Approximate territories controlled by the various dynasties and states throughout Chinese history.

History of China
ANCIENT
Neolithic c. 8500 - c. 2070 BC
Xia c. 2070 - c. 1600 BC
Shang c. 1600 - c. 1046 BC
Zhou c. 1046 - 256 BC
Western Zhou
Eastern Zhou
Spring and Autumn
Warring States
IMPERIAL
Qin 221-207 BC
Han 202 BC - 220 AD
Western Han
Xin
Eastern Han
Three Kingdoms 220-280
Wei, Shu and Wu
Jin 266-420
Western Jin
Eastern Jin	Sixteen Kingdoms
Northern and Southern dynasties 420-589
Sui 581-618
Tang 618-907
(Wu Zhou 690-705)
Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms 907-979	Liao 916-1125
Song 960-1279
Northern Song		Western Xia
Southern Song	Jin
Yuan 1271-1368
Ming 1368-1644
Qing 1636-1912
MODERN
Republic of China on mainland 1912-1949
People's Republic of China 1949-present
Republic of China on Taiwan 1949-present
Related articles Chinese historiography Timeline of Chinese history Dynasties in Chinese history Linguistic history Art history Economic history Education history Science and technology history Legal history Media history Military history Naval history
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From the inauguration of dynastic rule by Yu the Great in circa 2070 BCE to the abdication of the Xuantong Emperor on February 12, 1912 in the wake of the Xinhai Revolution, China was ruled by a series of successive dynasties.^[a] Dividing the history of China into periods ruled by dynasties is a common method of periodization utilized by scholars.^[4]

The following is a non-comprehensive list of the dynasties in Chinese history.

Background

Dynastic transition

One might incorrectly infer from viewing historical timelines that transitions between dynasties occurred abruptly and roughly. Rather, new dynasties were often established before the complete overthrow of an existing regime.^[5] For example, 1644 CE is frequently cited as the year in which the Qing dynasty succeeded the preceding Ming dynasty in possessing the Mandate of Heaven. However, the Qing dynasty was officially proclaimed in 1636 CE by the Emperor Taizong of Qing through renaming the Later Jin established by his father the Emperor Taizu of Qing in 1616 CE, while the Ming imperial family would rule the Southern Ming until 1662 CE.^[6][7] The Ming loyalist Kingdom of Tungning based in Taiwan continued to oppose the Qing until 1683 CE.^[8] Meanwhile, other factions also fought for control over China during the Ming-Qing transition, most notably the Shun and Xi dynasties proclaimed by Li Zicheng and Zhang Xianzhong respectively.^[9][10][11] This change of ruling houses was a convoluted and prolonged affair, and the Qing took almost two decades to extend their rule over the entirety of China proper.

Similarly, during the earlier Sui-Tang transition, numerous regimes established by rebel forces vied for control and legitimacy as the power of the ruling Sui dynasty weakened. Autonomous regimes that existed during this period of upheaval included, but not limited to, Wei (Li Mi), Qin (Xue Ju), Qi (Gao Tancheng), Xu (Yuwen Huaji), Liang (Shen Faxing), Liang (Liang Shidu), Xia (Dou Jiande), Zheng (Wang Shichong), Chu (Zhu Can), Chu (Lin Shihong), Yan (Gao Kaidao), and Song (Fu Gongshi). The Tang dynasty that superseded the Sui launched a decade-long military campaign to reunify China proper.^[12]

According to Chinese historiographical tradition, each new dynasty would compose the history of the preceding dynasty, culminating in the Twenty-Four Histories.^[13] This tradition was maintained even after the Xinhai Revolution overthrew the Qing dynasty in favor of a republic. However, the attempt by the Republicans to draft the history of the Qing was disrupted by the Chinese Civil War, which resulted in the political division of China into the People's Republic of China on mainland China and the Republic of China on Taiwan.^[14][15]

Political legitimacy

China was divided during multiple periods in its history, with different regions ruled by different dynasties. Examples of such division include the Three Kingdoms, Sixteen Kingdoms, Northern and Southern dynasties, and Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms periods, among others.

