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Period: 1700 BCE to 1050 BCE
Shang Dynasty
The first dynasty for which there is historical record and archaeological evidence is the Shang Dynasty. It was a small empire in northern central China. No documents from that country survive, but there are archaeological finds of hieroglyphic writing on bronze wares and oracle bones. The hieroglyphic writing system later evolved into ideographic and partly-phonetic Chinese characters. -
Period: 1045 BCE to 225 BCE
Zhou Dynasty
The great literary works of philosophy and religion that became the basis for Chinese religious and social belief stem from what is called the Spring and Autumn Period (770-476) and the Warring States Period (475-221). Taoism, Confucian literature, and other prominent religious and philosophical schools all emerged during these two periods. -
221 BCE
Li Si (221-206 BC)
Qin emperor named Li Si introduced a writing system that later developed into modern Chinese writing. Standardization was meant to help control the society and also help people all over the country to communicate more clearly. -
Period: 221 BCE to 206 BCE
Qin Dynasty
An early form of Buddhism was also established in China at that time, but their temples and literature were destroyed and even less is known about them. The emperor wanted to reduce the One Hundred Schools of Thought to one that he approved. He ordered the destruction of most books all over the empire. He even killed many Confucian philosophers and teachers. So the “Book Burning and Burial of Scholars” was a literary disaster. -
206 BCE
Confucianism Was Revived (206 BC-220 AD)
At the beginning of the era, Confucianism was revived. Confucian texts were rewritten and republished. Confucianism was mixed with the Legalism philosophy of Li Si. The resulting ideology was the official ideology of the Han Dynasty and influenced political thinking afterwards. -
206 BCE
Sima Qian (206 BC-220 AD)
Sima Qian wrote Historical Records that is concerning the overall history of China from before the Shang Dynasty until the Han Dynasty. -
Period: 206 BCE to 220
Han Dynasty
Confucian texts were rewritten and republished. Confucianism was mixed with the Legalism philosophy of Li Si. The resulting ideology was the official ideology of the Han Dynasty and influenced political thinking afterwards. The era’s major contributions were historical texts and scientific works. Sima Qian wrote Historical Records that is a major history concerning the overall history of China from before the Shang Dynasty until the Han Dynasty. -
50
Cai Lun (50-121)
Cai Lun, of the imperial court, is said to be the first person in the world to create writing paper, and this was important for written communication at the end of the empire -
Period: Feb 2, 618 to Feb 2, 907
Tang Dynasty
This era’s main contribution to Chinese literature was in the poetry of Dufu, Li Bai and many other poets. Dufu and Li Bai are often thought of as China’s greatest poets. -
Feb 1, 701
Li Bai (701–762)
Li Bai (701–762) was one of the greatest romantic poets of ancient China. He wrote at least a thousand poems on a variety of subjects from political matters to natural scenery. -
Feb 1, 712
Du Fu (712-770)
Du Fu also wrote more than a thousand poems. He is thought of as one of the greatest realist poets of China. His poems reflect the rough realities of war, dying people living next to rich rulers, and primitive rural life. He was an official in the Tang capital of Chang An, and he was captured when the capital was attacked. He took refuge in Chengdu that is a city in Sichuan Province where he wrote many of his best realist poems. -
Feb 1, 960
Invention of the Movable Type (960-1279)
One of the era’s technological accomplishments was the invention of movable type. This helped to spread knowledge since printed material could be published more quickly and cheaply. Travel literature, in which authors wrote about their trips and about various destinations, became popular perhaps because the texts could be cheaply bought. -
Period: Feb 2, 960 to Feb 2, 1279
Song Dynasty
One of the era’s technological accomplishments was the invention of movable type about the turn of 2nd millennia during the Northern Song period. This helped to spread knowledge since printed material could be published more quickly and cheaply. Travel literature in which authors wrote about their trips and about various destinations became popular perhaps because the texts could be cheaply bought. -
Feb 1, 1279
Entertainment of Shadow Puppet (1279-1368)
the Mongols were entertained by shadow puppet plays in which a lamp cast the shadows of little figurines and puppets on a screen or sheet. Dramatic operatic theaters with human actors speaking in vernacular language was a favorite form of entertainment as well, and some of China’s best dramatic scripts were written then. -
Period: Feb 2, 1279 to Feb 2, 1368
Yuan Dynasty
the Mongols were entertained by shadow puppet plays in which a lamp cast the shadows of little figurines and puppets on a screen or sheet. In the Yuan Dynasty, puppet drama continued to entertain the rich dynastic courts in vernacular language. Dramatic operatic theaters with human actors speaking in vernacular language was a favorite form of entertainment as well, and some of China’s best dramatic scripts were written then. -
Period: to
Qing Dynasty
the first printing of the book was in the late 1700s. It is thought that Cao did not live to see the first printing. It is thought that another person or other people contributed the ending of the story since the original ending of the story was lost. . In a preface to a printed version in 1792, two editors claimed to have put together an ending based on the author's working manuscripts that they had bought from a street vendor. -
First Printing of the Book (late 1700s)
the first printing of the book was in the late 1700s. It is thought that Cao did not live to see the first printing. It is thought that another person or other people contributed the ending of the story since the original ending of the story was lost. In a preface to a printed version in 1792, two editors claimed to have put together an ending based on the author's working manuscripts that they had bought from a street vendor. -
Women Writers (1912-current)
the change of government led to a change in literature. It became westernized, and the Classical Language wasn’t used. The national government wanted women to have more of an equal status in society, and women writers and scholars were taken more seriously. There was a lot of politically oriented literature printed. Scholars had access to foreign literature, and many students studied abroad. -
Period: to
Modern Era
the change of government led to a change in literature. It became westernized, and the Classical Language wasn’t used. The national government wanted women to have more of an equal status in society, and women writers and scholars were taken more seriously. There was a lot of politically oriented literature printed. Scholars had access to foreign literature, and many students studied abroad.
