老内 Laonei

Chinese dynasties in order

Four thousand years, seventeen entries, oldest first — the same order Chinese schoolchildren learn them in. Each one opens to what it was known for, who to know, and what you can still go and see.

DynastyChineseDatesKnown for
Xia夏c. 2070–1600 BCChina's first dynasty in the traditional record
Shang商c. 1600–1046 BCOracle bone script, China's earliest mature writing
Zhou周1046–256 BCThe Mandate of Heaven and rule by virtue
Qin秦221–206 BCFirst unified Chinese empire, 221 BC
Han汉206 BC – AD 220Silk Road trade opened to Central Asia
Three Kingdoms三国AD 220–280The three rival states of Wei, Shu and Wu
Jin晋AD 266–420Brief reunification of China in AD 280
Northern and Southern Dynasties南北朝AD 420–589North–south division after the Jin collapse
Sui隋AD 581–618Reunifying China in 589 after centuries of division
Tang唐AD 618–907Chang'an, a cosmopolitan world capital
Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms五代十国AD 907–979Five northern dynasties, ten southern kingdoms
Song宋AD 960–1279Imperial examinations and scholar-officials
Yuan元AD 1271–1368Reunified China under Kublai Khan
Ming明AD 1368–1644Zheng He's seven ocean voyages
Qing清AD 1644–1912Last imperial dynasty, 1644–1912
Republic of China中华民国1912–1949End of 2,000 years of imperial rule
People's Republic of China中华人民共和国1949 – todayFounded 1 October 1949, capital Beijing