Relations between Chinese dynasties during periods of division often revolved around political legitimacy, which was derived from the doctrine of the Mandate of Heaven.^[16] Dynasties ruled by ethnic Han Chinese would proclaim rival dynasties founded by other ethnicities as illegitimate, usually justified based on the concept of Hua-Yi distinction. On the other hand, many dynasties of non-Han Chinese origin regarded themselves as the legitimate dynasty of China and saw themselves as the true inheritor of Chinese culture and history. Traditionally, only regimes deemed as "legitimate" or "orthodox" (; zhèngt?ng) are termed cháo (?; lit. "dynasty"); "illegitimate" regimes are referred to as guó (?; usually translated as either "state" or "kingdom"^[b]), even if these regimes were dynastic in nature.^[17] The political legitimacy status of some of these dynasties remain contentious among modern scholars.

Such legitimacy dispute existed during the following periods:

• Three Kingdoms^[18]
  • Cao Wei, Shu Han, and Eastern Wu considered themselves as legitimate while simultaneously denouncing the rivaling claims of others
  • The Emperor Xian of Han abdicated in favor of the Emperor Wen of Cao Wei, hence Cao Wei directly succeeded the Eastern Han in the timeline of Chinese history
  • The Western Jin accepted Cao Wei as the legitimate dynasty of the Three Kingdoms period and claimed succession from it
• Eastern Jin and Sixteen Kingdoms^[19]
  • The Eastern Jin proclaimed itself as legitimate
  • Several of the Sixteen Kingdoms such as Han Zhao, Later Zhao, and Former Qin also claimed legitimacy
• Northern and Southern dynasties^[20]
  • All dynasties during this period saw themselves as the legitimate representative of China
• Liao, Song, and Jin dynasties^[21]
  • Following the conquest of the Later Jin, the Liao dynasty claimed legitimacy and succession from it^[22]
  • Both the Northern Song and Southern Song considered themselves as the legitimate Chinese dynasty
  • The Jin dynasty challenged the Song's claim of legitimacy
  • The succeeding Yuan dynasty recognized all three in addition to the Western Liao as legitimate Chinese dynasties, culminating in the composition of the History of Liao, the History of Song, and the History of Jin^[23]
• Ming and Northern Yuan dynasties^[24]
  • The Ming dynasty recognized the preceding Yuan dynasty as a legitimate Chinese dynasty, but asserted that it had succeeded the Mandate of Heaven from the Yuan, thus considering the Northern Yuan as illegitimate
  • Northern Yuan rulers continued to claim the "Great Yuan" dynastic title and used Chinese imperial titles until 1388 CE; Chinese titles were subsequently restored during several occasions for brief periods
• Qing and Southern Ming dynasties^[25]
  • The Qing dynasty recognized the preceding Ming dynasty as legitimate, but asserted that it had succeeded the Mandate of Heaven from the Ming, thus refuting the claimed legitimacy of the Southern Ming
  • The Southern Ming continued to claim legitimacy until its eventual defeat by the Qing
  • The Ming loyalist Kingdom of Tungning in Taiwan denounced the Qing dynasty as illegitimate
  • The Joseon dynasty of Korea and the Later Lê dynasty of Vietnam had at various times considered the Southern Ming, instead of the Qing, as legitimate^[26][27]

These historical legitimacy disputes are similar to the modern competing claims of legitimacy by the People's Republic of China based in Beijing and the Republic of China based in Taipei. Both regimes formally adhere to the One-China policy and claim to be the sole legitimate representative of the whole of China.^[28]

Types of dynasties

A German map of the Chinese Empire during the height of the Qing dynasty.

