Capital cities of China in chronological order. Imperial dynasties of China in the Middle Ages

An unprepared person can be surprised by its number. There were four of them, but in the last century the list was expanded to 7 capitals. We will briefly look at each of them.

Beijing

The first capital of Ancient China, like all the others, was located near a mountain range. The first settlements in this area have existed since the first millennium BC. e. During the reign of the Zhou Dynasty, a military fortress was built here. In 1368 it was established. For some time the capital was moved to Nanjing, but the Yongle Emperor returned the capital of the Ming Dynasty to Beijing. The architecture of modern Beijing is largely a legacy of the Ming and Qing dynasties. During the reign of the last of them, the famous Beijing gardens and the Old Summer Palace were built. During the Ming Dynasty, the Temple of Heaven, the Imperial Palace, was built. It was the Yongle Emperor who transformed Beijing, making it look like a chessboard.

Nanking

By the way, the capital of Ancient China during the time of the first emperor was Shanghai. However, scientists did not include this city in the list and Shanghai is not considered one of the historical capitals.

Nanjing is one of the most ancient cities in China. It was the capital of ten dynasties and is currently the capital of Jiangsu. Nanjing is conveniently located between two other capitals of Ancient China - Beijing and Shanghai. Translated, the name Nanjing means “Southern Capital”. The city was founded in the 5th century. BC e. It was here that the largest number of the most dangerous uprisings took place. By the way, this is where the founder of the Ming Dynasty is buried. In 1853, the city became the capital of the Taiping State, ruled by Hong Xiuqian. In 1912, under the pressure of revolutionaries, the city became the capital of the Republic of China.

Today Nanjing is a developed center. Every day more and more foreigners come here. The city is filled with hotels, skyscrapers and luxury shopping centers. Like Shanghai, it is becoming a cosmopolitan city.

Changyaan

The list of ancient capitals of China continues with the city of Chang'an, whose name means "long peace." During its existence, it managed to visit the capital of several states in China. However, today the city of Xi'an is located in its place.

The first settlements appeared in Neolithic times. Chang'an became the capital during the reign of the Tang Empire. As in Beijing, the development resembled a chessboard. In the middle of the 8th century, more than 1 million people lived here, which, by the standards of that time, made the city the largest in the world. During the Ming Dynasty, the capital was moved to Beijing and Changyaan was renamed Xi'an.

Luoyang

The capital of Ancient China, the history of which we will now consider, was also one of the most ancient cities. The city of Luoyang was the capital of various Chinese states. The history of the city begins in the 11th century. BC e. It is believed that this is the first capital Chinese city that was built according to a thoughtful plan, taking into account cosmological semantics. In 770 BC. e. Luoyang became the capital of the Zhou Empire. After that, it was the capital of the Wei Kingdom, the Three Kingdoms and the Western Jin Dynasty.

It flourished during the Sui, Tang and Song eras. Luoyang became the cultural capital of Changyaan. Construction of the Eastern Capital, as Luoyang was then called, began during the Sui Dynasty. In just 2 years, they managed to build a completely new, transformed city. However, all buildings were significantly damaged during the end of the Tang era, which was marked by frequent wars. The revival of Luoyang began during the reign of the Ming. Today it is a small, relatively modern province.

Kaifeng

Three more cities have been added to China's historical capitals. One of them is Kaifeng. It had a huge variety of names: Bianliang, Dalian, Liang, Banjing. The city was the capital during the reign from 960 to 1127. During his reign, the city was of great military importance. However, the Wei kingdom soon built its capital on this territory, calling it Dalian. When the Kingdom of Wei was defeated by the Kingdom of Qin, the city was destroyed and abandoned. During the reign of the Eastern Wei Empire, the city again received the name Kaifeng. The city changed its name many times at the request of the rulers. Kaifeng, under different names, was the capital of the states of Later Han, Later Qin, and Later Zhou. According to scientists, in the period 1013-1027 the city was the largest in the world.

During its existence, the city was destroyed many times through military intervention or natural disasters. This did not stop the rulers from rebuilding it every time and making it the capital of their state.

Hangzhou

The list of ancient capitals of China continues with the town of Hangzhou, which today is a province. In ancient times, before the Mongol invasion, the city was called Lin'an. It was the capital during the Southern Song Dynasty. At that time it was the most populated city in the world. Today the city is famous for its natural beauty, huge tea plantations and Lake Xihu. There are two important historical monuments here - the 30-meter Baochu Pagoda and the Yue Fei Mausoleum. The city still remains a historical center. Hundreds of Chinese come here every weekend to see the famous monuments. In addition, Hangzhou is a powerful industrial center. It is also called the city of a thousand Chinese corporations. A huge number of goods are produced here. The international airport makes it possible to travel from Hangzhou to any major city located in Southeast Asia.

