Chinese Events that Influenced literature timeline

Modern Era

1912 BCE

Sun Yat-sen led a revolution that marked the end of Chinese dynasties in which a clan rules an empire. Of course, the big change of Chinese society that happened with the change of government led to a change in literature. It became westernized, and the Classical Language wasn’t used.

Shang Dynasty

1700 BCE

Shang Dynasty - the first Chinese state for which clear written records remain - unites much of north central China.

Qing Dynasty

1644 BCE

The Manchus invaded the Ming Empire from the north and established the last dynasty called the Qing Dynasty. The Manchus were not Chinese, but they retained the Neo-Confucian governing system of the Song and Ming eras. The Qing Dynasty came under increasing attack from both internal rebellions and foreign countries.

Ming Dynasty

1368 BCE

The Chinese rebelled against the Mongols, and the Ming Dynasty era began about 1368. The Mongols and the Ming government still sometimes fought. Because of this and the presence of Muslim countries in between, trade with the west was reduced to the pre-Yuan level.

Zhou Dynasty

1045 BCE

Zhou dynasty replaces Shang as dominant force across northern China

Zhou State

770 BCE

Zhou state collapses into loose association of warring states, known as the Eastern Zhou.

Imperial China

221 BCE

King Ying Zheng of Qin for the first time unites much of the Chinese heartland, becomes the first ruler to use the title "emperor" as Qin Shihuangdi ("First Qin Emperor") and builds first Great Wall of China, but his empire quickly collapses after his death. After a brief period of instability, Liu Bang founds the Han dynasty.

Han Dynasty

206 BCE

A former peasant leader overthrew the Qin Empire. The Han Dynasty era lasted for 400 years. 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.