Ancient and Medieval China

Embroidered silk blankets wrapping body from tomb 1 at Mashan, Hubei Province. Ca. 300 BC.

Drawing of the gauze weave (luo) discovered at Mashan

warps

Soil impression of embroidered silk, ca. 1100 BC. Early Western Zhou dynasty.

600 BCEEastern Zhou

210 BCE

Dynastic Chronology in China

Neolithic ca. 7000-ca. 2000 BCEXia ca. 2070-ca. 1600 BCEShang ca. 1600-1046 BCEWestern Zhou 1046-771 BCEEastern Zhou 770-256 BCEQin 221-207 BCEHan 206 BCE-220 CESix Dynasties 220-589Sui 581-618Tang 618-907Five Dynasties 907-960Liao 916-1125Song 960-1279Jin 1115-1234Yuan 1271-1368Ming 1368-1644Qing 1644-1912Republic of China 1912-1949People's Republic of China, since 1949 For a detailed chronology see link on wiki.

Inscribed oracle bones, ca. 1150 BC. Character for silk, 絲

Dynastic Chronology in China

Neolithic ca. 7000-ca. 2000 BCEXia ca. 2070-ca. 1600 BCEShang ca. 1600-1046 BCEWestern Zhou 1046-771 BCEEastern Zhou 770-256 BCEQin 221-207 BCEHan 206 BCE-220 CESix Dynasties 220-589Sui 581-618Tang 618-907Five Dynasties 907-960Liao 916-1125Song 960-1279Jin 1115-1234Yuan 1271-1368Ming 1368-1644Qing 1644-1912Republic of China 1912-1949People's Republic of China, since 1949 For a detailed chronology see link on wiki.

Dynastic Chronology in China

Neolithic ca. 7000-ca. 2000 BCEXia ca. 2070-ca. 1600 BCEShang ca. 1600-1046 BCEWestern Zhou 1046-771 BCEEastern Zhou 770-256 BCEQin 221-207 BCEHan 206 BCE-220 CESix Dynasties 220-589Sui 581-618Tang 618-907Five Dynasties 907-960Liao 916-1125Song 960-1279Jin 1115-1234Yuan 1271-1368Ming 1368-1644Qing 1644-1912Republic of China 1912-1949People's Republic of China, since 1949 For a detailed chronology see link on wiki.

cong

Jade ornaments from the tomb of Fu HaoCa. 1200 BC

White earthenware, Shang, 12th c. Glazed stoneware, Zhou, 11th c.

Replica of Fu Hao’s tomb

Dynastic Chronology in China

Neolithic ca. 7000-ca. 2000 BCEXia ca. 2070-ca. 1600 BCEShang ca. 1600-1046 BCEWestern Zhou 1046-771 BCEEastern Zhou 770-256 BCEQin 221-207 BCEHan 206 BCE-220 CESix Dynasties 220-589Sui 581-618Tang 618-907Five Dynasties 907-960Liao 916-1125Song 960-1279Jin 1115-1234Yuan 1271-1368Ming 1368-1644Qing 1644-1912Republic of China 1912-1949People's Republic of China, since 1949

Tomb and funerary suit of prince Liu Sheng, d. 113 BC. Hebei Province.

Encircled by four invocations, what excellent vessel, what perfect vase. May your liquid abound in aroma, and please us to our heart’s content. Flood the palate full with flavor, imbue with moistness blood and skin. Prolong life, dispel disease, for ten thousand years and more.

Dynastic Chronology in China

Neolithic ca. 7000-ca. 2000 BCEXia ca. 2070-ca. 1600 BCEShang ca. 1600-1046 BCEWestern Zhou 1046-771 BCEEastern Zhou 770-256 BCEQin 221-207 BCEHan 206 BCE-220 CESix Dynasties 220-589Sui 581-618Tang 618-907Five Dynasties 907-960Liao 916-1125Song 960-1279Jin 1115-1234Yuan 1271-1368Ming 1368-1644Qing 1644-1912Republic of China 1912-1949People's Republic of China, since 1949 For a detailed chronology see link on wiki.

Even a team of horses will not catch up with the tongue.”Assess the person who talks the most, ten fen.

“I will choose what is excellent in them and follow it.”The person whose vessel is great, forty fen.