Chinese Dynasties Reference

Chinese Dynasties Table

Dynasty	Years	Capital	Present location
Xia	c. 2146–1675 BCE	Anyì	Xiàn, Shanxi
Shang	c. 1675–1029 BCE	Yin	Anyang, Henan
Zhou	Western Zhou c. 1029–771 BCE	Haojing	Xi'an, Shaanxi
Eastern Zhou 770–256 BCE	Luoyi	Luoyang, Henan
Spring and Autumn 770–476 BCE	-	-
Warring States 475–221 BCE	-	-
Qin	221–207 BCE	Xianyang	Xianyang, Shaanxi
Han	Western Han ⊕ 206 BCE–25 CE	Chang'an	Xi'an, Shaanxi
Eastern Han 25–220	Luoyang	Luoyang, Henan
Three Kingdoms	Wei 220–265	Luoyang	Luoyang, Henan
Shu 221–263	Chengdu	Chengdu, Sichuan
Wu 222–280	Jianye	Nanjing, Jiangsu
Western Jin	265-317	Luoyang	Luoyang, Henan
Eastern Jin Sixteen Kingdoms	Eastern Jin 317-420	Jianye	Nanjing, Jiangsu
Sixteen Kingdoms ⊕ 304-439	—	—
Southern Dynasties	Song 420-479	Jianye	Nanjing, Jiangsu
Qi 479-502	Jianye	Nanjing, Jiangsu
Liang 502-557	Jianye	Nanjing, Jiangsu
Chen 557-589	Jianye	Nanjing, Jiangsu
Northern Dynasties	Northern Wei	386-534	Pingcheng Luoyang	Datong, Shanxi Luoyang, Henan
Eastern Wei	534-550	Ye	Linzhang, Hebei
Northern Qi	550-577	Ye	Linzhang, Hebei
Western Wei	535-557	Chang'an	Xi'an, Shaanxi
Northern Zhou	557-581	Chang'an	Xi'an, Shaanxi
Sui	581-618	Daxing	Xi'an, Shaanxi
Tang	618-907	Chang'an	Xi'an, Shaanxi
Five Dynasties Ten Kingdoms	Later Liang	907-923	Bian	Kaifeng, Henan
Later Tang	923-936	Luoyang	Luoyang, Henan
Later Jin	936-946	Bian	Kaifeng, Henan
Later Han	947-950	Bian	Kaifeng, Henan
Later Zhou	951-960	Bian	Kaifeng, Henan
Ten Kingdoms ⊕	902-979	—	—
Song	Northern Song	960-1127	Kaifeng	Kaifeng, Henan
Southern Song	1127-1279	Lin'an	Hangzhou, Zhejiang
Liao	907-1125	Dongjing (Shenyang)	Liaoning Baolin Youqi
Western Xia	1038-1227	Xingqingfu	Yinchuan, Ningxia
Jin	1115-1234	Huining	Acheng (Heilongjiang)
Zhongdu	Beijing
Kaifeng	Kaifeng, Henan
Ming	1368-1644	Beijing	Beijing
Qing	1616-1911	Beijing	Beijing
Republic of China	1912-1949	Nanking	Nanjing, Jiangsu
People's Republic of China established on October 1, 1949, with Beijing as its capital.

