Chinese History Timeline

This Chinese history timeline shows a simplified chronology of major dynasties covering a period of several thousand years (BC2207 - AD1911).

Chinese Dynasties
Xia
BC2207~BC1766
Shang
BC1765~BC1122
Zhou Western Zhou BC1121~BC771

Eastern Zhou BC770~BC249
Qin
BC248~BC207
Han Western Han BC206~AD8

Eastern Han 25~220
Three Kingdoms
220~280
Jin Western Jin 265~316

Eastern Jin 317~420
Sixteen States
304~436
Northern and Southern Dynasties
420~577
Sui
581~618
Tang
618~907
Five Dynasties
907~960
Ten States
902~979
Western Xia
1032~1227
Song Northern Song 960~1127

Southern Song 1127~1279
Liao
907~1125
Jin
1115~1234
Yuan
1206~1367
Ming
1368~1644
Qing
1644~1911

(No guarantee given for accuracy of content.)


Porcelain manufacturing reached its zenith during the Ming and Qing dynasties. For identifying porcelain manufacturing marks the chronology of the Chinese emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties may be of more interest.
Unless your interest is more with ancient types of ceramics and pottery preceding the Ming dynasty, the detailed reign names and dates of the Ming and Qing dynasty emperors (1368-1911) will be of more relevance.

The origin of porcelain in its current form is attributed to the Song dynasty. Full development is seen during the Ming dynasty and it peaked in the Qing dynasty.

Due to the scarcity of remaining blue and white and polychromous porcelain items from the Song and Yuan dynasties, today's collector of antique Chinese porcelain is mostly limited to Ming, Qing and Republic era porcelain.

Ming and Qing dynasty timeline and emperors' reign names


History and Event Notation in the Chinese Calendar:

Chinese Calendar and Year Notation

Chinese 60 year Cyclic Calendar



Ming and Qing Emperors in Chinese

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