Anyang

Today the city is a small urban district. Anyang was created after the Qin kingdom unified China into a single empire. Under the Sun Empire, the administrative division of Anyang became two-tier. In addition, the city became the gathering center for Xiangzhou authorities. At the end of the Sui Empire, it was here that an uprising against the government, amazing in its scale, began. The city was significantly impoverished due to the fact that it became a battlefield during the An Lushan rebellion.

In the summer of 1949, after victory in the civil war, the communists organized a province, the city of which Anyang became subordinate. For many years, Anyang was part of various districts and regions. In 1983, Anyang City District was created.

Today we learned about the seven ancient capitals of China. A history book can tell a lot more, but Chinese history is incredibly vast and complex, so it’s very difficult to fit into the scope of an article. However, we learned the most important and most interesting things about the historical capitals of China, and also plunged a little into the historical roots of the cities and learned about their current state. In any case, the capitals of Ancient China are of great interest not only for researchers, but also for ordinary tourists. China is a mysterious country that fascinates with its diversity and brightness.

The Forbidden City, now open for tours, is located in the very center of the Chinese capital. From the 15th to the 20th centuries it was the main residence of Chinese monarchs. The palace complex is considered the standard of architecture of Chinese civilization, during the reign of the Ming and Qing dynasties, which for five centuries was the center of imperial power. On the territory of the Forbidden City, landscaped with picturesque landscaped gardens, many buildings were built, the total number of rooms of which exceeds ten thousand. Most of the rooms have retained their original furnishings with elegant furniture, the oldest works of art and household items of that time.

The Mukden Palace in Shenyang served as an additional residence, which still amazes tourists with its grandeur with its priceless library collection and a huge number of artifacts reminiscent of the times of the last ruling dynasty of China, before it consolidated its power in the surrounding lands and made Beijing the capital. The outstanding architecture of the palace testifies not only to the power of the Qing dynasty, but also is an example of the cultural traditions of the Manchus and other peoples inhabiting the northern part of China.

In 1987, the Forbidden City became part of the UNESCO World Heritage List, and in 2004, the Shenyang Palace followed suit.

Chinese Nanjing is called the “Capital of the Six Dynasties.” And indeed: what kind of rulers has this ancient city seen in its long history? Founded in the 5th century, it more than once became the scene of the most important political events for the history of China (and not only). Today he seems to be trying to forget about his turbulent past; It's quiet, calm and very hot here.

"SOUTH CAPITAL"

This is how the name of this large economic and cultural center is literally translated from Chinese, which was indeed the capital of China for a long time - one of the four ancient great capitals of this country.

In eastern China, in the lower reaches of its great Yangtze River, the delta of which is considered one of the centers of the emergence of Chinese civilization, there is one of the most ancient Chinese cities. This is the former capital of numerous kingdoms that succeeded each other over the centuries and the capital of the entire Chinese Empire in the period from 1368 to 1421 - Nanjing. It is located south of Beijing and slightly northwest of Shanghai, 260 km from the latter. With its western borders, it approaches the hilly region of the south of the small province of Anhui, created by the Manchus in 1667. The southern borders follow the water network of China's third largest freshwater lake, Lake Taihu. Beyond the north of the city lies the bulk of the densely populated Great Plain of China. The Yangtze, which flows into the East China Sea, links the city with the Pacific Ocean and makes it an important port where even sea vessels call: Nanjing ranks second after Shanghai in the trading region of this sea and second among the cities of the Yangtze Delta that demonstrate a sustainable development rate. Moreover, Nanjing has long served not only as a trading port, but also as a shipyard from which ships participating in long-distance expeditions launched. For example, from the Longjiang shipyard near Nanjing in 1403, ships of the expeditions of the Chinese traveler and diplomat Zheng He (1371-1435) safely sailed to the Indian Ocean. This outstanding naval commander of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) led seven voyages towards Indochina. Hindustan, the Arabian Peninsula and East Africa, and the inhabitants of the ancient city are still proud of the contribution of their distant ancestors to the expansion of the borders of the medieval world.

Several times during its long history the city was destroyed and reborn again. The founding date of Nanjing is considered to be 472 BC. e., although legend says that the ruler of the ancient kingdom of Wu - Fu Chai - founded the first city on this site back in 495 BC. e. In those distant times of its first heyday, it was one of the largest cities in the world, and in the 14th century. was even mentioned in ancient documents as the largest. Nanjing is considered the "Capital of the Six Dynasties". He first received this honorary status in 229. But the first period of prosperity lasted relatively short. The rulers of the warlike Sui dynasty (581-618) sought to unify the country and, in the process of their campaigns of conquest, almost completely destroyed the influential Nanjing. The city managed to regain its strength during the Tang Dynasty (618-907) - then it again became the capital and was known as Jinling. During the reign of the Song Dynasty (960-1279), textile production began to develop in the city. And already under the emperors of the Yuan house (XIII-XIV centuries) Nanjing was known as the “textile capital” of China.

