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2500BC: ink, tea and silk are invented 2357BC: Yao rules northeastern China 2205BC: the Xia dynasty is founded by Yu: Yellow River (Huang He) valley 1766BC: Tang deposes the last Xia and founds the Shang dynasty 1500BC: the Shang dynasty expands in the northern plains of the Yellow River (Huang He): advanced bronze casting, Chinese alphabet, human sacrifice, war chariot, succession from elder brother to younger brother and then to the oldest maternal nephew, 1395BC: the Shang move their capital to Yin (near Anyang) 1133BC: Wu becomes king of the Zhou (a population that originated in Central Asia) and builds the capital of Hao (near Xian) 1122BC: Wu conquers the Shang empire and founds the Zhou dynasty: father-to-son succession system, decentralized feudal rule (federation of city-states) 1116BC: the Zhou build a city at Luoyang 1046 BC: Zhou Wuwang leads a coalition of eight nations and defeats the Shang and establishes the Zhou Dynasty 1043 BC: Zhou Wuwang dies and Zhou Gong assumes power (the "duke of Zhou") 900BC: I Ching/Yi Jing 897 BC: Feizi founds the Qin dynasty in Shaanxi and Gansu 841BC: A popular uprising deposes the tenth Zhou emperor, Zhou Liwang , and Gong Hebo is elected to rule the empire 771 BC: Western barbarians sack Zhou's capital and the Zhous move their capital east to Luoyang 771 BC: There are 148 states in the Yellow River valley 700 BC: the Chinese invent gunpowder 651BC: The states of northern China unify in a league against the southern state of Chun and King Huan of Qi is appointed their leader 632 BC: The largest chariot battle in history is fought at Chengpu 600BC: Confucius 550BC: Taoism/Daoism 481 BC: End of the "Spring and Autumn Period" and beginning of the "Warring States" period 473BC: The state of Yueh destroys the state of Wu 455BC: Xiang of Zhao wins the battle at Jinyang against Jin king Zhi Yao who is betrayed by his allies, the Han and Wei states, and the Jin kingdom is split among the three kingdoms of Han, Wei and Zhao 453BC: The main states of China are Qi in the east, Qin in the west and Chu and Yueh in the south 403 BC: the Zhou empire begins to split in several states (Qin in the west, Qi in the east, Chu in the south and smaller ones) 361 BC: Gongsun Yang moves to Qin, assumes the title of Lord Shang (Shang Yang) and Launches a program of "legalist" reforms 350BC: the period of the "warring states" is characterized by coins, iron weapons, public works (canals, walls) 350BC: The Qin move the capital to Xianyang, a city designed by Shang Yang near Xian 341 BC: Qi defeats Wei at the battle of Maling 338 BC: Gongsun Yang is executed in Qin 334BC: The state of Chu destroys the state of Yueh in the south 316 BC: Qin begins military expansion 314 BC: Qin conquers Shu and Ba, more than doubling its territory, and acquiring Shu's ironworks 286BC: The Qi destroy the state of Sung 260BC: the Qin destroy the Zhao at the battle of Changping 256BC: The Qin conquer the remaining Zhou territories, depose the last Zhou emperor, and the Zhou dynasty ends after over 800 years of rule 250BC: Seven major states exist between the Yellow River (Huang He) and the Yangtze Kiang (Chang Jiang) 250BC: Zichu becomes emperor of Qin as king Zhuangxiang and appoints Buwei Lu as prime minister 249BC: The state of Chu destroys the state of Lu in the north 246BC: A 13-year-old boy, Zheng Ying (later renamed Shi Huangdi), ascends to the throne of Qin, assisted by Lu Pu-wei/Buwei Lu 237BC: Lu Pu-wei/Buwei Lu is replaced by Ssu Li/ Si li as prime minister of Qin 231 BC: Zheng/Huangdi begins a military campaign against Qin's neighbors 225 BC: Qin state conqures Wei state 221 BC: Huangdi of the Qin state conquers more states and becomes the first emperor of China 221 BC: Qin general Meng Tian begins construction of the first Great Wall, from Lintao to Liaodong, about 5000 kms to protect from the Xiongnu (to