Central Plain dynasties

The Central Plain is a vast area on the lower reaches of the Yellow River which formed the cradle of Chinese civilization. "Central Plain dynasties" (?; zh?ngyuán wángcháo) refer to dynasties of China that had their capital cities situated within the Central Plain.^[29] It could either include dynasties of both Han Chinese and non-Han Chinese origins (e.g., Jin dynasty, Yuan dynasty), or limited to only dynasties established by the Han Chinese with Zhongyuan culture as its core element (e.g., Qin dynasty, Tang dynasty).

Unified dynasties

"Unified dynasties" (; dày?t?ng wángcháo) refer to dynasties of China, regardless of its ethnic origin, that achieved unification of China proper. "China proper" is a region generally regarded as the traditional heartland of the Han Chinese, and is not equivalent to the term "China".

Dynasties usually considered to have unified this region include the Qin dynasty, the Western Han, the Xin dynasty, the Eastern Han, the Western Jin, the Sui dynasty, the Tang dynasty, the Northern Song, the Yuan dynasty, the Ming dynasty, and the Qing dynasty.^[30] The status of the Northern Song is disputed among historians, as the contemporaneous Liao dynasty occupied the Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun while the Western Xia exercised control over Hetao; the Northern Song, in this sense, did not truly achieve unification of China proper.^[30][31]

Conquest dynasties

"Conquest dynasties" (?; zh?ngfú wángcháo), first coined by historian and sinologist Karl August Wittfogel, refer to dynasties of China founded by non-Han Chinese peoples that ruled parts or all of China proper (e.g., Northern Wei, Qing dynasty).^[32] This concept is a source of controversy among scholars who believe that Chinese history should be analyzed and understood from a multiethnic and multicultural perspective.^[33]

Naming convention

Official dynastic name

It was customary for Chinese monarchs to adopt an official name for the realm, known as the guóhào (; lit. "name of the state"), upon the establishment of a dynasty.^[5][34] During the rule of a dynasty, its guóhào functioned as the formal name of the state, both internally and for diplomatic purposes.

There were instances whereby the official name was changed during the reign of a dynasty. For example, the dynasty known retroactively as Southern Han () initially used the name "Great Yue" (), only to be renamed to "Han" (?) subsequently.^[35]

The formal names of Chinese dynasties were usually derived from the following sources:

• the name of the ruling tribe or tribal confederation^[36][37]
  • e.g., the Xia dynasty took its name from its ruling class, the Xia tribal confederation^[36]
• the noble title held by the dynastic founder prior to the founding of the dynasty^[36][37]
  • e.g., the Emperor Wu of Chen adopted the guóhào "Chen" from his pre-imperial title, the Prince of Chen, upon the establishment of the Chen dynasty^[38]
• the name of a historical state that occupied the same geographical location as the new dynasty^[37][39]
  • the Former Yan was officially named "Yan" based on the ancient State of Yan located in the same region^[39]
• the name of a previous dynasty from which the new dynasty claimed descent or succession from, even if such familial links were questionable^[37]
  • e.g., the Emperor Taizu of Later Zhou officially proclaimed the Later Zhou with the guóhào "Zhou" as he claimed ancestry from Guo Shu, a royalty of the Zhou dynasty^[40]
• a term with auspicious or other significant meanings^[36][37]
  • e.g., the Yuan dynasty was officially the "Great Yuan", a name derived from a clause in the Classic of Changes, "dà z?i Qián Yuán" (?; lit. "Great is the Heavenly and Primal")^[41]

The adoption of guóhào, as well as the importance assigned to it, had promulgated within the Sinosphere. Notably, rulers of Vietnam and Korea also declared guóhào for their respective realm.

Retroactive dynastic name

In Chinese historiography, historians generally do not refer to dynasties by their official name. Instead, historiographical names, which were most commonly derived from their guóhào, are used. For instance, the Sui dynasty () is known as such because its formal name was "Sui" (?). Likewise, the Jin dynasty () was officially the "Great Jin" ().

