Chinese Dynasties

Hsia

c. 21st–c.16th century b.c.e.

Yin (Shang)

c. 16th–c. 11th century b.c.e.

Chou

c. 1100–256 b.c.e.

Western Chou

c. 1100–770 b.c.e.

Eastern Chou

770–256 b.c.e.

Spring and Autumn period

770–403 b.c.e.

Warring States period

403–221 b.c.e.

Ch’in

221–206 b.c.e.

Han

220 b.c.e.–c.e. 220

Former Han

202 b.c.e.–c.e. 8

Later Han

25–220

Period of the Three Kingdoms

220–280

Wu    222—280

Wei    220–265

Shu    221-263

Chin

265–420

Western Chin

265–316

Eastern Chin

317–420

Later Chao

319–351

Former Liang

301–376

Former Ch’in

351–394

Later Ch’in

384–417

Northern Liang

397–439

Northern and Southern Dynasties     439–589

Liu Sung

420–479

Northern Wei

386–534

Ch’i

479–502

Liang

502–557

Northern Ch’i

550–577

Ch’en

557–589

Northern Chou

557–581

Sui

581–618

T’ang

618–907

Five Dynasties

907–960

Sung

960–1279

Northern Sung

960–1127

Southern Sung

1127–1279

Liao

916–1125

Chin

1115–1234

Yüan

1271–1368

Ming

1368–1644

Ch’ing

1644–1912