the north of the Ming's Great Wall) 213 BC: Shi Huangdi outlaws all schools of thought except the legalist one, burns thousands of books and buries alive 346 scholars 210 BC: Shi Huangdi is buried in a colossal tomb near Xian, surrounded by thousands of terracotta soldiers, while Li Ssu/Si Li chooses a new successor who is incompetent 209 BC: Popular uprisings erupt throughout the Qin empire led by peasant Sheng Chen ("Dazexiang Uprising") 207 BC: Liu Pang/Bang, a man of humble origins, seizes the Wei Valley (base of Qin power) and founds the Han state 206 BC: Liu Bang conquers the Qin's capital Xianyang without looting it but two months later the aristocrat Hsian Yu/ Xiang Yu, a descendant of the Chu, loots Xianyang, executes the Qin royal family and destroys the royal palace of Xianyang 204 BC: Liu Bang defeats Xiang Yu at the Wei river ("Battle of Gaixia") 202 BC: The rebel Liu Bang/ Pang, supported by the Confucians, defeats Hsian Yu, assumes the name Gaozu and founds the Han dynasty with capital in Xian/Changan 200 BC: Mao-tun unites the Turkic-speaking Huns (Xiongnu, Hsiung-nu) in Central Asia around Lake Bajkal and southeastern Mongolia 195 BC: Liu Pang dies and one of his consorts become empress Lu Zhi 180BC: The empress Lu dies 176BC: the Huns defeat the Yuezhi in eastern China 154BC: The Han emperor defeats seven rebellious kings 141BC: Wu-ti/ Wudi becomes emperor and adopts an expansionist policy 140BC: Han emperor Wudi conducts campaigns against the Huns 139BC: Han emperor Wudi dispatches Zhang Qian/ Chang-Ch'ien to Central Asia 133BC: Han emperor Wudi builds a canal from the Yellow River to Xi'an 121BC: China defeats the Huns 121BC: Chinese invent the magic lantern 115BC: Han emperor Wudi dispatches Zhang Qian/ Chang-Ch'ien to Central Asia again (second journey) 111BC: Wudi destroys the South Yuen state 108BC: Wudi invades North Korea and south Manchuria 106BC: the Silk Road is inaugurated (a treaty between Chinese emperor Wu-Ti/Wudi and Parthian king Mithridates II) 104BC: a Chinese army briefly invades the Fergana Valley (Uzbekistan) 87BC: Han emperor Wudi dies having achieved a vast territorial expansion and building a strong and centralized Confucian state 57 BC: a kingdom is established in the Silla region of south Korea with capital in Kyongju 51 BC: the Hsiung-nu/Xiongnu split into two hordes, with the eastern (southern) horde surrendering to China 22 BC: Uprisings against the Han 2 AD: the Han empire has 57 million people, the most populous country in the world 9 AD: Wang Mang deposes the empress and tries to start a new dynasty 25 AD: Wang Mang is removed from power by Liu Hsiu (Kuang Wu Di) 48 AD: the Hsiung-nu empire is defeated by the Han and dissolves 57 AD: Ming Di becomes emperor 68 AD: Buddhism is introduced in China 68 AD: Youstol Dispage 73 AD: Ming Di sends Ban Chao to conquer Central Asia 88 AD: Empress Dowager Tou appoints her brother Tou Hsien as emperor 89 AD: The Tou family of the empress is exterminated 97 AD: Chinese general Pan Chao sends an embassy to the Roman Empire 105 AD: Cai Lun/Tsai Luns invents paper 132 AD: Emperor Shun chooses Liang Na/ Shunlie as empress 141 AD: The empress' brother Liang Ji is appointed prime minister 144 AD: Emperor Shun dies and his toddler son Liu Bing/ Chong becomes emperor, with Liang Na as empress dowager 145 AD: Emperor Chong dies and Liang Na and Liang Ji appoint the child Liu Zuan as emperor 146 AD: Liang Ji poisons emperor Liu Zuan and appoints 14-year-old Liu Zhi/ Huan as emperor, with Liang Na still regent 150 AD: Empress dowager Liang Na dies but Liang Ji continues to exert power 160 AD: The Liang family of the empress is exterminated by emperor Huan 165 AD: Confucian classics are carved into rows of stones to protect them from natural disasters 166 AD: The imperial eunuchs carry out purges to eliminate political enemies 169 AD: The imperial eunuchs carry out a second wave of purges