In 1421, during the Ming dynasty, the capital was moved to Beijing, but until the very end of the era of this most influential dynasty, Nanjing remained the so-called “auxiliary capital”. The reign of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) was a difficult time for the city. In particular, he became involved in the Opium Wars, during one of which he was even captured by British soldiers. It is significant that it was here that the Treaty of Nanking of 1842 was signed, which put an end to the First Opium War (1840-1842).

The city is located on the right bank of the Yangtze, and it is connected to the left by a huge (length - 1576 m) two-tier road and railway bridge (1968) - the largest of such structures in China.

IN THE SHADOW OF A TROUBLED PAST

Back in the 19th century. Nanjing turned out to be the center of dissatisfaction with the order established at the Qing court: in the period from 1850 to 1864, the city played a significant role in the Taiping Uprising. It was not possible to overthrow the ruling dynasty at that time, but many monuments of the previous era were missing in Nanjing.

XX century brought many new shocks to Nanjing and its residents. The Qing Dynasty turned out to be the last imperial house of China in power: in 1911, the Xinhai Revolution took place, which ended an entire era of Chinese history. One of its results was the proclamation of the Republic of China. In 1927, the ancient and honorable city of Nanjing was again made the capital, as many had previously considered it to be. In particular. Sun Yat-sen (1866-1925) - revolutionary and politician, founder of the Kuomintang party, head of the first republican government, revered as the “father of the nation.” Yat-sen's provisional government was headquartered in Nanjing. Largely thanks to the party, the following years are known in the country's history as the “decade of Nanjing,” and the mausoleum of Sun Yat-sen was erected in this city.

Ten years later, in 1937, the long-suffering Chinese capital was again destined to experience a shock. During the second Sino-Japanese War (1937-1945), active operations took place in China. When the Japanese military invaded Nanjing, they carried out mass extermination of the city's civilians with particular cruelty. This event went down in the history of military (and, in particular, Japanese) crimes as the “Nanjing Massacre.” From 1940 to 1945, a puppet government brought to power by the Japanese was based in the city. From the middle of the 20th century. Nanjing lost its official status as the capital of the state, but remained the capital of Jiangsu province.

Modern Nanjing is a large city that has experienced all the delights of industrialization: for example, during the process of city expansion, the water areas of many surrounding villages were simply filled up. This is how 20 rivers disappeared in 10 years, which changed the local ecosystem for the worse.

And yet Nanjing itself is truly a “green city,” as many call it. Due to the sometimes unbearable summer heat, it is also nicknamed the “Chinese frying pan”, but the abundance of green spaces allows residents to hide from the heat.

The part of the city that forms its center is relatively small. Many attractions are concentrated here: the “Imperial City” of the 14th-15th centuries. and monuments from the Ming Dynasty. ancient tombs and mausoleums of revolutionaries, sculptural groups reminiscent of early dynasties, among which fantastic creatures from the cat family and turtles with arrows stand out. The most convenient way to get around the city is considered to be bicycles, of which there can be so many here that real bicycle traffic jams form.

In Nanjing, much attention is paid to children. In addition to China's most famous children's choir, the city is famous for its special children's park, which is inhabited by fantastic dragons. No adult can enter this park without a child. But you can walk along Fujimiao Street with or without children. This entertainment center has grown around an ancient temple that served as a center for the study of the Doctrine of Confucius for more than 1,500 years - such a philosophically meaningful reincarnation.

FUN FACTS

■ The Nanjing tragedy of 1937 still amazes with its scale: films are made and books are written about the bloody, senseless massacre that Japanese soldiers carried out in Nanjing. According to the most general estimates, more than 200 thousand civilians of the city died then. Journalist Iris Chan. While processing materials for a book about the events of those years, she could not bear the stress and committed suicide. She became the last officially recognized victim of that tragedy.

■ In a way, Beijing, the “Northern Capital”, owes its name to Nanjing - the “Southern Capital”: a city that was the capital until the 15th century. and is indeed located south of Beijing.

■ In Nanjing there is a museum for top secret documents relating to the history of Chinese espionage - this is Jiangsu, which is only allowed to enter the Chinese.

■ The 33-kilometer long Ming Dynasty wall, with a height of 12 m and a width at the top of about 7 m, makes Nanjing the world's largest city wall. They say that on many bricks here you can still see the signatures of the master who made it and the controller who accepted the brick.

■ The five-petal plum blossom is the official symbol of Nanjing. At the same time, some Chinese believe that the five symbolizes the five main nationalities of China that are in an alliance (Han, Mongols, Hui, Manchus, Tibetans), while others see this number as a symbol of the five main blessings (happiness, good luck, success, longevity and tranquility) .

