[General_Zhaoyun]

Chronology of Major Events in Chinese History


(Prehistoric to Warring States Period)

Prehistory (around 1.7 million – 400,000 years ago)

Around 1.7 million years ago
Yuan Mou people (元谋人) dwelled at Yunnan’s Yuanmou region

Around 800,000 years ago
Lan Tian people (蓝田人) dwelled around Shanxi’s Lantian region

Around 400,000 -500,000 years ago
Beijing People (北京人) dwelled around Beijing’s Zhou Kou Dian region



Clans and Tribal Society (around 18,000 – 4,000 years ago)

Around 18,000 years ago
Shan Ding Cave people (山顶洞人) began clans society life

Around 6,000 – 7,000 year ago
Hemudu (河母渡), Ban Po (半坡) mother’s clan Society

Around 4,000 – 5,000 years ago
Dawenkou (大汶口) culture, father’s clan society began

Around 4,000 years or more ago
Legendary Huang Di (黄帝), Yao (尧), Shun (舜), Yu (禹)



Xia Dynasty (around 2100 BC – 1600 BC)

Around 2100 BC
Yu (禹) passed the throne to Zi Qi (子启), Xia Dynasty was founded



Shang Dynasty (around 1600 BC– 1100 BC)

Around 1600 BC
Shang Tang (商汤) conquered Xia and founded Shang Dynasty

Around 1400 BC
King of Shang, Pan Geng (盘庚), moved the capital to Yin (殷)



Western Zhou Dynasty (around 1100 BC – 711 BC)

Around 1100 BC
King Zhou Wu (周武王) conquered Shang and founded Western Zhou dynasty

841 BC
Peasants revolt. Chinese calendar system and history recording were started

771 BC
Quan Rong (犬戎) , a barbarian tribe, sacked Hao Jing (镐京), the capital of Western Zhou. Western Zhou dynasty ended



Spring/Autumn Period (770 BC – 476 BC)

770 BC
King Pin (周平王) shifted the capital to Luo Yi (洛邑). Eastern Zhou dynasty began

594 BC
Lu state began to impose tax on land



Warring States Period (475 BC– 221 BC)

403 BC
Han, Zhao, Wei (3 families) became feudal lords

382 BC
Wu Qi (吴起) became legal advisor of Chu state, began reform

359 BC
Shang Yang became the legal advisor of Qin state, began 1st reform

350 BC
Shang Yang carried out 2nd legalist reform in Qin state

299 BC
King Zhao Wu Ling (赵武灵) of Zhao State carried out military reform by adopting steppe cavalry warfare tactics of the “hu” people in the so-called “Hu Fu Qi She”
(胡服骑射). First adoption of cavalry in Chinese army

278 BC
Qin State sacked Chu’s capital, Ying (郢). Qu Yuan (屈原), the patriotic official of Chu state, committed suicide by drowning himself at Luo river

260 BC
Battle of Chang Ping (长平之战) between Qin and Zhao state. Qin’s general Bai Qi (白起) executed 400,000 Zhao’s surrending soldiers.

257 BC
King Wei Xin Ling (魏信陵君) saved Zhao state, defeated Qin army

256 BC
Qin state conquered Eastern Zhou dynasty

246 BC
Qin state started the construction of Zheng Guo canal (郑国渠)

238 BC
King of Qin, Yingzheng (嬴政), started his direct ruling

230 BC
Qin state conquered Han state

228 BC
Qin state conquered Zhao state

227 BC
Prince Dan of Yan state (燕太子丹) sent Jingke (荆轲) to assassinate king of Qin, but assassination attempt failed.

225 BC
Qin state conquered Wei state

223 BC
Qin state conquered Chu state

222 BC
Qin state conquered Yan state

221 BC
Qin state conquered Qi state

[General_Zhaoyun]

(Qin Dynasty and Han Dynasty)

Qin Dynasty (221 BC – 206 BC)

221 BC
King Yingzheng (嬴政) of Qin, after conquering the 6 states and unifying China into 1st Imperial Empire, proclaimed himself "Shihuangdi" (始皇帝), which means 1st Emperor. Also known as "Qinshihuang" (秦始皇), he became the 1st Emperor of China. A provincial system was established across the empire.