to eliminate political enemies 184 AD: Revolt of the "Yellow Turbans" who believe that the end of the world is approaching 189 AD: Lingdi dies and is succeeded by his wife He and her brother general He Jin, who is soon assassinated, and Dong Zhuo seizes power on behalf of Lingdi's son Xiandi 190: the Chinese invent the abacus 192 AD: Dong Zhuo dies and Cao Cao of Wei seizes power 208: The southern warlords Liu Bei and Sun Quan defeat the northern warlord Cao Cao at the battle of the Red Cliff/ Chibi, the largest naval battle in history yet 220: a new wave of invasions by the Hsiung-nu cause population movement to the south (from the Yellow River to the Yangze in the south) and the Han dynasty collapses, allowing three kingdoms to appear: Wei in the north (founded by Wei Wen Di), Shu in Szechuan (founded by Liu Bei) and Wu in the south (founded by Sun Quan) 221: Liu Bei founds a dynasty in Chengdu 263: Wei general Wudi takes Chengdu and annexes Shu 265: Wei general Wudi stages a coup and founds the Western Qin dynasty 280: Jurchen invades Wu and founds the Jin dynasty 290: Wudi dies and the Western Qin kingdom falls apart 316: The Hsiung-nu destroy Luoyang and found the Chao dynasty 317: The Qin move their capital from Luoyang to Nanjing/Nanking and start the Eastern Qin dynasty 351: Tibetan general Fu Chien founds a dynasty in Xian 366: Buddhists begin the Mogao caves near Dunhuang 370: Japan invades Korea 372: Buddhism is introduced from China into the kingdom of Koguryo (Korea) 386: Chinese astronomers witness a supernova 391: Kwanggaeto becomes emperor of Koguryo 386: The Northern Wei dynasty is established by the barbarian tribe of Topa with capital in Datong 402: Buddhist monk Hsien Fa travels to India 420: Qin general Liu Yu stages a coup and causes the collapse of the Eastern Qin dynasty 427: Koguryo moves the capital to Pyongyang 439: The Northern Wei unifies northern China 444: Northern Wei adopts Daosim as official religion 446: Buddhist persecutions in Northern Wei 465: Buddhists begin the Yungang caves near Datong in China (Northern Wei) 485: Northern Wei introduces the "equal field" system 493: The Northern Wei move their capital from Datong to Luoyang 494: Buddhists begin the Longmen caves near Luoyang in China (Northern Wei) 520: Bodhidharma popularizes Chan/ Zen Buddhism 514: Pophung becomes emperor of Koguryo 527: the Korean kingdom of Paekche builds the Buddhist temple Taetong-sa in the capital Ungjin (Kongju) 538: the Korean kingdom of Paekche dispatches a delegation to introduce Buddhism to the Japanese emperor 551: Silla seizes territory from Koguryo 552: the Turks conquer the Rouran state and establish the Ashina Kaghanate 553: the Korean kingdom of Silla builds the Buddhist temple Hwangnyong-sa in the capital Kumsong (Kyongju) 557: The Northern Zhou establish themselves in Xian 574: Buddhist persecutions in Northern Zhou 579: Northern Zhou's emperor dies and is succeeded by the degenerate Yuwen Yun 580: Northern Zhou's emperor Yuwen Yun dies and is succeeded by a seven-year old child with the general Yang Jian as the regent 581: Yang Jian usurps the throne of Northern Zhou, renames himself Wendi, founds the Sui dynasty, builds a new capital in Changan/Xian/Daxing, and promotes Buddhism 589: The Sui re-unify China 602: Tibet is unified under Namri Songtsen 604: Wendi's son Yangdi becomes emperor of Sui 605: Yangdi moves the capital to Luoyang 608: Sui emperor Yangdi orders the construction of a Grand Canal/ Da Yunhe between Rongyang and the region of Beijing 611: The Grand Canal is inaugurated 612: The Sui are defeated by the Korean kingdom of Koguryo 615: The Sui are defeated by the Eastern Turks 617: Li Shih-min conquers the Sui and overthrows the Sui dynasty 618: Li Shih-min appoints his father Li Yuan as first emperor of a new dynasty, Tang, with capital in Xian 626: Li Shih-min deposes his father and appoints himself as Tang emperor Tai Tsung/ Taizong 629: the eastern Ashina kaghanate is defeated by the Tang 629: Tibet expands to Nepal under Songtsen Gampo 630: The Tang conquer the Eastern Turks 643: Buddhist pilgrim Hiuan-tsang/ Xuanzang brings sanskrit manuscripts from India to China 648: The Tang conquer the Western Turks (the Tarim basin) and the Uighurs become allies of the Tang 649: Tang emperor Tai Tsung/Taizong dies and is succeeded by Kao Tsung 650: the Tang dynasty extends the boundaries of China west into Afghanistan, north into Siberia, east into Korea and south into Vietnam, golden age of art and literature (ideal of the universal man, combining the qualities of scholar, poet, painter, statesman) 650: Acupuncture is invented 655: Kao Tsung's wife Wu is the de facto ruler of the Tang and scientifically exterminates the aristocracy 659: The western Ashina kaghanate is defeated by the Tang 668: Silla, with the help of the Tang, conquers Koguryo and Paekche, thereby uniting the whole of Korea, with capital in Kyongju, but becomes a vassal of the Tang 682: Elterish rebels to the Chinese and founds a second Turk Kaghanate 684: The Tang move the capital to Luoyang 690: Kao Tsung's empress Wu assumes power 705: Empress Wu is deposed by a coup and the capital moves back to Xian 712: Longji Li becomes emperor after seven years of chaos and assumes the name Hsuan Tsung/Xuanzong, and patronizes painting and poetry 713: The first ambassador from the Islamic caliphate visits the emperor of China 714: Guangzhou port opens to Muslim traders 725: Xian is probably the largest city in the world 744: the Turk Kaghanate collapses and the Uigur empire is founded in Mongolia with capital in Ordubalik 751: the Arabs defeat the Chinese at the battle of the Talas River (in the Fergana valley) 751: Korean prime Minister Kim Tae-song orders the construction of the Buddhist cave temple Sokkuram at Mount Toham 755: Governor An Lu-shan of Sogdian origins, protected by empress Yang Kuei-fei, leads a rebellion and captures Xian 756: Xuangzong abdicates 757: An Lu-shan is killed by his son 758: Muslims raid Canton/Guangzhou 762: The Tang army restores order with help from the Uighurs 763: Tibetans sack of Chinese capital Xian 780: The Double Tax system is introduced that taxes land and not individuals 781: Tibetans occupy Dunhuang 811: "Flying money" (paper money) is introduced in China to pay for goods in distant places 821: Peace treaty between Tibet and China 842: The Tibetan emperor Langdarma is assassinated and the empire disintegrates 844: Persecution of Buddhism by the Tang (40 thousand temples and more than four thousand monasteries are destroyed) 846: the Kirghiz drive the Uighurs west to the Tarim Basin 868: The Diamond Sutra (Jingang Jing) is printed (oldest extant printed book) 874: An uprising in the north 875: Peasant uprising led by Haung Chao in the south 878: Muslims are massacred in Canton/Guangzhou 884: A general of Turkish origins quells the uprising in the north 907: A northern general usurps the throne and terminates the Tang dynasty 907: Hangzhou is made capital of the kingdom of Wuyse under Qian Liu 918: Wang Kon terminates the Silla dynasty in Korea and founds the Goryeo dynasty 932: the Turkic Qarakhanid dynasty is founded in Kashgar 932: Qian Liu dies 932: Chinese official Fang Tao commissions block printing of the 130 vlumes of the Confucian classics 936: Wang Kon unifies Korea and moves the capital north to Songdo (Kaesong) 938: the Vietnamese repel the Chinese at the battle of Bach Dang 947: The Khitan found the Liao dynasty in northern China with five capitals 960: general Tai Tsu usurps the throne and founds the Song dynasty 971: Guangzhou is annexed by the Song 979: The Song dynasty under Tai Tsung re-unifies China 1000: Kaifeng is the largest city in the world with about one million inhabitants 1004: The Liao in the north defeat the Song and carve out their independent state 1024: The Northern Song issue the first paper money (in Chengdu) 1035: Thousands of Buddhist scriptures are hidden in Dunhuang to save it form a Tibetan invasion TM, ®, Copyright © 2005 Piero Scaruffi All rights reserved. 