■ Residents of Nanjing love to knit and often do it even in public places. Because of this, city buses are often decorated with signs prohibiting knitting on public transport - in order to protect the neighbors surrounding knitters.

■ Nanjing is a city of craftsmen who know how to amaze with their exquisite work. Once, for a Nanjing exhibition of wedding products, eight needlewomen made a dress from 2,009 peacock feathers in two months. And local jewelers created a bouquet of 1999 gold roses. In it, each flower was delicately twisted from metal foil and cost about $45. Chefs are not far behind the jewelers: it was in Nanjing, in just 18 hours, that 50 “cuisine poets” made the world’s largest dumpling (“zongzi”) from glutinous rice - it weighed approximately 2500 kg and was 2.4 m long, 1. 6 m wide and almost 1 m high. Such a huge quantity could satisfy the hunger of 5,000 guests of the five-star Mingyuan Xindu Hotel.

■ One ancient text tells the story of a graceful diplomatic victory. One day, the ruler Fu Chai defeated the ruler of the neighboring kingdom, Guo Zen. The latter, having won the trust of Fu Chai, hatched a plan for revenge: the treacherous captive sent him one of the great “Four Beauties of Ancient China” - Xi Shi and her friend Zheng Dan. Both were Guo Zen's favorite court ladies. The enemy lost his vigilance under the pressure of beauty and was soon defeated. “The beauty strategem was not uncommon in Chinese history. And Xi Shi is considered a very real historical figure.

■ Many of China's leading artistic communities are based in Nanjing. There are especially many groups of dancers and opera singers among them.

■ Since 1990, the International Plum Blossom Festival, the symbol of the city, has been held in Namkim.

ATTRACTIONS

■ “Imperial City” (XIV-XV centuries);
■ Stone pagoda Shelit of the Qishyasy monastery (10th century);
■ “Wuliandian” (brick “beamless temple”, 1398) in Linggu Temple;
■ Part of the city walls of the Minsk era (XIV-XVII centuries);
■ Burials of the emperors of the Liang dynasty (502-557) and Zhu Yuanzhang (14th century), the mausoleum of Sun Yat-sen (1926-29).

Atlas. The whole world is in your hands No. 124

Xi'an is the administrative center of Shaanxi province, a large metropolis with a population of over 7 million inhabitants. Xi'an is one of the four ancient capitals and one of the cradles of Chinese civilization. Today, the city, which has existed for more than 3,100 years, is a transport hub, a major cultural, educational and economic center that has repeatedly played a significant role in the history of China. In the metropolis and its surroundings there are many popular ones, including the famous and.

Ancient history

The oldest sites of primitive man in the area of ​​modern Xi'an are about half a million years old. In the eastern part of the city, archaeologists have found the Neolithic village of Banpo from the Yangshao culture, dating back to around 3000 BC. The city itself is more than 3100 years old. The closest ancestor of today's Xi'an was Chang'an, which served as the capital of several Chinese states. In ancient times, this was the final point of the Great Silk Road.

Xi'an has been the capital of China for thirteen dynasties. The capitals of the Zhou, Qin, Han, Sui, and Tang empires were located near the center of the modern city.

Great Wild Goose Pagoda and other monuments of the Tang Dynasty

One of the most interesting monuments of ancient Xi'an is. This multi-tiered brick structure was built during the Tang Dynasty in the city of Chang'an, the imperial capital. The design of the building shows the influence of Indian architecture. The original five-tier structure was built in 652. It housed numerous Buddhist relics and statues collected by the philosopher, monk, traveler and scientist Xuanzang during his travels.

In 704 AD, by order of Empress Wu, five more tiers were added. In subsequent centuries, the three upper tiers were heavily damaged by fighting, after which they were completely demolished. Currently the tower is seven-tiered. The height of the pagoda is 64 meters. The top tier of the Big Pagoda offers excellent views of the old city. Not far from the pagoda is the Temple of Motherly Love (built: 589, rebuilt: 647).

In 707-709, the Small Wild Goose Pagoda was built. Indian Buddhist manuscripts were kept in this tower. The pagoda has survived several earthquakes and lightning strikes. During a major earthquake in 1556, the 45-meter pagoda went two meters underground. The structure remains in a slightly “recessed” state to this day.

From Chang'an to Xi'an

Chang'an was founded in 202 BC. e. Liu Bang, founder of the Han Dynasty. On one bank of the river, the first Han emperor built the Palace of Eternal Happiness on the ruins of the Qin capital. On the other side of the river, the Weiyang Palace appeared in the year 200. Ten years later, the new capital was surrounded by a powerful defensive wall, stretching almost 26 kilometers in length and having a thickness at the base of twelve to sixteen meters. For comparison, the width of many sections of the Great does not exceed 5.5 and 6.5 meters at the top and base, respectively.