When more than one dynasty shared the same Chinese character(s) as their formal name, as was common in Chinese history, prefixes are retroactively applied to dynastic names by historians in order to distinguish between these similarly-named regimes.^[5][42] Frequently used prefixes include:

• cardinal direction
  • "northern" (?; b?i): e.g., Northern Qi (), Northern Yuan ()
  • "southern" (?; nán): e.g., Southern Yan (), Southern Tang ()
  • "eastern" (?; d?ng): e.g., Eastern Jin (), Eastern Wei ()
  • "western" (?; x?): e.g., Western Liang (), Western Liao ()
• sequence
  • "former" (?; qián): e.g., Former Qin (), Former Shu ()
  • "later" (?; hòu): e.g., Later Zhao (), Later Han ()
• surname of the ruling family
  • e.g., Wu Zhou (), Ma Chu ()
• other types of prefixes
  • e.g., Shu Han (; the prefix "Shu" is a reference to the realm's geographic location at Sichuan), Hu Xia (; the prefix "Hu", meaning "barbarian", refers to the dynasty's Xiongnu origin)

A dynasty could be referred to by more than one retroactive name in Chinese historiography, albeit some are more widely used than others. For instance, the Liu Song () is also known as the "Former Song" (), and the Yang Wu () is also called the "Southern Wu" ().

Scholars usually make a historiographical distinction for dynasties whose rule were interrupted. For example, the Song dynasty is divided into the Northern Song and the Southern Song, with the Jingkang Incident as the dividing line; the original "Song" founded by the Emperor Taizu of Song was therefore differentiated from the "Song" restored under the Emperor Gaozong of Song. In such cases, the regime had collapsed, only to be re-established; a distinction between the original regime and the new regime is thus necessary for historiographical purpose. Major exceptions to this historiographical practice include the Western Qin and the Tang dynasty, which were interrupted by the Later Qin and the Wu Zhou respectively.

In Chinese sources, the term "dynasty" (?; cháo) is usually omitted when referencing dynasties that have prefixes in their historiographical names. Such a practice is sometimes adopted in English usage, even though the inclusion of the word "dynasty" is also widely seen in English scholarly writings. For example, the Northern Zhou is also sometimes referred to as the "Northern Zhou dynasty".^[43]

List of major Chinese dynasties

This list includes only major dynasties of China that are typically found in simplified forms of Chinese historical timelines.