214 BC
Qin's General Meng Tian ( 蒙恬) defeated the XiongNu (匈奴)and recovered He Tao region, 44 counties were established. On the same year, construction of the Great Wall began. In the south, 3 provinces were newly established.

213 BC
Qinshihuang ordered the burning of Confucian and other books

212 BC
Qinshihuang prosecuted and buried alive 460 confucian scholars

210 BC
Qinshihuang died on the way during an inspection tour. Hu Hai (胡亥) became 2nd emperor known as "Qin Ershi" (秦二世).

209 BC
July, Chen Sheng (陈胜) and Wu Guang (吴广) began their rebellion at
Daze (大泽乡). September, Liu Bang (刘邦) rebelled at Pei , Xiangyu (项羽) rebelled at Wu.

208 BC
December, Chen Sheng died. Xiang Liang (项梁) supported King Chu Huai
(楚怀王), Xiong Xin (熊心), to fight against Qin

207 BC
Xiangyu defeated and crushed the Qin army at Julu (巨鹿). Zhao Gao (赵高) killed
Qin Ershi (Hu Hai). Zi Ying (子婴), nephew of Hu Hai, killed Zhao Gao

206 BC
Liu Bang captured Xianyang (咸阳), the capital of Qin. Qin dynasty collapsed. Xiangyu proclaimed himself "Western Chu King" (西楚霸王). Liu Bang was assigned as King of Han.

205 BC
Liu Bang, together with other feudal lords, attacked Chu, victory at first, but was later defeated.



Western Han Dynasty ( 202 BC – 8 AD)

202 BC
Xiangyu was defeated at Gaixia (垓下), killed himself at River Wu. Liu Bang proclaimed himself emperor and founded Western Han dynasty. The capital was established at Luoyang, but later shifted to Chang'an

200 BC
Liu Bang was trapped by XiongNu at Bai Deng (白登)

196 BC
Liu Bang killed Han Xin (韩信), Peng Yue (彭越)

195 BC
Liu Bang passed away. Empress Lü (吕后) held the actual power

188 BC
Empress Lü directly controlled and ruled the imperial court

180 BC
Empress Lü passed away. Zhou Bo (周勃) eliminated the Lü family's power,
re-established the Liu family's rule. Reign of Emperor Han Wendi (汉文帝) began

154 BC
Wu Chu's "Upheaval and Rebellion of 7 feudal states" (七国之乱). General Zhou Yafu (周亚夫) crushed the rebellion

140 BC
Reign of Emperor Han Wudi (汉武帝)

138 BC
Explorer Zhang Qian (张骞) on a mission to Yue Zhi (月氏), a kingdom in western region

134 BC
Emperor Han Wudi ordered Confucianism to be adopted as State Philosophy under the so-called "cast away all the 100 schools of thoughts, but solely focused on Confucanism" (罢黜百家, 独遵儒术)

133 BC
Emperor Han Wudi failed to lure XiongNu into MaYi (马邑). War between Han and XiongNu began

127 BC
General Weiqing (卫青) defeated the XiongNu, re-claimed border territories during General Meng Tian's time (Qin dynasty)

121 BC
General Huo Qubing (霍去病) defeated the XiongNu

119 BC
General Weiqing (卫青) and General Huo Qubing led a military campaign into the steppe at inner Mongolia and defeated the XiongNu. XiongNu's main force retreated away from Han borders. Explorer Zhang Qian on a second mission to western region

112 BC
Emperor Han Wudi established Nanhai's 9 provinces

104 BC
Chinese Historian Sima Qian (司马迁) began writing "Shiji" ( 史记) [Records of the Grand Historian]

91 BC
"Wugu Havoc" (巫蛊之乱), Emperor Han Wudi was embroiled by magic and elixir for life

89 BC
Emperor Han Wudi ordered a decree "From now on, tyranny will be forbidden. Peasants will be given assistance and will lead a comfortable life."