In 582, during the unification of China by the Sui Dynasty after many years of unrest, the emperor built a new capital, Daxing, located southeast of the Han capital. Daxing consisted of three parts: the imperial city, the Xi'an Palace and a settlement for all other capital residents. The Sui capital spread over 84 square kilometers and became the largest city in the world with a population of about a million people.

During the Tang Dynasty, several separate settlements in Chang'an became one city, the new capital of the new empire. The city had the shape of a large rectangle in plan, divided into square blocks, like a chessboard. At that time, Chang'an, with its population of over a million people, was the largest city of the Ancient World. After the fall of the Tang Empire, Baghdad became the most populous city on the planet. During the reign of the Ming Dynasty, the capital was moved to Beijing, and Chang'an received the name Xi'an, which remains to this day.

From the Ming Dynasty to the Xinhai Revolution

After the creation of the Chinese Ming Empire on the fragments of the Mongol state of Yuan, the city was once again surrounded by powerful walls, and it became one of the strategic defensive points in the fortification system of the Great Wall. The walls, stretching for 12,000 meters around the settlement, have been well preserved to this day.

At the end of the Ming Empire, Xi'an was captured by Li Zicheng's rebels, who once again returned the name Chang'an to it. Subsequently, the troops of the leader of a large peasant uprising were defeated by the Qing, and a large Manchu garrison was stationed in the city. When Beijing was captured by the armies of eight powers during the suppression of the Boxer Rebellion, Empress Dowager Cixi abandoned her beloved and fled the capital to Xi'an, where she remained for several months, until 1901.

From the Xinhai Revolution to the PRC

In the last days of the Qing dynasty, rebel soldiers destroyed the Manchu garrison stationed in Xi'an. Ten years after the Xinhai Revolution, the headquarters of the Beiyang general Feng Yuxian, who became Marshal of the Republic of China in 1927, was located here. In the year Hitler came to power in Germany, Xian became the temporary capital of the republic, but the government never moved there. In 1935-36, the former Chang'an became the main center of opposition to the Chinese Red Army. In 1949, Xi'an, shortly before the proclamation of the People's Republic of China in the square, was taken by the communists, and since then has been part of the People's Republic of China. Today Xi'an is one of the most popular megacities among tourists in the Middle Kingdom. Some of the flights from the Russian capital are from Moscow-Xi'an flights.

This page contains links to all portal materials that describe government entities that have ever existed on the territory of modern China (or were subordinate to it). First there are descriptions of state entities as they change, and they are grouped into several topics. Then, a special section describes the dynasties, sometimes including illustrations and elements of genealogical tables, and at the very end the reader will find links to chronological tables for all centuries.

Early Chinese states

Zhou Dynasty

Separate principalities and kingdoms formed as a result of the collapse of the Zhou kingdom .

Han Dynasty, 206 BC e. - 220 AD e.

The period of the "three kingdoms"(Xian Guo), 220-280.

Period of the “Southern and Northern Dynasties”(Nan bei chao)

Sui Dynasty, 581-618

The founder of the dynasty, Yang Jian, was a military leader in Northern Zhou. In 581, during a rebellion, he seized power and then destroyed the entire Yuwen clan. In 589, the Sui Empire also subjugated Southern China, completing the unification of the country.

Wen-di (Yang Jian) ​​581-604

Yang-di (Yang Guan) 605-617

Gun-di (Yang Yu)  617-618

As a result of the uprising, the dynasty fell. The last emperor fled to the south, but was soon killed there. A struggle for power began in the country, which included both numerous princes of the Sui house and individual large feudal lords - rulers of border districts who had armed detachments under their command.

Tang Dynasty, 618-907

The family name of the dynasty was Li. According to legend, its ancestor was Lao Tzu, the founder of Taoism. And in historical times, the Li surname belonged to the Chinese service nobility. Members of the clan faithfully served the Toba Wei emperors and received high positions and ranks (in particular the title Tang-gun). The father of the founder of the Li Yuan dynasty, Li Hu, was appointed governor of the Taiyuan region. Li Yuan succeeded his father as viceroy.

When the uprising against Sui rule began, Li Yuan, including Turkic cavalry in his troops, came to the aid of the emperor. But after his troops captured the capital of the state, the city of Chang'an, Li Yuan, having learned that the emperor had been killed, changed his plans and proclaimed himself emperor, calling his dynasty Tang.

The war with other claimants to the throne continued until 628. In 626, Li Yuan voluntarily (or not so) ceded the throne to his youngest son Li Shi-min, a talented commander and ruler.