	Dynasty		Ruling house		Period of rule			Rulers
	Name[c] (English / Chinese[d] / Pinyin[e] / Bopomofo)	Origin of name	Surname (English / Chinese[d])	Ethnicity	Start	End	Term	Founder[f]	Last monarch	List
Semi-legendary
	Xia dynasty Xià Cháo `	Tribal name	Si ?	Huaxia	2070 BCE[g]	1600 BCE[g]	470 years	Yu of Xia	Jie of Xia	(list)
Ancient China
	Shang dynasty Sh?ng Cháo	Toponym	Zi ?	Huaxia	1600 BCE[g]	1046 BCE[g]	554 years	Tang of Shang	Zhou of Shang	(list)
	Western Zhou[h] X? Zh?u	Toponym	Ji ?	Huaxia	1046 BCE[g]	771 BCE	275 years	Wu of Zhou	You of Zhou	(list)
	Eastern Zhou[h] D?ng Zh?u	From Zhou dynasty	Ji ?	Huaxia	770 BCE	256 BCE	514 years	Ping of Zhou	Nan of Zhou	(list)
Early Imperial China
	Qin dynasty Qín Cháo ?	Toponym	Ying ?	Huaxia	221 BCE	207 BCE	14 years	Qin Shi Huang	Qin San Shi	(list)
	Western Han[i] X? Hàn `	Toponym & Noble title	Liu ?	Han	202 BCE	9 CE	210 years	Gao of Han	Liu Ying	(list)
	Xin dynasty X?n Cháo	"New"	Wang ?	Han	9 CE	23 CE	14 years	Wang Mang	Wang Mang	(list)
	Eastern Han[i] D?ng Hàn `	From Han dynasty	Liu ?	Han	25 CE	220 CE	195 years	Guangwu of Han	Xian of Han	(list)
	Three Kingdoms S?n Guó ?				220 CE	280 CE	60 years			(list)
	Cao Wei Cáo Wèi `	Noble title	Cao ?	Han	220 CE	266 CE	46 years	Wen of Cao Wei	Yuan of Cao Wei	(list)
	Shu Han Sh? Hàn `	From Han dynasty	Liu ?	Han	221 CE	263 CE	42 years	Zhaolie of Shu Han	Liu Shan	(list)
	Eastern Wu D?ng Wú	Noble title	Sun ?	Han	222 CE	280 CE	58 years	Da of Eastern Wu	Sun Hao	(list)
	Western Jin[j][k] X? Jìn `	Noble title	Sima	Han	266 CE	316 CE	50 years	Wu of Jin	Min of Jin	(list)
	Eastern Jin[j][k] D?ng Jìn `	From Jin dynasty (266-420 CE)	Sima	Han	317 CE	420 CE	103 years	Yuan of Jin	Gong of Jin	(list)
	Sixteen Kingdoms Shíliù Guó ` ?				304 CE	439 CE	135 years			(list)
	Han Zhao Hàn Zhào ` `	Toponym & From Han dynasty	Liu ?	Xiongnu	304 CE	329 CE	25 years	Guangwen of Han Zhao	Liu Yao	(list)
	Cheng Han Chéng Hàn `	Toponym & From Han dynasty	Li ?	Di	304 CE	347 CE	43 years	Wu of Cheng Han	Li Shi	(list)
	Later Zhao Hòu Zhào ` `	Noble title	Shi ?	Jie	319 CE	351 CE	32 years	Ming of Later Zhao	Shi Zhi	(list)
	Former Liang Qián Liáng ? ?	Toponym	Zhang ?	Han	320 CE	376 CE	56 years	Cheng of Former Liang	Zhang Tianxi	(list)
	Former Yan Qián Y?n ?	Toponym	Murong	Xianbei	337 CE	370 CE	33 years	Wenming of Former Yan	You of Former Yan	(list)
	Former Qin Qián Qín ? ?	Toponym	Fu ?	Di	351 CE	394 CE	43 years	Jingming of Former Qin	Fu Chong	(list)
	Later Yan Hòu Y?n `	From Former Yan	Murong[l]	Xianbei[l]	384 CE	409 CE	25 years	Chengwu of Later Yan	Zhaowen of Later Yan or Huiyi of Yan[m]	(list)
	Later Qin Hòu Qín ` ?	Toponym	Yao ?	Qiang	384 CE	417 CE	33 years	Wuzhao of Later Qin	Yao Hong	(list)
	Western Qin X? Qín ?	Toponym	Qifu	Xianbei	385 CE	431 CE	37 years[n]	Xuanlie of Western Qin	Qifu Mumo	(list)
	Later Liang[o] Hòu Liáng ` ?	Toponym	Lü ?	Di	386 CE	403 CE	17 years	Yiwu of Later Liang	Lü Long	(list)
