East Asian Dynasties Timeline

Xia Dynasty (Chinese Dynasty)

2200 BCE

This dynasty was the first to adhere to the policy of dynastic succession. It was also regarded as a mythical construct of later Chinese Historians until excavations in the 20th century corresponded to certain descriptions in the accounts.

Shang Dynasty (Chinese)

1766 BCE

This Dynasty faced rebellions by local lords, attacks by Central Asian nomads and natural disasters. However some time later it weakened and fell.

Xia Dynasty ENDS (Chinese Dynasty)

1700 BCE

Shang Dynasty ENDS (Chinese Dynasty)

1080 BCE

Zhou Dynasty (Chinese Dynasty)

1045 BCE

During this dynasty laws were recorded for the first time, the first coins were created, farmers began to use plows for oxen, Chinese culture spread, trade grew, and Chinese began making iron tools.This dynasty ruled for 800 years.

Qin Dynasty(Chinese)

221 BCE

During this dynasty, they established the first empire in China. During which the Qin leaders engulfed 6 Zhou states. The dynasty had a lasting cultural impact on the dynasties that followed.

Zhou Dynasty ENDS (Chinese)

221 BCE

Han Dynasty (Chinese Dynasty)

206 BCE

With the Han dynasty came unity and stability, arts and sciences flourished, paper making was invented and was used to write records, trade grew all the way through Europe and South Asia for other natural resources. During this dynasty they also built the historical Great Wall Of China.

Qin Dynasty ENDS(Chinese)

206 BCE

Silla Dynasty (Korean Dynasty)

57 BCE

Silla was one of the 3 rival kingdoms they conquered the other 2 kingdoms and unified the peninsula. This was possible because of its centralized government, and highly hierarchical system of social ranks. It is best seen in the gold crowns which were greatly prized.

Goguryeo Dynasty (Korean)

37 BCE

During this dynasty an achievement was that Goguryeo controlled most of the Korean peninsula, large parts of Manchuria and parts of the Russian Far East and Easter Mongolia when it was at its best.

Baekje Dynasty (Korean)

18 BCE

An achievement was that Baekje was a great maritime power its nautical skill, which made it the Phoenicia of East Asia, was instrumental in the dissemination of Buddhism throughout East Asia and continental culture to Japan.

Han Dynasty ENDS (Chinese)

221

Sui Dynasty (Chinese Dynasty)

581

During the Sui dynasty, the people built granaries that helped them with a stable source of cheap food during famine years.

Tang Dynasty (Chinese Dynasty)

618

During this dynasty a new type of printing emerged by using blocks of wood and clay. This helped ideas spread rapidly since books printed faster. Gunpowder was also invented. Lastly, magnetic compasses which helped sailors find their way back or to a certain fishing point.

Sui Dynasty ENDS (Chinese Dynasty)

618

Baekje Dynasty END (Korean)

660

Goguryeo Dynasty END (Korean)

668

Parhae Dynasty (Korean)

698

An achievement of Balhae was that it had a high level of craftsmanship and engaged in trade with neighboring countries such as Göktürk, Japan, Silla and Tang.

Early Japan Period Ends

710

Nara and Heian Periods (Japanese)

710

During this period huge parts of Japanese history such as Buddhism, Taoism and other Chinese influences were at their height. The Heian period is also considered the peak of the Japanese imperial court and noted for its art, especially poetry and literature.

Tang Dynasty ENDS (Chinese)

907

Koryo Dynasty (Korean Dynasty)

918

During this Dynasty the country began to form its own cultural traditions from the rest of East Asia. Buddhism was influential and widespread. Its visual art was similar to China´s Song Dynasty. Koryo had good relations with China and adopted its culture and political system.

Parhae Dynasty ENDS (Korean)

926

Silla Dynasty ENDS (Korean Dynasty)

935

Song Dynasty (Chinese Dynasty)

960

This dynasty brought stability and cultural advancement due to its reunification.

Nara and Heian Period ENDS (Japanese)

1192

Kamakura Period (Japanese)

1192

The Kamakura period marked the transition to land-based economies and a concentration of advanced military technologies in the hands of a specialized fighting class.

Song Dynasty ENDS (Chinese)

1279

Yuan (Mongol) Dynasty (Chinese Dynasty)

1279

One achievement that happened during this dynasty was that Yuan Dynasty unified China after a period of more than 300 years.

Kamakura Period END (Japanese)

1333

Muromachi Period (Japanese)

1338

The Muromachi period in spite of the political disorder, witnessed great cultural growth, particularly under the influence of Zen Buddhism. The uniquely Japanese arts of the tea ceremony and flower arranging.

Ming Dynasty (Chinese Dynasty)

1368

Under the Ming dynasty, the naval explorer Zheng reached as far as the coasts of East Africa for trade. Chinas population also doubled. It's remembered for its drama, literature, and world renowned porcelain.

Yuan (Mongol) Dynasty ENDS (Chinese)

1368

Choson Dynasty (Korean Dynasty)

1392

During this dynasty, Confucianism became Korea's dominant religion. Chinese characters came to be used for Korean writing, writers were inspired by the art and literature of China. They also used Confucianism as a basis for government

Koryo Dynasty ENDS (Korean Dynasty)

1392

Muromachi Period END (Japanese)

1573

Azuchi Momoyama Period (Japanese)

1573

The Azuchi Momoyama period brought political unification under the daimyo Oda Nobunaga and his successor Toyotomi Hideyoshi, who finally brought all provinces under the control of the central government.

Azuchi Momoyama Period END (Japanese)

1603

Edo Period (Japanese)

1603

That period was a time of internal peace, political stability, and economic growth under the shogunate (military dictatorship) founded by Tokugawa Ieyasu.

Qing Dynasty (Chinese Dynasty)

1644

The Qing Dynasty was the last imperial dynasty in China. This era was noted for its initial prosperity and tumultuous (loud) final years.

Ming Dynasty ENDS (Chinese)

1644

Edo Period END (Japanese)

1868

Meiji Period (Japanese)

1868

An achievement of this period was they adopted a constitution and a parliamentary system, instituted universal education, built railroads and installed telegraph lines, and established strong army and navy forces.

Choson Dynasty ENDS (Korean Dynasty)

1910

Qing Dynasty ENDS (Chinese Dynasty)

1911

Meiji Period END (Japanese)

1912

Taisho and Early Showa Period (Japanese)

1912

This period is considered the time of the liberal movement known as the "Taishō democracy" in Japan; it is usually distinguished from the preceding chaotic Meiji.

Taisho and Early Showa Period (Japanese) END

1945