87 BC
Emperor Han Wudi passed away. Huo Guang (霍光) assisted new child emperor.
Su Wu (苏武), who was on a mission to XiongNu but was banished by them for 19 years, return to Han empire.

60 BC
Established administrative office at Western Region

53 BC
XiongNu's chieftain Huhanxie Chanyu (呼韩邪单于) surrendered and pledged allegiance to Han

33 BC
Wang Zhaojun (王昭君), a beautiful palace maid, was married to XiongNu's chieftain Huhanxie Chanyu. Reign of Emperor Han Chengdi (汉成帝). Distant relatives "Wang" family gained control of the court

1 BC
Emperor Han Aidi (汉哀帝) passed away. Wang Mang (王莽) assisted the new emperor

8 AD
Wang Mang dethroned the Han emperor, pro-claimed himself new emperor, changed the empire name to "Xin" (新), established Xin dynasty

17 AD
Uprising by Wang Kuang (王匡) and Wang Feng (王风), established the rebels "Green Forest Army" (绿林军)

18 AD
Uprising by Fan Chong (樊崇), established rebels "red eyebrowed army" (赤眉军)

23 AD
"Green Forest Army" supported Liu Xuan (刘玄) as new emperor Gengshi (更始皇帝). Liu Xiu (刘秀) defeated and crushed Wang Mang's army at the battle of Kunyang (昆阳之战). Wang Mang was killed at Chang'an, Xin dynasty collapsed



Eastern Han Dynasty (25 AD – 220 AD)

25 AD
Liu Xiu proclaimed himself emperor at Hebei, established the capital at Luoyang. Eastern Han dynasty began. Liu Xiu was Emperor Han Guanwudi (汉光武帝).
The 'red eyebrowed army" captured Chang'an and killed emperor Gengshi, Liu Xuan.

27 AD
Liu Xiu defeated the 'red eyebrowed army'.

48 AD
XiongNu splitted into northern and southern groups

69 AD
Successful control of flood at Yellow River by Wang Jing (王景)

73 AD
General Dougu (窦固) led an invasion against Northern XiongNu. Ban Chao (班超) on a mission to western region

89 AD
General Dougu invaded and defeated Northern XiongNu.

91 AD
Ban Chao established administrative office at Western region

92 AD
Emperor Han Hedi (汉和帝) and eunuch launched a coup and killed
Dou Xian (窦宪). Eunuch began to control the imperial court

105 AD
Cai Lun (蔡伦) developed better paper-making technology

107 AD
Qiang people (羌人) revolt at Longxi province

125 AD
Emperor Han Andi (汉安帝) died. Eunuch assigned Shundi (顺帝) as new emperor

140 AD
Qiang people revolts at Bin, Liang prefecture

141 AD
"Domineering General" Liang Ji (梁冀) ruled the imperial court

159 AD
Emperor Han Huandi (汉桓帝) colluded with the eunuch and killed Liang Ji

161 AD
Uprising by Qiang people

166-167 AD
Disaster of the opposition clique (党锢之祸)

184 AD
Yellow Turban rebellion (黄巾大起义). November, main force collapsed, the rest continued to fight for 20 years or more.

[General_Zhaoyun]

(3 kingdoms, Jin Dynasty, Northern and Southern Dynasties)

3 kingdoms Period (220 AD to 280 AD)

220 AD
Wei Kingdom established

221 AD
Shu Kingdom established

222 AD
Battle of Yi Ling (彝陵之战)

229 AD
Wu Kingdom established

230 AD
Wu dispatched General Wei Wen (卫温) to Taiwan

249 AD
Wei’s great general Sima Yi (司马懿) killed Cao Shuang (曹爽) and gained control of military and political power

263 AD
Wei conquered Shu

265 AD
Western Jin dynasty founded. Wei collapsed



Western Jin Dynasty (265 AD to 316 AD)