1041: Bi Sheng invents the printing press with movable type 1038: Tibetan tribes founds the Hsia/Xia state in notheast China with capital on the Yellow River 1044: The Hsia/Xia in the nothwest defeat the Song 1052: Uprising in Guangzhou 1067: Shen Tsung becomes emperor 1069: Shen Tsung appoints Wang Anshih as prime minister who launches economic and military reforms 1085: Shen Tsung dies and Wang Anshih's reforms are undone 1087: the Korean court has the entire Tripitaka carved in woodblocks 1092: Lu Dalin publishes the first archeological treatise 1100: The 18-year-old Hui Tsung/ Huizong becomes emperor 1114: the Jurchen/Nuzhen (Manchu) rebel against the Liao 1115: the Jurchen/Nuzhen (Manchu) invade from the north and establish the Jin dynasty with capital in Beijing 1120: uprising of Fang-La 1124: The Khitan found the Karakhitai empire in East Turkestan 1125: the Jurchen/Jin destroy the Liao 1126: the Jurchen/Jin conquer the Song's capital of Kaifeng and the Song move their capital to Hangzhou in the south 1127: Gaozong/ Kao Tsung becomes Song emperor 1130: The kingdom of Qi is created in the central plains 1130: Peasant uprising by Zhong Xian in the lower Yangtze 1135: Song general Yue Fei puts down Zhong Xian's rebellion 1137: Song general Yue Fei destroys the kingdom of Qi 1138: The Song establish a new capital at Huangzhou 1141: Song signs the peace treaty of Shaoxing with the Jurchen Jin accepting the role of vassal 1161: The Song defeat the Jurchen/Jin at the battles of Tangdao (in the East China Sea) and Caishi (on the Yangtze) 1162: Gaozong is deposed 1234: Mongols led by Ogodai Khagan conquer northern China and expel the Jurchen 1264: the Mongols invade China and depose the Song, and Kublai Khan founds the Yuan dynasty and moves the Mongol capital from Karakorum to Khanbaligh (Beijing) 1266: the Polo brothers travel from Venezia to China 1267: The Mongol fleet and the Southern Song fleet begin the six-year battle at Xiangyang and Fancheng on the Han river 1273: The Mongols defeat the Southern Song at the battle of Xiangyang and Fancheng 1275: Hangzhou has 1.7 million people 1276: The Mongols conquer the Southern Song capital Hangzhou but the Song flee to an island and elect a new emperor, Huaizong 1279: The Mongols defeat Huaizong at the battle of Yamen, complete the conquest of entire China and terminate the Song dynasty 1284: the Uighur empire is absorbed by the Mongols 1289: The Mongol engineer Oqruqci buils the Jizhou Canal 1330: An outbreak of bubonic plague kills thousands of people 1351: The Red Turbans, peasants and workers of the White Lotus sect, seize control of the Grand Canal 1355: A Chinese peasant and former Buddhist monk turned rebel, Zhu Yuanzhang/ Chu Yuanchang, leads the Red Turbans to win the battle of Caishi on the Yangtze against the Mongols/Yuan 1356: Zhu Yuangzhang captures Nanjing that becomes his new capital 1363: Zhu Yuanzhang defeats his rival rebel Chen Youliang at the battle of Poyang Lake 1368: Zhu Yuanzhang renames himself Hongwu and founds the Ming dynasty, and China regains independence from the Mongols 1368: the renovation of the Great Wall of China is begun 1375: Hongwu issues paper money 1380: Hongwu disbands the central administration and assumes absolute powers 1382: Hongwu conquers Yunnan that is still ruled by Mongols 1389: the Uigurs convert to Islam 1392: Yi Song-gye seizes power, terminates the Goryeo/ Koryo dynasty dynasty, founds the Yi/Choson dynasty and moves the capital to Seoul 1392: end of the Goryeo dynasty in Korea and beginning of the Joseon dynasty 1398: Yi Song-gye abdicates in Korea 1398: The cruel Hongwu dies and and a civil war erupts between his first son's son Zhu Yunwen and his fourth son