XIA circa 21^st century B.C.---16^th century B.C.

SHANG circa 16^th century B.C.---11^th century B.C.

WESTERN ZHOU circa 11^th century B.C.---771 B.C.

EASTERN ZHOU

SPRING and AUTUMN PERIOD 770 B.C.--- 476 B.C.

WARRING STATES PERIOD 475 B.C.--- 221 B.C.

QIN 221 B.C.---207 B.C.

WESTERN HAN 206 B.C.---A.D. 25

EASTERN HAN 25---220

THREE KINDOMS (Wei, Shu, Wu) 220 --- 265

WESTERN JIN 265 --- 316

EASTERN JIN 317 --- 420

SOUTHERN AND NORTHERN DYNASTIES 420 --- 589

SUI 581 --- 618

TANG 618 --- 907

FIVE DYNASTIES AND TEN STATES 907 --- 960

NORTHERN AND SOUTHERN SONG 960 --- 1279

LIAO 916 --- 1125

KIN 1115 --- 1234

YUAN 1271 --- 1368

MING 1368 --- 1644