Chinese Historical Dynasties
Detailed list of Chinese historical dynasties with periods, capitals and modern locations
| Dynasty | Period | Capital | Modern Location | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Xia | c. 2146-1675 | Anyi | Xiaxian, Shanxi | |
| Shang① | c. 1675-1029 | Bo | Shangqiu, Henan | |
| Zhou | Western Zhou | c. 1029-771② | Haojing | Xi'an, Shaanxi |
| Eastern Zhou | 7 BCE70-256 | Luoyi | Luoyang, Henan | |
| Qin | 2 BCE21-207 | Xianyang | Xianyang, Shaanxi | |
| Han | Western Han③ | 2 BCE06—CE25 | 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 | Jiankang | Nanjing, Jiangsu |
| Sixteen Kingdoms④ | 304-439 | — | — | |
| Southern Dynasties | Song | 420-479 | Jiankang | Nanjing, Jiangsu |
| Qi | 479-502 | Jiankang | Nanjing, Jiangsu | |
| Liang | 502-557 | Jiankang | Nanjing, Jiangsu | |
| Chen | 557-589 | Jiankang | Nanjing, Jiangsu | |
| Northern Dynasties | Northern Wei | 386-534 | Pingcheng | Datong, Shanxi |
| Luoyang | 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 Kingdoms⑤ | 902-979 | — | — | |
| Song | Northern Song | 960-1127 | Kaifeng | Kaifeng, Henan |
| Southern Song | 1127-1279 | Lin'an | Lin'an, Zhejiang | |
| Liao | 907-1125 | Huangdu (Shangjing) | Bairin Right Banner, Liaoning | |
| Western Xia | 1038-1227 | Xingqing | Yinchuan, Ningxia | |
| Jin | 1115-1234 | Huining | Acheng (Heilongjiang) | |
| Zhongdu | Beijing | |||
| Kaifeng | Kaifeng, Henan | |||
| Yuan | 1206-1368 | Dadu | Beijing | |
| Ming | 1368-1644 | Beijing | Beijing | |
| Qing | 1616-1911 | Beijing | Beijing | |
| Republic of China | 1912-1949 | Nanjing | Nanjing, Jiangsu | |
| The People's Republic of China was founded on October 1, 1949, with its capital in Beijing. | ||||
① Around the 14th century BCE, Pan Geng moved the capital to Yin, after which Shang was also called Yin.
② 841 BCE (the first year of the Gonghe Regency of Western Zhou) marks the beginning of precise historical dating in Chinese history.
③ Includes the "Xin" Dynasty established by Wang Mang (8-23 CE). During Wang Mang's reign, large-scale peasant uprisings broke out and established peasant regimes. In 23 CE, the Xin regime fell. In 25 CE, the Eastern Han Dynasty was established.
④ During this period, several feudal regimes existed in northern China, including: Han (Former Zhao), Cheng (Cheng Han), Former Liang, Later Zhao (Wei), Former Yan, Former Qin, Later Yan, Later Qin, Western Qin, Later Liang, Southern Liang, Northern Liang, Southern Yan, Western Liang, Northern Yan, and Xia, historically called the "Sixteen Kingdoms".
⑤ During this period, besides Later Liang, Later Tang, Later Jin, Later Han, and Later Zhou, there were also: Wu, Former Shu, Wuyue, Chu, Min, Southern Han, Jingnan (Nanping), Later Shu, Southern Tang, and Northern Han, historically called the "Ten Kingdoms".