280 AD
Western Jin conquered Wu

291 AD - 306 AD
“Wars of the 8 princes” (八王之乱)

301 AD - 302 AD
Peasant revolts at Yizhou (益洲)

316 AD
XiongNu sacked Chang’an, capital of Western Jin. Western Jin dynasty collapsed



Eastern Jin Dynasty (317 – 420 AD)

317 AD
Eastern Jin Dynasty established

383 AD
Battle of Feishui (淝水之战), Eastern Jin army defeated Early Qin army

386 AD
Northern Wei Dynasty established

399 AD
Uprising by Sun En (孙恩) and Lu Xun (卢循)



Northern and Southern Dynasties (420 AD – 589 AD)

420 AD
Southern Dynasty Song established

439 AD
Northern Wei unified northern China, the region around Yellow river

523 AD – 525 AD
Uprising in 6 cities in Northern Wei

525 AD – 528 AD
Uprising at Hebei region in Northern Wei

547 AD - 552 AD
“Hou Jin Havoc” (侯景之乱)

577 AD
Northern Zhou conquered Northern Qi and unified Northern China

581 AD
Sui Dynasty established, Northern Zhou dynasty ended

589 AD
Sui conquered Chen dynasty in southern China and unified China

[General_Zhaoyun]

(Sui and Tang Dynasties)

Sui Dynasty ( 581 AD – 618 AD)

581 AD
Sui dynasty established, northern Zhou dynasty collapsed

589 AD
Sui conquered Chen dynasty in southern China and unified China

605 AD
Sui built the eastern capital, began the construction of the grand canal

611 AD
Peasant’s uprising began. Peasant rebellion at Shandong’s Changbai mountain



Tang Dynasty ( 618 AD – 907 AD)

618 AD
Li Yuan (李渊) proclaimed himself emperor, established the Tang dynasty

626 AD
The incidence of Xuan Wu Gate (玄武门之变).
Reign of Emperor Tang Taizong (唐太宗) began

629 AD
Xuan Zang (玄奘) began his pilgrimage to India to obtain Buddhist sutras

640 AD
Tang established administrative office at Anxi in western region

641 AD
Princess Wen Cheng (文成公主) was married to Tibet

683 AD
Emperor Tang Gaozong (唐高宗) passed away.
Wu Zetian (武则天) ruled the Imperial court

690 AD
Wu Zetian proclaimed herself “empress”, changed the empire name to “Zhou” (周)

712 AD
Reign of Emperor Tang Xuanzong (唐玄宗) began

755 AD
“Anshi Rebellion” (安史之乱), rebellion was led by a Turkic general
Anlushan (安禄山)

756 AD
‘Maweiyi’ Coup (马嵬驿兵变). Reign of Emperor Tang Suzong (唐肃宗)

763 AD
“Anshi Rebellion” ended

783 AD
“Zhuci Havoc” (朱泚之乱)

805 AD
Reform by Wang Shuwen (王叔文), known as the reform of Yongzhen (永贞革新)

875 AD
Uprising by peasants began

880 AD
Huang Chao (黄巢) captured Chang’an, capital of Tang dynasty, and established Daqi regime (大齐政权)

907 AD
Zhu Wen (朱温) proclaimed himself emperor and established Late Liang dynasty. Tang dynasty collapsed

[General_Zhaoyun]

(5 Dynasties, Song and Yuan Dynasty)

5 Dynasties ( 907 AD – 960 AD)

907 AD
Late Liang Dynasty established, Tang dynasty collapse. 5 Dynasties period began

916 AD
Yelü Ahbao (耶律阿保) founded the Khitan regime and established the Liao Dynasty



Northern Song Dynasty (960 AD – 1127 AD)

960 AD
Northern Song Dynasty established

979 AD
Northern Song ended the period of disunion for 5 dynasties

993 AD – 995 AD
Uprising by Wang Xiaopo (王小波) and Li Shun (李顺)

1005 AD
Treaty of “Chanyuan” (澶渊之盟) between Song and Liao

1038 AD
Yuan Hao (元昊) established the Tangut Western Xia dynasty

1069 AD
Reform by Wang Anshi (王安石)

1115 AD
Wanyan Ahguda (完颜阿骨打) established the Jin Dynasty

1125 AD
Jin conquered Liao



Southern Song Dynasty (1127 AD – 1276 AD)