Gaozu (Li Yuan) 618-626

Taizong (Li Shi-ming) 627-649

Gaozong (Li Zhi) 650-683

Zhongzong (Li Xian) 684

Ruizong (Li Dan) 685-690

Chia-tian (Wu-hou) (empress, overthrew the house of Tang and proclaimed the Zhou dynasty, but after her death the Tang dynasty was restored to the throne) 690-705

Zhongzong (secondary) 705-709

Ruizong (secondary) 709-712

Xuan-tsung (Li Lung-ji) 712-756

Su-tsung (Li Heng) 757-761

Dai-tsung (Li Yu) 762-779

Dezong (Li Guo) 790-804

Shun-tsung (Li Tong) 805

Xianzong (Li Chun) 806-820

Mu-zong (Li Heng) 821-824

Jing-zong (Li Zhan) 825-826

Wen-zong (Li An) 827-840

Wu-zong (Li Yan) 841-846

Xuanzong (Li Zhen) 847-859

I-tsung (Li Tsui) 860-873

Xizong (Li Xuan) 874-888

Zhao-zong (Li Ye) 889-904

Zhao-xuan (Ai-di, Li Zhu) 905-907

At the end of the 9th century, a peasant war broke out in China. The government did not have the strength to suppress it. In January 881, the rebels entered the capital of the state, the city of Chang'an, and proclaimed their leader Huang Chao emperor. The new dynasty was named Da Qi. But Huang Chao failed to achieve final victory.

The Tang emperor and his family fled to the south. At his call, the feudal lords gathered significant forces, called on the nomads for help, among whom the Chato Turks played the most active role, and inflicted several defeats on the rebel armies. Huang Chao, being surrounded, committed suicide. His nephew Huang Ho fought until 901, but in the end he too was defeated and died.

The Tang emperor returned to Chang'an, but he no longer had the same power. The commanders of the punitive detachments that suppressed the uprising became the real masters of the country. And soon a struggle for power began between them. China actually broke up into several independent states and smaller possessions. In Chinese historiography, the period 906 to 960 was called the “Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms.”

"Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms" period(U-dai), 906-960.

Song Dynasty, 960-1279

The founder of the dynasty, Zhao Kuang-yin, commanded the guards in the state of Later Zhou. After the sudden death of Emperor Chai Rong, the guards proclaimed him emperor. The history of the Song Dynasty is divided into two periods - Northern Song (960-1126) and Southern Song (1127-1279). Family name - Zhao. The rulers of this dynasty managed to unite all of China under their rule.

Northern (Bei) Song, 960-1126

Taizu (Zhao Kuan-yin) 960-975

Taizong (Zhao Jiong or Kuan-yi) 976-997

Zhen-zong (Zhao Zhao-heng) 998-1022

Ren-zong (Zhao Zhen) 1023-1063

Yingzong (Zhao Shu) 1064-1067

Shenzong (Zhao Xiu or Xu) 1068-1085

Zhe-zong (Zhao Xiu) 1086-1100

Hui-zong (Zhao Ji) 1101-1125

Qinzong (Zhao Heng) 1126

Hui-tsung and his son Qin-tsong were captured by the Jurchens. Qingzong died in captivity, and Huizong was executed in 1161.

Southern (Nan) Song, 1127-1279

The entire north of China was captured by the Jurchens. Further, the Song Dynasty ruled only in the south of the country. One of the members of the Sung house was proclaimed emperor there.

Gaozong (Zhao Gou) 1127-1162

Xiaozong (Zhao Shen) 1163-1189

Guangzong (Zhao Dun) 1190-1194

Ningzong (Zhao Ko) 1195-1224

Li-zong (Zhao Yun) 1225-1264

Du-zong (Zhao Qi) 1265-1274

Gongzong (Zhao Xian) 1275-1276

Duanzong (Zhao Shi) 1277

Di Bing (Zhao Bing) 1278-1279

The Song Dynasty fell as a result of the invasion of the Mongol armies, whose Khan Kublai Khan proclaimed himself Emperor of China, calling his dynasty the Yuan.

Yuan Dynasty, 1279-1368

Shizong (Khubilai) 1279-1294

Cheng-tsung (Temur-oljeityu) 1294-1307

Wu-zong (Kaishan-Guluk) 1307-1311

Ren-zong (Ayurparibhadra) 1311-1320

Yingzong (Sidtskhipala Gegeen) 1320-1323

Tai-ding-tsung (Yesyun-Temur) 1323-1328

Yu-ju (Aribaga) 1328

Wen-tsung (Jidjagatu Tok-Temur) 1328-1329

Ming-tsung (Kushila Kutuktu) 1329-1332

Wen-zong (Tog-Temur) 1329

Ningzong (Rinchendpal) 1332

Hui-tsung (Togan-Temur) 1332-1370

Since the conquest of China by the Mongols, protests against the invaders have not stopped there. They often developed into major uprisings. But for the time being, the Mongols managed to cope with them.