Zhudi 1400: Taejong becomes emperor of Korea 1403: Zhudi/ Chengzu conquers Nanjing, assumes the name Yongle/ Yung-lo and becomes the third emperor of the Ming dynasty 1405: Zheng He/ Cheng Ho (a former Muslim slave) sails west with a fleet of 300 ships, invading Sumatra and Ceylon 1407: Yongle captures Annam's usurper Ho Quy Ly and annexes Annam renaming it Jiaozhi 1418: Taejong of Korea dies and is succeeded by Sejong 1419: Zheng He/ Cheng Ho reaches the coast of Africa on his fifth voyage 1420: The third Ming emperor Yongle/ Yung Lo moves the capital from Nanjing to Beijing/ Shuntian 1421: Yongle begins construction of the Forbidden City in Beijing 1421: Yongle executes hundreds of eunuchs and concubines to avenge a coup attempt 1424: Ming emperor Yongle/ Yung-lo dies and is succeeded by his son Zhu Gaozhi/ Hongxi, who recalls Zheng He fleet to China 1427: Annam regains independence from China 1432: Zheng He dies on his last voyage 1433: Shipbuilding is halted and sea travel forbidden 1434: The last voyage of the imperial fleet 1435: The Xuande emperor dies when his son Zhu Qizhen is only seven-year old, who assumes the name Zhengtong (aka Yingzong) 1444: Korea adopts a 28-character alphabet 1446: Korean king Sejong enacts the official Korean alphabet Hangui of 14 consonants and ten vowels 1449: The Mongols capture the Ming emperor Zhengtong 1450: The Mongols release Zhengtong but he is arrested by the new emperor, his younger brother Zhu Qiyu/ Jingtai 1450: The Ming stop printing paper money which has become worthless dute to hyperinflation and counterfeiting 1464: Ming emperor Zhengtong dies and his 17-year-old son Jianshen Zhu becomes Chenghua emperor 1457: Zhengtong stages a coup against Zhu Qiyu/ Jingtai and regains the Ming throne 1455: Sejo becomes emperor of Korea 1465: The Ming emperor orders that provincial taxes be paid in silver 1468: Sejo of Korea dies 1469: Songjong, a child, becomes emperor of Korea 1487: Ming emperor Chenghua dies and his oldest surviving son Youcheng Zhu becomes the Hongzhi emperor at the age of 17 1500: 100 million live in the Ming empire 1505: Hongzhi's eldest son Houzha Zhu becomes Ming emperor Zhengde at the age of 14 1521: Ming emperor Zhengde (Houzha Zhu) dies and court officials enthrone his 13-year-old cousin Houcong Zhu, the Jiajing Emperor ("Great Rites Controversy") 1525: The Jiajing emperor orders to destroy all sea ships 1550: the renovation of the Great Wall of China is completed 1556: an earthquake kills 800,000 people in Shensi 1557: Portugal establishes a trading post in Macao (first European settlement in the Far East) 1557: Pirate Wang Zhi is captured and killed 1567: Ming emperor Jiajing dies Zaiji Zhu becomes the Longqing Emperor 1567: uprising of the White Lotus secret society in Chungking 1573: The Mongol emperor invites the Dalai Lama of Tibet to the Mongol capital of Altan Khan and begins conversion of Mongolia to Buddhism 1583: Jesuit missionary Matteo Ricci arrives in China 1592: Japan invades Korea and destroys dozens of temples 1592: Huang Taiji seizes power in Manchuria and founds the Qing dynasty with capital in Shenyang 1598: China expels the Japanese from Korea 1600: the Chinese empire is the largest nation in the world 1616: Nurhachi unifies the Jurchen (Manchus) and creates the state of Jin/Qing in northeastern China 1620: A 15-year old boy ascends to the Ming throne and the eunuch Wei Zhongxian/ Wei Chung-hsien is the de facto ruler of China 1622: The Jesuit Johannes-Adam Schall moves to China and becomes the favorite astronomer of the emperor 1623: A military coup installs the "Westerners" in Korea 1625: The Qing move their capital south to Mukden 1626: Spain begins colonizing Formosa/Taiwan 1626: Nurhachi dies and the empress Abahai/ Xiao Lie Wu is forced to commit suicide, while power shifts to his eighth son Hong Taiji 1628: A peasant, Li Zicheng/ Li Tzu-cheng, starts a rebellion against the