	Southern Liang Nán Liáng ?	Toponym	Tufa	Xianbei	397 CE	414 CE	17 years	Wu of Southern Liang	Jing of Southern Liang	(list)
	Northern Liang B?i Liáng ?	Toponym	Juqu[p]	Xiongnu[p]	397 CE	439 CE	42 years	Duan Ye	Ai of Northern Liang	(list)
	Southern Yan Nán Y?n	From Former Yan	Murong	Xianbei	398 CE	410 CE	12 years	Xianwu of Southern Yan	Murong Chao	(list)
	Western Liang X? Liáng ?	Toponym	Li ?	Han	400 CE	421 CE	21 years	Wuzhao of Western Liang	Li Xun	(list)
	Hu Xia Hú Xià `	From Xia dynasty	Helian[q]	Xiongnu	407 CE	431 CE	24 years	Wulie of Hu Xia	Helian Ding	(list)
	Northern Yan B?i Y?n	From Former Yan	Feng[r] ?	Han[r]	407 CE	436 CE	29 years	Huiyi of Yan[m] or Wencheng of Northern Yan	Zhaocheng of Northern Yan	(list)
	Northern dynasties B?i Cháo				386 CE	581 CE	195 years			(list)
	Northern Wei B?i Wèi `	Toponym	Tuoba[s]	Xianbei	386 CE	535 CE	149 years	Daowu of Northern Wei	Xiaowu of Northern Wei	(list)
	Eastern Wei D?ng Wèi `	From Northern Wei	Yuan ?	Xianbei	534 CE	550 CE	16 years	Xiaojing of Eastern Wei	Xiaojing of Eastern Wei	(list)
	Western Wei X? Wèi `	From Northern Wei	Yuan[t] ?	Xianbei	535 CE	557 CE	22 years	Wen of Western Wei	Gong of Western Wei	(list)
	Northern Qi B?i Qí	Noble title	Gao ?	Han	550 CE	577 CE	27 years	Wenxuan of Northern Qi	Gao Heng	(list)
	Northern Zhou B?i Zh?u	Noble title	Yuwen	Xianbei	557 CE	581 CE	24 years	Xiaomin of Northern Zhou	Jing of Northern Zhou	(list)
	Southern dynasties Nán Cháo				420 CE	589 CE	169 years			(list)
	Liu Song Liú Sòng ? `	Noble title	Liu ?	Han	420 CE	479 CE	59 years	Wu of Liu Song	Shun of Liu Song	(list)
	Southern Qi Nán Qí	A prophecy on defeating the Liu clan	Xiao ?	Han	479 CE	502 CE	23 years	Gao of Southern Qi	He of Southern Qi	(list)
	Liang dynasty Liáng Cháo ?	Toponym	Xiao ?	Han	502 CE	557 CE	55 years	Wu of Liang	Jing of Liang	(list)
	Chen dynasty Chén Cháo	Noble title	Chen ?	Han	557 CE	589 CE	32 years	Wu of Chen	Chen Shubao	(list)
Middle Imperial China
	Sui dynasty Suí Cháo ?	Noble title ("?" homophone)	Yang[u] ?	Han	581 CE	619 CE	38 years	Wen of Sui	Gong of Sui	(list)
	Tang dynasty Táng Cháo	Noble title	Li ?	Han	618 CE	907 CE	274 years[v]	Gaozu of Tang	Ai of Tang	(list)
	Wu Zhou W? Zh?u	From Zhou dynasty	Wu ?	Han	690 CE	705 CE	15 years	Wu Zhao	Wu Zhao	(list)
	Five Dynasties W? Dài `				907 CE	960 CE	53 years			(list)
	Later Liang[o] Hòu Liáng ` ?	Noble title	Zhu ?	Han	907 CE	923 CE	16 years	Taizu of Later Liang	Zhu Youzhen	(list)
	Later Tang Hòu Táng `	From Tang dynasty	Li[w] ?	Shatuo	923 CE	937 CE	14 years	Zhuangzong of Later Tang	Li Congke	(list)
	Later Jin[x] Hòu Jìn ` `	Toponym	Shi ?	Shatuo	936 CE	947 CE	11 years	Gaozu of Later Jin	Chu of Later Jin	(list)
	Later Han Hòu Hàn ` `	From Han dynasty	Liu ?	Shatuo	947 CE	951 CE	4 years	Gaozu of Later Han	Yin of Later Han	(list)
	Later Zhou Hòu Zh?u `	From Zhou dynasty	Guo[y] ?	Han	951 CE	960 CE	9 years	Taizu of Later Zhou	Gong of Later Zhou	(list)
