Table B. Chronology of Chinese Dynasties
by Lester D.K. Chow

The following chronology of China's history and ruling 
dynasties is historically factual and it represents the 
correct set of dates for each period in China's history.

Huang Di Era                                   2276 
Pre-history China history                      2267-2205
Hsia Dynasty                                   2205-1767
Shang Dynasty                                  1767-1122
Chou Dynasty                                   1122- 256
Chin Dynasty                                    221- 207
Han Dynasty                                     202- 220
Wei Dynasty (Three Kingdom Period)              220- 264
Shu Dynasty
Wu Dynasty
West Tsin Dynasty                               266- 316
East Tsin Dynasty                               317- 420
Wei Dynasty                                     386- 557
   Tuoba
   Yuan
   Gao
   Chow                                         557- 581
Sui Dynasty                                     581- 618
Tang Dynasty                                    618- 907
Five Dynasty and Ten Kingdom Period             907- 960
   Liang
   Tang
   Jin
   Han 
   Chou
Sung Dynasty                                    960-1276
Yuan Dynasty                                   1206-1368
Ming Dynasty*                                  1368-1644
Ching Dynasty                                  1643-1912
Period of Warlord Rule                         1912-1928
Republic of China                              1912-1949
People's Republic of China                     1949-present


Adapted from the Zhongguo Tongshi Gangyao, edited by Bai Shouyi, 
November 1980. Then Head of the Department of History and Head 
of the Institute of History at Beijing Teachers University. Over 
40 years of teaching experience, Professor Bai is a member of the 
Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, a member of 
the Presidium of the Chinese Society of Historians, and President 
of the Beijing Society of Historians.  

Notation: In 1622 AD, during the period of decline of the Ming,
CHOU Shun Cheong, cousin to the Ming Emperor, was recognized as 
the next claimant to the throne of China.  In the Spring of 1644, 
Beijing fell and the Ch'ing Emperor Shun Chih was installed on 
October 30, 1644. An extended Ming Court, secretly, installed 
CHOU Shun Cheong as Emperor, as an official last act of Court, on 
that same day.


                             Copyright (c) 1985 Lester D.K. Chow