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Chinese Dynasties

The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed. | 2011 | Copyright

Chinese Dynasties

Chinese Dynasties

Dynasty	Characteristics and History

Hsia c.1994–c.1523 BC	Semilegendary Emperor Yu built irrigation channels, reclaimed land. Bronze weapons, chariots, domestic animals used. Wheat, millet cultivated. First use of written symbols.
Shang or Yin c.1523–c.1027 BC	First historic dynasty. Complex agricultural society with a bureaucracy and defined social classes. Well-developed writing, first Chinese calendar. Great age of bronze casting.
Chou c.1027–256 BC	Classical age ( Confucius , Lao Tzu , Mencius ) despite political disorder. Written laws, money economy. Iron implements and ox-drawn plow in use. Followed by Warring States period, 403–221 BC
Ch'in 221–206 BC	Unification of China under harsh rule of Shih Huang-ti. Feudalism replaced by pyramidal bureaucratic government. Written language standardized. Roads, canals, much of the Great Wall built.
Han 202 BC–AD 220	Unification furthered, but harshness lessened and Confucianism made basis for bureaucratic state. Buddhism introduced. Encyclopedic history, dictionary compiled; porcelain produced.
Three Kingdoms AD 220–265	Division into three states: Wei, Shu, Wu. Wei gradually dominant. Confucianism eclipsed; increased importance of Taoism and Buddhism. Many scientific advances adopted from India.
Tsin or Chin 265–420	Founded by a Wei general; gradual expansion to the southeast. Series of barbarian dynasties ruled N China. Continued growth of Buddhism.
Sui 581–618	Reunification; centralized government reestablished. Buddhism, Taoism favored. Great Wall refortified; canal system established.
T'ang 618–907	Territorial expansion. Buddhism temporarily suppressed. Civil service examinations based on Confucianism. Age of great achievements in poetry ( Li Po , Po Chü-i , Tu Fu ), sculpture, painting.
Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms 907–960	Period of warfare, official corruption, general hardship. Widespread development of printing (see type ); paper money first printed.
Sung 960–1279	Period of great social and intellectual change. Neo-Confucianism attains supremacy over Taoism and Buddhism; central bureaucracy reestablished. Widespread cultivation of tea and cotton; gunpowder first used militarily.
Yüan 1271–1368	Mongol dynasty founded by Kublai Khan . Growing contact with West. Confucian ideals discouraged. Great age of Chinese playwriting. Revolts in Mongolia and S China end dynasty.
Ming 1368–1644	Mongols expelled. Confucianism, civil service examinations, reinstated. Contact with European traders, missionaries. Porcelain, architecture (see Chinese architecture ), the novel and drama flourish.
Ch'ing or Manchu 1644–1912	Established by the Manchus . Territorial expansion but gradual weakening of Chinese power; decline of central authority. Increasing European trade; foreign powers divide China into spheres of influence. Opium War ; Hong Kong ceded; Boxer Uprising . Last Chinese monarchy.

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Dynasties, Chinese

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions | 1997 | | Copyright

Dynasties, Chinese. Legendary dynasties are the Three Sovereigns, the Five Emperors. In Ancient China the dynasties are Hsia/Xia (uncertain dates); Shang (Yin) (c.1766–1123 BCE); Chou/ Zhou (c. 1122–256 BCE). The dynasties in Imperial China are as follows: Chʾin/Qin (221–207 BCE); Former Han (206/2 BCE–9 CE); Hsin (9–23); Latter Han (25–220); The Three Kingdoms (Wei, Shu, Wu: 220–80); Chin/ Jin (divided, c.280–420); The Six Dynasties, with China divided (450–589); Sui (589–618); Tʾang/Tang (618–907); The Five Dynasties (907–60); Sung (960–1279); Yuan (1260–1367); Ming (1368–1644); and Chʾing (1644–1911). The Republic lasted 1912–49 and the People's Republic began in 1949.

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JOHN BOWKER. "Dynasties, Chinese." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. 25 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

JOHN BOWKER. "Dynasties, Chinese." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. (May 25, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O101-DynastiesChinese.html

JOHN BOWKER. "Dynasties, Chinese." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions. 1997. Retrieved May 25, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O101-DynastiesChinese.html

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