The Ancient Dynasties in China

China is one of the oldest known civilizations with a written record that dates back to 1700 BCE.  There have been thirteen dynasties leading into the modern age. The first known dynasty is the Xia Dynasty, believed to have been in control from 2100 BCE through 1600 BCE.  There is some controversy over this as it is the least well documented of the Chinese Dynasties. The Shang dynasty ran from 1700-1046BCE and the oldest written Chinese record dates from this time period.

The Zhou dynasty was the longest lasting dynasty running from 1046-256 BCE.  It was also during this dynasty that the concept of a “mandate from heaven” was introduced.  The “mandate from heaven” refers to the concept that a ruler is ruling only because the heavens are behind him and want it that way. At the end of the Zhou dynasty, there was a decentralization of power resulting in two eras in which there were no dynasties, the Spring and Autumn Period (722-476 BCE) and the Warring States period (476-221 BCE)

During the Warring States period the governmental structure of command and prefecture evolved and can still be seen in part today.  At the end of the Warring States period the Imperial Era of China began.  Most of what is now considered China was brought together during this very short dynasty.  It lasted only fifteen years running from 221-206 BCE.

The Han dynasty of 202BCE – 220CE started Confucianism as a philosophical and ideological idea.  After the flourishing Han dynasty began another period of war as differing factions fought to control the huge landmass that makes up the Chinese empire.

In 420 CE, the Southern and Northern Dynasties began.  This period is descriptive of the way that two large portions of China were under independent government.  The Sui dynasty began when the last southern dynasty was annexed in 589 CE.  This reunification created the possibility for change.  When it collapsed the Tang dynasty continued immediately beginning in 618 BCE and continuing until 907.  The next dynasty began in 960 BCE and was the Song dynasty.  This is generally accepted as a time of prosperity where the arts and sciences flourished in China.

Unfortunately it was during a highly unstable time and the political climate did not move back toward reunification until the Yuan dynasty in 1271. The Ming dynasty began in 1368 and ruled until the Qing dynasty started in 1644. The Qing dynasty was to be the last Chinese dynasty ending in 1911 and beginning what is now Modern China.

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