In the second half of the 14th century, uprisings of the “red troops” engulfed most of the country, although there was no single command. One of the large detachments in Anhui province was led by Guo Tzu-hsing. Zhu Yuan-chang joined him with his small detachment. After the death of Guo Tzu-hsing in 1355, Zhu Yuan-chang took command of the entire detachment. He located his headquarters in Nanjing, from where he continued the fight - both against the Mongols and against his rivals, the commanders of other rebel armies. Gradually, the entire south of China submitted to his rule, and Zhu Yuan-chang himself accepted the title of wang. In 1368, his troops occupied Beijing and finally expelled the Mongols.

Ming Dynasty, 1368-1644

Zhu Yuan-chang came from a family of peasants. But his parents died during an epidemic when he was still very young. For some time he became a Buddhist monk collecting alms.

Taizu (Zhu Yuan-chang, Hongwu) 1368-1398

Hui-di (Zhu Yuan-wen, Jian Wen) 1399-1402

Chengzu (Zhu Di, Yongle) 1403-1424

Ren-tsung (Zhu Gao-chih, Hongxi) 1425

Xuanzong (Zhu Zhanji, Xuande) 1426-1435

Ying-tsung (Zhu Qi-zhen, Zheng-tong) 1436-1449

Jing-tsung (Zhu Qi-yu, Jing-tai) 1450-1457

Yingzong (secondary, Tianshun) 1458-1464

Xian-tsung (Zhu Jian-shen, Cheng-hua) 1465-1487

Xiao-tsung (Zhu Yu-zheng, Hong-chih) 1488-1505

Wu-zong (Zhu Hou-zhao, Zhuk-de) 1506-1521

Shih-tsung (Zhu Hou-tsung, Jiang-ching) 1522-1566

Mu-tsung (Zhu Tsai-hou, Long-qing) 1567-1572

Shen Tsung (Zhu Yi-jun, Wan-di) 1573-1620

Guang-tsung (Zhu Chang-lo, Tai-gan) 1620

Xi-tsung (Zhu Yu-chiao, Tan-chi) 1621-1627

Si-tsung (Zhu Yu-jian, Chun-zhen) 1628-1644

A powerful peasant uprising broke out in China. The last emperor committed suicide upon learning of the defeat of government troops by the rebel army, whose leader Li Tzu-cheng, after occupying the capital of the state, the city of Beijing, was proclaimed emperor. In the south of the country, in Nanjing, a member of the imperial Ming house, Zhu Yu-sung (Southern Ming dynasty), was proclaimed emperor.

The commander of the northern army that fought the Manchus, Wu San-gui, entered into an alliance with them to suppress the uprising. In 1644, the Manchus invaded China and quickly occupied Beijing. This event is considered the end of the Ming dynasty in China, although the war continued for almost forty years until the country was completely subjugated to the Manchus. The last pockets of resistance were suppressed only in 1683.

Southern (Nan) Ming Dynasty, 1645-1662.

Fu-wan (Zhu Yu-sun) 1645

Tan-wan (Zhu Yu-jian) 1645-1646

Gui-wan (Zhu Yu-lan) 1647-1662

In 1662, Wu San-gui, who became the ruler of Southwestern China, executed the last emperor of the Southern Ming.

Qin Dynasty, 1636/1644-1911/1912

The Jurchen Jin Empire, which occupied the territories of Manchuria and Northeast China, was destroyed by Mongol troops in the first half of the 13th century. The Jurchens living in China were exterminated. But the Jurchen tribes themselves survived and continued to live in the places of their original settlement in Manchuria.

After the expulsion of the Mongols from China, the rulers of the new Chinese Ming dynasty formed three military districts on their lands in Manchuria - Haixi, Jianzhou and Yeren. Local Jurchen leaders were appointed heads of districts. These were semi-independent rulers who had complete independence in internal affairs.

In 1559, Nurhaqi was appointed head of the Jianzhou district. He managed to unite the Jurchens under his rule, in 1609 he refused to send tribute to China, and in 1616 he proclaimed himself khan, calling his dynasty Later (Hou) Jin, thereby emphasizing the continuity of his power from the previous Jurchen emperors. Nurhatsi and his successor Abakha conquered a significant part of China, subjugated the territories of the Mongol principalities, and made Korea a vassal. In 1636, Abaha proclaimed himself emperor, taking the Chinese title of Huangdi. He also renamed his dynasty, calling it Qing. From this time on, the Jurchen people received the new name Manchus. The family name of the dynasty is Tun.

