| The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2001-07. |
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| Chinese Dynasties (table) |
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| Dynasty | Characteristics and History |
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Hsia
c.1994–c.1523 B.C. | 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 B.C. | 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 B.C. | 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 B.C. | Ch’in
221–206 B.C. | 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 B.C.–A.D. 220 | Unification furthered, but harshness lessened and Confucianism made basis for bureaucratic state. Buddhism introduced. Encyclopedic history, dictionary compiled; porcelain produced. | Three Kingdoms
A.D. 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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| | | The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. Copyright © 2007 Columbia University Press. |
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