B.C.

2852-2205:

Legendary Rulers:

2852-2737:

Fu Hsi

2737-2697:

Shen Nung

2697-2597:

Huang Ti

2356-2255:

Yao

2255-2205:

Shun

2205-1766:

Hsia Dynasty

2205-2197:

Yü

1818-1766:

Chieh Kuei

1766-1123:

Shang (and Yin) Dynasty

1766-1753:

T’ang

1198-1194:

Wu Yih, the atheist emperor

1154-1123:

Chou-Hsin, model of wickedness

1122-255:

Chou Dynasty

1122-1115:

Wu-Wang

Fl. 1123:

Wen Wang, author (?) of the Book of Changes

1115-1078:

Cheng Wang

1115-1079:

Chou Kung, author (?) of the Chou-li, or Laws of Chou

770-255:

The Feudal Age

683-640:

Kuang Chung, prime minister of Ts’i

604-517:

Lao-tze (?)

551-478:

Confucius

501:

Confucius Chief Magistrate of Chung-tu

498:

Confucius Acting Supt. of Public Works in Duchy of Lu

497:

Confucius Minister of Crime

496:

Resignation of Confucius

496-483:

Confucius’ Wander-years

Fl. 450:

Mo Ti, philosopher

403-221:

Period of the Contending States

Fl. 390:

Yang Chu, philosopher

372-289:

Mencius, philosopher

B. 370:

Chuang-tze, philosopher

D. 350:

Ch’u P’ing, poet

B. 305:

Hsün-tze, philosopher

D. 233:

Han Fei, essayist

230-222:

Conquest and unification of China by Shih Huang-ti

255-206:

Ch’in Dynasty

221-211:

Shih Huang-ti, “First Emperor”

206 B.C.-221 A.D.:

Han Dynasty

179-157 B.C.:

Wen Ti

B. 145:

Szuma Ch’ien, historian

140-87 B.C.:

Wu Ti, reformer emperor

5-25 A.D.:

Wang Mang, socialist emperor

67 A.D.:

Coming of Buddhism to China

Ca. 100:

First known manufacturer of paper in China

200-400:

Tartar invasions of China

221-264:

Period of the Three Kingdoms

221-618:

The Minor Dynasties

365-427:

T’ao Ch’ien, poet

Fl. 364:

Ku K’ai-chih, painter

490-640:

Great Age of Buddhist Sculpture

618-905:

T’ang Dynasty

618-627:

Kao Tsu

627-650:

T’ai Tsung

651-716:

Li Ssu-hsün, painter

699-759:

Wang Wei, painter

B. ca. 700:

Wu Tao-tze, painter

705-762:

Li Po, poet

712-770:

Tu Fu, poet

713-756:

Hsuan Tsung (Ming Huang)

755:

Revolt of An Lu-shan

A.D.

768-824:

Han Yü, essayist

770:

Oldest extant block prints

722-846:

Po Chü-i, poet

868:

Oldest extant printed book

907-960:

Five “Little Dynasties”

932-953:

Block printing of Chinese Classics

950:

First appearance of paper money

960-1127:

Northern Sung Dynasty

960-976:

T’ai Tsu

970:

First great Chinese encyclopedia

1069-1076:

Administration of Wang Anshih, socialist prime minister

1040-1106:

Li Lung-mien, painter

1041:

Pi Sheng makes movable type

B. 1100:

Kuo Hsi, painter

1101-1126:

Hui Tsung, artist emperor

1126:

Tatars sack Hui Tsung’s capital, Pien Lang (K’aifeng); removal of capital to Lin-an (Hangchow)

1127-1279:

Southern Sung Dynasty

1130-1200:

Chu Hsi, philosopher

1161:

First known use of gunpowder in war

1162-1227:

Genghis Khan

1212:

Genghis Khan invades China

1260-1368:

Yüan (Mongol) Dynasty

1269-1295:

Kublai Khan

1269:

Marco Polo leaves Venice for China

1295:

Marco Polo returns to Venice

1368-1644:

Ming Dynasty

1368-1399:

T’ai Tsu

1403-1425:

Ch’eng Tsu (Yung Lo)

1517:

Portugese at Canton

1571 :

Spanish take the Philippines

A.D.

1573-1620:

Shen Tsung (Wan Li)

1637:

English traders at Canton

1644-1912:

Ch’ing (Manchu) Dynasty

1662-1722:

K’ang Hsi

1736-1796:

Ch’ien Lung

1795:

First prohibition of opium trade

1800:

Second prohibition of opium trade

1823-1901:

Li Hung-chang, statesman

1834-1908:

Tzu Hsi, “Dowager Empress”

1839-1842:

First “Opium War”

1850-1864:

T’ai-p’ing Rebellion

1856-1860:

Second “Opium War”

1858-1860:

Russia seizes Chinese territory north of the Amur River

1860:

France seizes Indo-China

1866-1925:

Sun Yat-sen

1875-1908:

Kuang Hsu

1894:

The Sino-Japanese War

1898:

Germany takes Kiaochow; U. S. takes the Philippines

1898:

The reform edicts of Kuang Hsu

1900:

The Boxer Uprising

1905:

Abolition of the examination system

1911 :

The Chinese Revolution

1912:

(Jan.-Mar.): Sun Yat-sen Provisional President of the Chinese Republic

1912-1916:

Yuan Shi-k’ai, President

1914:

Japan takes Kiaochow

1915:

The “Twenty-one Demands”

1920:

Pei-Hua (“Plain Speech”) adopted in the Chinese schools; height of the “New Tide”

1926:

Chiang K’ai-shek and Borodin subdue the north

1927:

The anti-communist reaction

1931 :

The Japanese occupy Manchuria