Ming 1635: The Chahar Mongols (Inner Mongolia) surrender to the Jurchens/Manchus/Qings 1636: Jurchen emperor Hong Taiji changes the name of his people from Jurchen to Manchu ("pure") 1637: the Manchus invade Korea and Korea becomes a vassal state of the Manchus 1642: Holland seizes Formosa/Taiwan from Spain 1642: The Ming governor floods Kaifeng rather than surrender it to rebel Li Zicheng 1643: Qing emperor Hong Taiji dies and is succeeded by Dorgon, regent for Hong Taiji's six-year-old ninth son Fulin/ Shunzhi, and Dorgon forces all Chinese to adopt the Manchurian shaven head and pigtail 1644: Li Zicheng/ Li Tzu-cheng, who controls northwestern China, sacks Beijing and overthrow the Ming, and general Wu Sangui asks the Manchu for help 1644: the Manchus, led by Dorgon, invade northern China and take Beijing, establishing the Qing dynasty, while general Wu Sangui and two other generals create their own states in the south 1650: Koxinga (Zheng Chenggong/ Kuo Hsing Yeh), refusing to submit to the Manchus, founds a pro-Ming kingdom in the South China Seas 1658: Koxinga retreats to Formosa/Taiwan with more than 1,000 scholars and artists 1661: Koxinga expels the Dutch from Formosa/Taiwan and founds the Kingdom of Tungning 1661: Kangxi, still a child, ascends to the throne of the Manchu/Qing but real power is in the hand of prime minister Oboi 1663: Tainan is declared capital of Formosa/Taiwan 1668: Chinese immigration to Manchuria is banned by the Manchus 1669: Kangxi throws Oboi into jail and assumes real power 1673: Wu Sangui and the other two states in the south rebel against the Qing 1675: The Chahar Mongols revolt against the Manchus but are defeated and all Chahar Mongol royal males are executed 1681: Wu Sangui is defeated by the Qing 1683: Koxinga's grandson Zheng Keshuang cedes Formosa (Taiwan) to the Manchus 1684: China finally begins to build again sea ships 1685: Guangzhou opens to foreign trade 1689: China signs a border treaty with Russia (first bilateral agreement with a European power), the treaty of Nerchinsk, to settle the border between Russian Siberia and Chinese Manchuria, declaring Outer Mongolia a neutral land (partition of the steppe world between Russia and China) 1691: Khalkha Mongols of outer Mongolia accept the rule of the Qing Empire 1696: The Qing defeats the barbarian Galdan of Eastern Turkestan, supported by Tibet, at the battle of Urga 1699: Britain opens a trading post in Canton 1708: Jesuit missionaries draw the first accurate map of China 1715: East India Company opens offices in Guangzhou 1720: China invades Tibet, turns Tibet into a protectorate and installs Kelzang Gyatso as the new dalai lama 1722: Qing emperor Kangxi 1723: Yongzheng becomes Qing emperor 1724: Yongzheng persecutes the Jesuits 1724: Yongjo becomes emperor of Korea 1724: Qing China conquers the Qinghai region from the Khoshut Mongols 1727: Russia and China sign the treaty of Kyakhta, defining their border and granting Russia a trading post in Kyakhta 1728: France establishes a trading post in Canton 1729: the emperor issues a decree banning the sale of opium 1736: Yongzheng dies and his fourth son Qianlong becomes emperor 1750: "The Dream of the Red Chamber" is composed 1750: Anti-Chinese riots in Tibet 1751: Chinese general Bandi executes the leaders of Tibet's insurrection (slides to death or beheaded) 1755: China begins the "Ten Great Campaigns" to conquer eastern Turkestan from the Dzungar/Zunghar khanate, to defeat the Jinchuan Tibetans in Sichuan, to fight Taiwanese rebels, to fight the Burmese, the Vietnamese and the Nepalese 1757: China invades eastern Turkestan, the Dzungar/Zunghar khanate (nomadic Tibetan Buddhist Mongol tribes), after exterminating tens of thousands of people 1759: China annexes eastern Turkestan, the former Dzungar/Zunghar khanate 1760: all foreign trade is confined to Guangzhou 1765: China tries to invade the Konbaung kingdom of Myanmar 