Dynasty

Years

Capital

Present location

Xia

c. 2146–1675 BCE

Anyì

Xiàn, Shanxi

Shang

c. 1675–1029 BCE

Yin

Anyang, Henan

Zhou

Western Zhou c. 1029–771 BCE

Haojing

Xi'an, Shaanxi

Eastern Zhou 770–256 BCE

Luoyi

Luoyang, Henan

Spring and Autumn 770–476 BCE

Warring States 475–221 BCE

Qin

221–207 BCE

Xianyang

Xianyang, Shaanxi

Han

Western Han ⊕
206 BCE–25 CE

Chang'an

Xi'an, Shaanxi

Eastern Han
25–220

Luoyang

Luoyang, Henan

Three Kingdoms

Wei
220–265

Luoyang

Luoyang, Henan

Shu
221–263

Chengdu

Chengdu, Sichuan

Wu
222–280

Jianye

Nanjing, Jiangsu

Western Jin

265-317

Luoyang

Luoyang, Henan

Eastern Jin
Sixteen Kingdoms

Eastern Jin
317-420

Jianye

Nanjing, Jiangsu

Sixteen Kingdoms ⊕
304-439

—

Southern Dynasties

Song
420-479

Jianye

Nanjing, Jiangsu

Qi
479-502

Jianye

Nanjing, Jiangsu

Liang
502-557

Jianye

Nanjing, Jiangsu

Chen
557-589

Jianye

Nanjing, Jiangsu

Northern Dynasties

Northern Wei

386-534

Pingcheng
Luoyang

Datong, Shanxi
Luoyang, Henan

Eastern Wei

534-550

Linzhang, Hebei

Northern Qi

550-577

Linzhang, Hebei

Western Wei

535-557

Chang'an

Xi'an, Shaanxi

Northern Zhou

557-581

Chang'an

Xi'an, Shaanxi

Sui

581-618

Daxing

Xi'an, Shaanxi

Tang

618-907

Chang'an

Xi'an, Shaanxi

Five Dynasties
Ten Kingdoms

Later Liang

907-923

Bian

Kaifeng, Henan

Later Tang

923-936

Luoyang

Luoyang, Henan

Later Jin

936-946

Bian

Kaifeng, Henan

Later Han

947-950

Bian

Kaifeng, Henan

Later Zhou

951-960

Bian

Kaifeng, Henan

Ten Kingdoms ⊕

902-979

—

Song

Northern Song

960-1127

Kaifeng

Kaifeng, Henan

Southern Song

1127-1279

Lin'an

Hangzhou, Zhejiang

Liao

907-1125

Dongjing
(Shenyang)

Liaoning
Baolin Youqi

Western Xia

1038-1227

Xingqingfu

Yinchuan, Ningxia

Jin

1115-1234

Huining

Acheng (Heilongjiang)

Zhongdu

Beijing

Kaifeng

Kaifeng, Henan

Ming

1368-1644

Beijing

Qing

1616-1911

Beijing

Republic of China

1912-1949

Nanking

Nanjing, Jiangsu

People's Republic of China established on October 1, 1949, with Beijing as its capital.

Notes on the dynasties table:

1. Before c. 2146 BCE is considered legendary with no firm chronology.
2. Converting BCE/CE years uses the convention: (BCE year) + (CE year) = 1.
3. Some periods (e.g., Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms, Northern/Southern) were fragmented.
4. Some dynasties are split into early/late due to capital relocation.
5. Certain dates are scholarly estimates and may have errors.

How to Use Chinese Dynasties Reference

Browse comprehensive historical information about Chinese dynasties and periods.

Table Overview

This reference table provides detailed information about major and minor Chinese dynasties, including their dates, capitals, and present-day locations.

What Information is Displayed?

Dynasty: Name of the dynasty or period
Years: Period of reign with precise dates
Capital: Capital city during the dynasty
Present location: Modern city/country location

Dynasty Categories

Major Dynasties: Main ruling periods (highlighted in blue)
Sub-dynasties: Subdivisions or regional powers (indented)
Unified Periods: Times when China was unified under one dynasty
Divided Periods: Times of fragmentation (e.g., Three Kingdoms)

Timeline Highlights

Ancient Period: Xia, Shang, Zhou (c. 2146 BCE - 256 BCE)
Imperial Era: Qin through Qing (221 BCE - 1911 CE)
Modern Era: Republic of China and People's Republic

Special Markers

⊕ Symbol: Indicates periods with extended or regional kingdoms
Sub-dynasties: Indented entries show subdivisions of larger periods
Multiple capitals: Some dynasties had multiple capitals listed

Examples from the Table

Example 1 - Tang Dynasty: 618-907 CE, Capital: Chang'an (Xi'an, Shaanxi)

Example 2 - Southern Song: 1127-1279 CE, Capital: Lin'an (Hangzhou, Zhejiang)

Historical Context

The table shows the evolution of Chinese civilization from ancient times to the modern period. Hover over rows to see highlights, with major dynasties displayed with a blue background. This tool is valuable for historians, students, and anyone interested in Chinese history and culture.