Qin unification
Qin 221 BCE–207 BCE15 years
Western Chu 206 BCE–202 BCE5 years the Chu–Han contention
Western Han 202 BCE–9211 years
Xin 9–2315 years Wang Mang
Gengshi 23–253 years Xuan Han
Eastern Han 25–220196 years
Wei 220–26647 years Three Kingdoms
Shu Han 221–26343 years Three Kingdoms
Wu 222–28059 years Three Kingdoms
Western Jin 266–31651 years
Sixteen Kingdoms 304–439136 years
Eastern Jin 317–420104 years
Northern Wei 386–535150 years Northern Dynasties
Liu Song 420–47960 years Southern Dynasties
Southern Qi 479–50224 years Southern Dynasties
Southern Liang 502–55756 years Southern Dynasties
Eastern Wei 534–55017 years Northern Dynasties
Western Wei 535–55723 years Northern Dynasties
Northern Qi 550–57728 years Northern Dynasties
Southern Chen 557–58933 years Southern Dynasties
Northern Zhou 557–58125 years Northern Dynasties
Sui 581–61939 years
Tang 618–907290 years
Wu Zhou 690–70516 years Wu Zetian's reign, breaking the Tang
Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms 907–96054 years
Liao 916–1125210 years Khitan
Northern Song 960–1127168 years
Western Xia 1038–1227190 years
Jin 1115–1234120 years
Western Liao 1124–121895 years the Liao, moved west
Southern Song 1127–1279153 years
Mongol Empire 1206–126055 years
Yuan 1260–1368109 years ended the Southern Song in 1279
Ming 1368–1644277 years
Northern Yuan 1368–138821 years the Yuan, withdrawn north
Qing 1616–1912297 years founded as Later Jin in 1616, named Qing in 1636, entered Beijing in 1644
Southern Ming 1644–166219 years the Ming, continued in the south
Republic of China mainland period 1912–194938 years
People's Republic of China 1949–77 years so far
Republic of China Taiwan period 1949–77 years so far