1127 AD
Jin conquered Northern Song. Southern Song Dynasty began

1130 AD – 1135AD
Uprising by Zhong Xiang (钟相) and Yang Xiang(扬乡)

1140 AD
Battle of Yan city between Song and Jin (郾城之战)

1206 AD
Genghis Khan established the Mongol regime

1227 AD
Mongols conquered Western Xia

1234 AD
Mongols conquered Jin



Yuan Dynasty (1271 AD – 1368 AD)

1271 AD
Kublai Khan established the Yuan dynasty

1279 AD
Yuan conquered Southern Song

1351 AD
‘red turban’ rebellion by Liu Futong (刘福通)

1368 AD
Ming dynasty established. Ming captured Beijing, capital of Yuan.
Yuan dynasty collapsed

[General_Zhaoyun]

(Ming dynasty and Qing dynasty )

Ming Dynasty (1368 AD – 1644 AD)

1368 AD
Ming dynasty established founded by Zhu Yuanzhang (朱元璋). Ming captured Beijing capital of Yuan. Yuan dynasty collapsed.

Early Ming
Began the repair and re-construction of the great wall

1405-1433 AD
Zhenghe's 7 naval expedition to South-east Asia, atlantic ocean

1407 AD
"Yongle Encyclopaedia" (永乐大典) completed

1421 AD
Emperor Ming Chengzu (明成祖), also known as Yongle(永乐), shifted the capital to Beijing

Mid Ming
Capitalism began to take root in Southern China

Mid 16th century
Admiral Qi Jiguang's war against Japanese pirates

1592 AD
Ming's assistance in korean war against Japan's invasion

1601 AD
Uprising by Suzhou peasants

1616 AD
Nurhaci (努尔哈赤) established the late Jin dynasty

1628 AD
Peasants rebellion began

1636 AD
late Jin was changed to Qing

1644 AD
Rebel Li Zicheng (李自成) established the Dashun regime (大顺政权). The rebels captured Beijing, Ming dynasty collapsed



Qing Dynasty (1644 AD- 1911 AD)

1644 AD
Qing army entered into China. Manchu conquered China

1661 AD
Emperor Qing Shizu (清世祖) passed away . Reign of Emperor Kangxi (康熙) began

1662 AD
Zheng Chenggong (郑成功) conquered Taiwan

1684 AD
Qing dynasty set up provincial administration office at Taiwan

1685, 1686 AD
Qing defeated Russia at the battle of Yakesa city (雅克萨)

1689 AD
Sino-Russian Treaty of Nibuchu signed (中俄尼布楚条约)

1690 AD
Emperor Kangxi invaded Gaerdan (噶尔丹), the leader of Zhun-ga-er ( 准噶尔) tribe in Mongolia. Battle of Wulan Butong (乌兰布通之战)

1727 AD
Qing assigned ambassador to Tibet

mid 18th century
Rebellion by Senior Uygur chief Hecaomu (大和卓木) and Junior Uygur chief Hecaomu ( 小和卓木)

1782 AD
"All China classics" (四库全书) completed

1796 AD
White lotus sect (白莲教) Uprising

1839 AD
Lin Zexu (林则徐) went to Tiger Gate at Guangzhou to destroy opium

1840 - 1842 AD
1st Opium war

1841 AD
Rebellion at Sanyuanli, Guangzhou of peasants against british

1842 AD
Sino-British "Nanjing Treaty"

1844 AD
Sino-American "Wangfu Treaty" and Sino-French "Huangpu Treaty"

1850s
Appearances of middle class in China

1851 AD
Taiping rebellion

1856 AD
Internal conflict within Taiping rebels

1856 AD – 1860 AD
2nd Opium War

1858 AD
Sino-Russian "Aihui Treaty", Sino-Russian "Tianjing Treaty",
Sino-American "Tianjing Treaty", Sino-British "Tianjing Treaty",
Sino-French "Tianjing Treaty"

