| Xia? | c. 2000-1600 BCE | ||
| Shang/Yin | c. 1500-1045 BCE | ||
| Zhou | c. 1045-256 BCE | ||
| Western Zhou | c. 1045-771 BCE | ||
| Eastern Zhou | 770-256 BCE | ||
| Spring and Autumn (Chunqiu) | 770-481 BCE | ||
| Warring States (Zhanguo) | 480-222 BCE | ||
| Qin | 221-207 BCE | ||
| Han | 206 BCE-220 | ||
| Western Han | 206 BCE-8CE | ||
| Xin (Wang Mang Period) | 9-23 | ||
| Eastern Han | 25-220 | ||
| Three Kingdoms (Sanguo) | 220-265 | ||
| Jin | 265-420 | ||
| Western Jin | 265-316 | ||
| Eastern Jin | 317-420 | ||
| Southern and Northern Dynasties (Nan Bei Chao) | 420-581 (589) | ||
| Sui | 581 (589)-618 | ||
| Tang | 618-907 | ||
| Five Dynasties (Wu Dai) | 907-960 | ||
| Song | 960-1279 | ||
| Northern Song | 960-1127 | ||
| Southern Song | 1127-1279 | ||
| Liao (Qitan) | 947-1… |