Nurhaci Khan (Taizu) 1559-1626

Abaga Khan (Tai Tsung) 1627-1643

Shizu (Fulin, Shun-chih) 1644-1661

Sheng-zu (Xuan Ye, Kang-si) 1662-1722

Shih-tsung (Yin Zheng, Yu-chang) 1723-1735

Gao-tsung (Hong Li, Qiang-long) 1736-1796

Ren-tsung (Yong Yan, Chia-ching) 1797-1820

Xuanzong (Min Ning, Daoguang) 1821-1850

Wen-tsung (Yi Zhu, Hsien-feng) 1851-1861

Mu-tsung (Tsai Chun, Tung-chih) 1862-1875

De-tsung (Tsai Tan, Guang-xu) 1876-1908

Pu Yi (Xuan Tong) 1909-1911

As a result of the revolution, the monarchy in China was abolished. On February 12, 1912, the young Emperor Pu Yi abdicated the throne.

In 1932, Japan occupied northeastern China and created the puppet state of Manchukuo on the territory of Manchuria. Pu Yi was declared the emperor of this state. In 1945, he was arrested by Soviet paratroopers. In 1950, he was handed over to the PRC authorities and was kept in prison until 1959. Pu Yi died in 1967 in Beijing.

"Barbarian" states, which existed in China in the 4th-6th centuries.

Nanzhao[Nan (Southern) Zhao].

Dynasties (separately)

Lou, Chinese princely dynasty that ruled 1122-248. BC in the Principality of Lu, branch of Zhou.

Liang, imperial dynasty that ruled 502-557. in South China.

Liang Western, Chinese dynasty that ruled 400-423. in the northern Chinese kingdom of Western Liang.

Liang Western (II), Chinese imperial dynasty that reigned 555-587. in Southwestern China.

Liang Late, Din dynasty that ruled 386-403. in the northern Chinese kingdom of Later Liang.

Liang Early, a dynasty that ruled 313-376. in the northern Chinese principality of Early Liang.

Liang North, Xiongnu dynasty that ruled 397-439. in the northern Chinese kingdom of Northern Liang.

Liang South, Xianbei dynasty that ruled 397-414. in the northern Chinese kingdom of Southern Liang.

Sui, a dynasty that ruled 581-618.

Song, Chinese princely dynasty that ruled 1110-282. BC

Song Early, imperial dynasty that ruled 420-479. in South China.

Xia, Mythical imperial dynasty that ruled China from 2205-1765. BC

Xia (II), Xiongnu dynasty that ruled 407-431. in the northern Chinese kingdom of Xia.

Turk Khagans, dynasties that ruled 545-658. among the Turks (Mongolia, Northwestern China, Kazakhstan, Central Asia).

U (I), princely dynasty of China, ruling until 473 BC, branch of the Zhou.

U (II), Chinese royal dynasty that ruled 222-280. in the kingdom of Wu (the period of the Three Kingdoms).

Han, Chinese princely dynasty that ruled 403-230. BC

Han Eastern, Chinese imperial dynasty that reigned from 25-220 AD.

Han Western, Chinese imperial dynasty that ruled 206 BC - 8

Han Northern, Xiongnu dynasty that ruled the kingdom of Northern Han (Early Zhao) in 304-329.

Tsai, Chinese princely dynasty that ruled 1122-447. BC in the Principality of Tsai, branch of Zhou.

Cao, Chinese princely dynasty that ruled 1122-487. BC in the Principality of Cao, branch of Zhou.

Jin, Chinese princely dynasty that ruled 1110-376. BC, Zhou branch.

Jin Eastern, imperial dynasty that ruled 317-420. in South China.

Jin Western, Chinese imperial dynasty that reigned 266-316.

Qi(II), Imperial dynasty, reigning 479-502. in South China.

Qi(2), Chinese princely dynasties that ruled 1122-221. BC in the Principality of Qi.

Qi North, a dynasty that ruled 550-577. in the North Chinese Empire Northern Qi.

Qin, princely, royal and imperial dynasty of China, which ruled in the 9th-3rd centuries. BC

Qin Western, Xianbei dynasty that ruled 385-431. in the northern Chinese kingdom of Western Qin. Western Qin, with its capital in Yongshichuan, is one of the barbarian kingdoms, formed in 385 in Northern China, after the collapse of Early Qin. Its founder was one of the Xianbei tribal leaders, Qifugozhen. The state lasted 46 years and was conquered in 431 by the Xia kingdom.

Late Qin, Qing dynasty that ruled from 384-417 in the northern Chinese kingdom of Later Qin.

Qin Early, Diy dynasty that ruled 351-395. in the northern Chinese kingdom of Early Qin.

Zhao, Chinese princely dynasty that ruled 403-222. BC

Zhao Late, Jie Dynasty, reigned 319-352. in the northern Chinese kingdom of Later Zhao.

Zhou, Chinese imperial dynasty that reigned 1122-249. BC

Zhou Northern, dynasty that ruled 557-581. in the Northern Chinese Empire of Northern Zhou.