1860 AD
Sino-British "Beijing Treaty", Sino French "Beijing Treaty"

1860s – 1890s
Westernization movement

1861 AD
Qing government established Prime Minister Office

1864 AD
Taiping rebellion crushed

1870s
Chinese capitalism rose

1878 AD
Qing government annexed Xinjiang

1881 AD
Sino-Russian "Yili Treaty"

1883-1885 AD
Sino-French War

1885 AD
Sino-French New Agreement

1894 AD – 1895 AD
Sino-Japanese War

1895 AD
Sino-Japanese Treaty of Shimonoseki. Taiwan was ceded to Japan

1896 AD
Sino-Russian Secret Agreement

1890s
Western Imperial Powers carved out sphere of influence in China

1898 AD
Failure of Wuxü reform (戊戌变法)

1900 AD
Boxer Rebellion (义和团运动). An alliance of 8 nations invaded China

1901 AD
Treaty of Xinchou

1904 AD –1905 AD
Russian-Japanese War

1905 AD
The Alliance Society of China (同盟会) was founded

1911 AD October 10th
Successful revolution at Wuchang. Qing dynasty collapsed

[General_Zhaoyun]

(Modern China)

Republic of China (1911 AD – today)

1912 AD
Republic of China was founded. Establishment of Kuomingtang party

1913 AD
2nd revolution

1915 AD
The Youth magazine was started. Begin of the new literature movement

1916 AD
Failure of Yuan Shikai to restore the imperialism

1919 AD May the 4th
The movement of "May the 4th"

1921 AD
The Chinese communist party was established in Shanghai

1926 AD
Chiang Kai shek began his northern campaign to attack the warlords in the north

1933 AD
Japanese occupied Manchuria

1936 AD
The incidence of Xi'an . Chiang was kidnapped by Zhang Xueliang (张学良). Nationalists and Communists agreed to fight against Japanese

1936-1945 AD
War against Japan (World War II)

1945-1949 AD
Civil War between Nationlists and Communists. The Nationalists lost and retreated to Taiwan

1949 - today
Regime of Republic of China based in Taiwan, while Mainland China was controlled by the Communist.


People's Republic of China (1949 AD – today)

1949 AD
Mao Zedong proclaimed the founding of People's Republic of China

1957 AD
The Great Leap Forward program

1965-1975 AD
Cultural Revolution

1975 AD
Mao Zedong passed away. Chiang Kai Shek also passed away

[Ghost_of_Han]

Quote

1 BC
Emperor Han Shuaidi (汉衰帝) passed away. Wang Mang (王莽) assisted the new emperor

That is correct Yun talked about that in Gay Emperor Thread. But where did the "Shu" aidi come from. I had always heard just Han Aidi never with a Shu. Is this correct?

[Yun]

GZ, you got the word wrong - it should be 'ai' and not 'shuai'... the two Chinese characters look very similar, except that 'shuai' has an extra horizontal stroke.

[General_Zhaoyun]

Oops.. got it wrongly.. my mistake. .willl change it..

[Ruthless4Life]

Just something I noticed:

I believe Mao died in 1976, not 1975. This also means that the Cultural Revolution ends in 76, not 75.

[hellzfire312]

wats the diff between the republic of china and peoples republic of china???

[xat]

In 1911, the 1911 Revolution which led by Sun Yat-Sen has overthrown Chinese more than 2000 years feudal dictatorship system,they has built “Republic of China”. Sun Yat-Sen was elected “temporary president”. On October 1, 1949, after passing through the Sino-Japanese War and domestic civil war, Mao Zedong announced establishment in Tiananmen “the People's Republic of China”.








________________________________________________________
http://world-culture...g/c.asp?d=15654 -- Mao Zedong

This post has been edited by xat: 05 January 2010 - 01:15 AM