	Ten Kingdoms Shí Guó ?				907 CE	979 CE	62 years			(list)
	Former Shu Qián Sh? ?	Toponym / Noble title	Wang ?	Han	907 CE	925 CE	18 years	Gaozu of Former Shu	Wang Yan	(list)
	Yang Wu Yáng Wú	Toponym	Yang ?	Han	907 CE	937 CE	30 years	Liezu of Yang Wu	Rui of Yang Wu	(list)
	Ma Chu M? Ch?	Toponym	Ma ?	Han	907 CE	951 CE	44 years	Wumu of Ma Chu	Ma Xichong	(list)
	Wuyue Wúyuè `	Toponym	Qian ?	Han	907 CE	978 CE	71 years	Taizu of Wuyue	Zhongyi of Qin	(list)
	Min ? M?n ?	Toponym	Wang ?	Han	909 CE	945 CE	36 years	Taizu of Min	Tiande of Min	(list)
	Southern Han Nán Hàn `	From Han dynasty	Liu ?	Han	917 CE	971 CE	54 years	Gaozu of Southern Han	Liu Chang	(list)
	Jingnan J?ngnán	Toponym	Gao ?	Han	924 CE	963 CE	39 years	Wuxin of Chu	Gao Jichong	(list)
	Later Shu Hòu Sh? `	Toponym	Meng ?	Han	934 CE	965 CE	31 years	Gaozu of Later Shu	Gongxiao of Chu	(list)
	Southern Tang Nán Táng	From Tang dynasty	Li[z] ?	Han	937 CE	976 CE	37 years	Liezu of Southern Tang	Li Yu	(list)
	Northern Han B?i Hàn `	From Later Han	Liu ?	Shatuo	951 CE	979 CE	28 years	Shizu of Northern Han	Yingwu of Northern Han	(list)
	Liao dynasty Liáo Cháo ?	"Iron" (Khitan homophone) / Toponym	Yelü	Khitan	916 CE	1125 CE	209 years	Taizu of Liao	Tianzuo of Liao	(list)
	Western Liao X? Liáo ?	From Liao dynasty	Yelü[aa]	Khitan[aa]	1124 CE	1218 CE	94 years	Dezong of Western Liao	Kuchlug	(list)
	Northern Song[ab] B?i Sòng `	Toponym	Zhao ?	Han	960 CE	1127 CE	167 years	Taizu of Song	Qinzong of Song	(list)
	Southern Song[ab] Nán Sòng `	From Song dynasty	Zhao ?	Han	1127 CE	1279 CE	152 years	Gaozong of Song	Zhao Bing	(list)
	Western Xia X? Xià `	Toponym	Weiming[ac]	Tangut	1038 CE	1227 CE	189 years	Jingzong of Western Xia	Li Xian	(list)
	Jin dynasty[k] J?n Cháo	"Gold"	Wanyan	Jurchen	1115 CE	1234 CE	119 years	Taizu of Jin	Wanyan Chenglin	(list)
Late Imperial China
	Yuan dynasty Yuán Cháo	"Great" / "Primacy"	Borjigin ?	Mongol	1271 CE	1368 CE	97 years	Shizu of Yuan	Huizong of Yuan	(list)
	Northern Yuan B?i Yuán	From Yuan dynasty	Borjigin ?	Mongol	1368 CE	1635 CE[ad]	267 years	Huizong of Yuan	Tianyuan of Northern Yuan or Ejei Khongghor	(list)
	Ming dynasty Míng Cháo ?	"Bright"	Zhu ?	Han	1368 CE	1644 CE	276 years	Hongwu	Chongzhen	(list)
	Southern Ming Nán Míng ?	From Ming dynasty	Zhu ?	Han	1644 CE	1662 CE	18 years	Hongguang	Yongli or Dingwu[ae]	(list)
	Later Jin[x] Hòu J?n `	From Jin dynasty (1115-1234 CE)	Aisin Gioro ?	Jurchen[af]	1616 CE	1636 CE	20 years	Tianming	Taizong of Qing	(list)
	Qing dynasty Q?ng Cháo	"Pure"	Aisin Gioro ?	Manchu	1636 CE	1912 CE[ag]	276 years	Taizong of Qing	Xuantong	(list)

Timelines

Timeline of major historical periods

Timeline of major dynasties and regimes

See also

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Notes

References

Citations

Sources

External links

• Columbia University. Dynasties song