| I have used Chinese and Western sources to compile the following table of Chinese dynasties and governments, covering the legendary Xia to the end of the Manchu period (Qing) in 1911. More information in English may be sought in Jacques Gernet's History of Chinese Civilization.
Note that I have grouped dynasties and governments in the large into six large periods. Dynasties appearing in boldface are of particular importance in literature.
The "Pre-Han" (Chinese: "Pre-Qin") or "Three Dynasties"
First Empire
- 221 - 206 B.C.E. Qin
capital: Xianyang (near Xi'an)
- B.C.E. 206 - 221 C.E. Han
- Western Han B.C.E. 206 - 8 C.E.
capital: Chang'an (modern Xi'an)
- Xin (interregnum of Wang Mang) 8 - 25 C.E.
capital: Chang'an
- Eastern Han 25 - 221
capital: Luoyang
(Disunion) The "Six Dynasties period"
- 221 - 265 Three Kingdoms period
- 265 - 420 Jin period
- 420 - 581 Northern and Southern Dynasties period
Second Empire
- 581 - 618 Sui
capital: Chang'an, later Luoyang, later jointly Yangzhou
- 618 - 907 Tang
capital: Chang'an, later Luoyang
(Disunion)
Third Empire
- 1279 - 1368 Yuan (Mongol)
capital: modern Beijing
- 1368 - 1644 Ming
capital: modern Nanjing, later Beijing
- 1644 - 1911 Qing (Manchu)
capital: Beijing
Modern Times
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