1769: China withdraws defeated from Myanmar 1776: Yongjo dies and his grandson Chongjo becomes emperor of Korea 1776: China exterminates the Jinchuan Tibetans 1777: The corrupt Heshen becomes influential on the Qing emperor 1785: Korea bans Christianity because it disapproves of ancestor worship 1787: the Qing send troops to quell a rebellion in Taiwan 1788: the Qing try to invade Vietnam but are defeated 1790: The Qing send troops into Nepal against the Gurkhas 1794: The White Lotus rebellion 1795: Qianlong abdicates in favor of his son Jiaqing 1796: The "White Lotus Rebellion" against the Qing 1799: Qianlong dies and Heshen loses his power TM, ®, Copyright © 2016 Piero Scaruffi All rights reserved. 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(Excerpted from Ugly Chinese) Ancient capitalsShang (1600-1046 BC): Anyang Western Zhou: Haojing and Fengjing aka Fenghao/ Xi'an (1046-771 BC) Eastern Zhou: Wangcheng/ Chengzhou aka Luoyang (771-367 BC) Qin (350-206 BC): Xianyang/ Xi'an Western Han (206 BC - 9 AD): Xi'an Eastern Han (25-190 AD): Luoyang Western Jin (265-311): Luoyang Eastern Jin (317-420): Jiankang/ Nanjing Northern Wei (398-493): Datong Southern Dynasties (420-589): Jiankang/ Nanjing Northern Wei (493-534): Luoyang Tang (618-904): Xi'an Northern Song (960-1127): Dongjing/Bianjing/Keifeng Southern Song (1127-1276): Lin'an/ Hangzhou Jurchen Jin (1153-1215): Zhongdu/ Beijing Yuan (1267-1368): Dadu/ Beijing Ming (1368-1421): Nanjing Ming (1403-1644): Shuntian/ Jingshi/ Beijing Qing (1644-1912): Beijing Main emperors of China: add a "di" at the end of the name (di = emperor) Qin Shi Huang / Yíng Zheng (221–210 BC) Er Shi / Ying Huhai (209–207 BC) Han Gaozu / Liu Bang (202–195 BC) Hui / Liu Ying - Empress Lü regency (195–180 BC) Wen / Liu Heng (179–157 BC) Jing / Liu Qi (156–141 BC) Wu / Liu Che (140–87 BC) Zhao / Liu Fuling (86–74 BC) Yuanfeng (80–75 BC) Xuan / Liu Xun (73–49 BC) Yuan / Liu Shi (48–33 BC) Cheng / Liu Ao (32–7 BC) Ai / Liu Xin (6–1 BC) Ping / Liu Kan (1 BC – 5 AD) Ruzi Ying / Liu Ying (6–8 AD) Gengshi / Liu Xuan (23–25 AD) Guangwu / Liu Xiu (25–57 AD) Ming / Liu Zhuang (58–75 AD) Zhang / Liu Da (76–88 AD) He / Liu Zhao (89–105 AD) An / Liu Hu (106–125 AD) Shun / Liu Bao (125–144 AD) Huan / Liu Zhi (146–168 AD) Ling / Liu Hong (168–189 AD) Xian / Liu Xie (189–220 AD) Tang Gaozu (618–626) Taizong (626–649) Gaozong (649–683) Zhongzong (684, 705–710) Ruizong (684–690) Wu Zetian (690–705) Xuanzong (712–756) Suzong (756–762) Daizong (762–779) Dezong (779–805) Xianzong (805–820) Muzong (820–824) Jingzong (824–827) Wenzong (826–840) Wuzong (840–846) Xuanzong (846–859) Yizong (859–873) Xizong (873–888) Zhaozong (888–904) Ai (904–906) Song Taizu (960–976) Taizong (976–997) Zhenzong (998–1022) Renzong (1023–1063) Yingzong (1064–1067) Shenzong (1067-1085) Zhezong (1086–1100) Huizong (1101–1125) Qinzong (1126–1127) Gaozong (1127–1162) Xiaozong (1163–1189) Guangzong (1190–1194) Ningzong (1195–1224) Lizong (1225–1264) Duzong (1265–1274) Gongti (1275–1276) Duanzong (1276–1278) Yuan Kublai Khan/ Shizu (1260–1294) Temur Khan/ Chengzong (1295–1307) Kulug Khan/ Wuzong (1308–1311) Ayurbarwada Buyantu Khan/ Renzong (1312–1320) Gegeen Khan/ Yingzong (1321–1323) Yesun Temur (1323–1328) Jayaatu Khan/ Wenzong (1328–1332) Toghon Temur/ Huizong (1333–1368) Ming Hongwu (1368–1398) Jianwen (1399–1402) Yongle (1403–1424) Xuande (1426–1435) Zhengtong (1435–1449, 1457–1464) Jingtai (1450–1456) Chenghua (1465–1487) Hongzhi (1488–1505) Zhengde (1506–1521) Jiajing (1522–1566) Longqing (1567–1572) Wanli (1572–1620) Dianqi (1620–1627) Chongzheng (1627–1644) Qing Shunzhi (1644–1661) Kangxi (1662–1722) Yungzheng (1723–1735) Qianlong (1736–1795) Jiaqing (1796–1820) Daoguang (1821–1850) Xianfeng (1851–1861) Dongzhi - regent Cixi (1862–1874) Guangxu - regent Cixi (1875–1908) Xuantong (1909–1911) |
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(Copyright © 2016 Piero Scaruffi) |