China Events

2100BC
to 1600BC
Xia Dynasty of China
The Xia Dynasty (Chinese: 夏朝; pinyin: Xià Cháo; Wade-Giles: hsia-ch'ao) of China is the first dynasty to be described in ancient historical records such as Records of the Grand Historian ...
1600BC
to 1046BC
Shang Dynasty of China
The Shang Dynasty (Chinese: 商朝) or Yin Dynasty (殷代) was, according to traditional sources, the second Chinese dynasty, after the Xia Dynasty. They ruled in the northeastern regions of the...
1045BC
to 256BC
Zhou Dynasty of China
The Zhou Dynasty (Chinese: 周朝; pinyin: Zhōu Cháo; Wade-Giles: Chou Ch`ao; 1045 BCE to 256 BCE) followed the Shang Dynasty and was followed by the Qin Dynasty in China. The Zhou dynasty la...
551BC Confucius is Born
Kong Qiu, as Confucius is commonly known, is a combination of his surname and his given name, and he was also known as Zhong Ni, which is his courtesy name. He was born in 551 BC in the L...
479BC Confucius Dies
Confucius was warmly received in Lu, but there is no indication that he was given a responsible position. Little is known about his last years, although this would have been a logical tim...
220BC
to 206BC
Great Wall of China Built
The Great Wall of China (simplified Chinese: 长城; traditional Chinese: 長城; pinyin: Chángchéng; literally "long fortress" or simplified Chinese: 万里长城; traditional Chinese: 萬里長城; pinyin: Wàn...
868 The Diamond Sutra, Oldest Known Dated Printed Book
The Buddhist text known around the world as the Diamond Sutra (although a more accurate translation of the Sanskrit title might be, for instance, the Vajra Cutter Sutra) is a short Mahaya...
1041
to 1048
Bi Sheng Invents First Known Movable Type Technology
"During the reign of Chingli, [1041-1048] Bi Sheng, a man of unofficial position, made movable type. His method was as follows: he took sticky clay and cut in it characters as thin as the ..." —Shen Kuo
1205
to 1209
Mongol Invasion of China
Mongke Khan dispatched Kublai to the Dali Kingdom in 1253 to outflank the Song. The Gao faimly, dominated the court, resisted and murdered Mongol envoys. The Mongols divided their forces ...
1211
to 1234
Mongol-Jin Dynasty War
Wanyan Heda's Jin army still had more than 100,000 men after the battle at Mount Yu, and the Mongols adopted a strategy of exhausting the enemy. The Jin troops had had little rest all the...
1235
to 1279
Mongol Conquest of the Song Dynasty
Bayan of the Baarin, the Mongol commander, then sent half of his force up river to wade to the south bank in order to build a bridge across to take the Yang lo fortress .Three thousand So...
1368 Chinese Unification under Ming Dynasty
The Hongwu Emperor (Chinese: 洪武帝; Wade-Giles: Hung-wu Ti; October 21, 1328 – June 24, 1398), known variably by his given name Zhu Yuanzhang (Chinese: 朱元璋; Wade-Giles: Chu Yuan-chang) and ...
1368 Jan 23
to 1398 Jun 24
 Reign of Hongwu Emperor: The First Emperor of the Ming Dynasty
The Hongwu Emperor (Chinese: 洪武帝; Wade-Giles: Hung-wu Ti; October 21, 1328 – June 24, 1398), known variably by his given name Zhu Yuanzhang (Chinese: 朱元璋; Wade-Giles: Chu Yuan-chang) and ...
1370 City Walls of Pingyao Constructed
Pingyao (Chinese: 平遥; pinyin: Píngyáo) is a Chinese city and county in central Shanxi province, China. It lies about 715 km from Beijing and 80 km from the provincial capital, Taiyuan. Du...
1398 Jun 30
to 1402 Jul 13
 Reign of Jianwen Emperor: The Second Emperor of the Ming Dynasty
The Jianwen Emperor (Traditional Chinese: 建文; Simplified Chinese: 建文; pinyin: Jiànwén; Wade-Giles: Chien-wen) (5 December 1377–13 July 1402), with the personal name Zhu Yunwen, reigned as...
1402 Jul 17
to 1424 Aug 12
 Reign of Yongle Emperor: The Third Emperor of the Ming Dynasty
The Yongle Emperor (Traditional Chinese: 永樂; Simplified Chinese: 永乐; pinyin: Yǒnglè; Wade-Giles: Yung-lo; IPA: [jʊ̀ŋlɤ̂]) (May 2, 1360 – August 12, 1424), born Zhu Di (Chu Ti), was the th...
1405
to 1433
Yongle Emperor Sponsorship of Chinese Worldwide Exploration
As part of his desire to expand Chinese influence, the Yongle Emperor sponsored at least seven epic sea-going expeditions between 1405 and 1433, led by the great admiral, the Muslim eunuc...
1420 Forbidden City Completed
The Forbidden City was the Chinese imperial palace from the Ming Dynasty to the end of the Qing Dynasty. It is located in the middle of Beijing, China, and now houses the Palace Museum. ...
1424 Sep 7
to 1425 May 29
 Reign of Hongxi Emperor: The Fourth Emperor of the Ming Dynasty
The Hongxi Emperor (洪熙 [xʊ̌ŋɕí]; August 16, 1378–May 29, 1425) was an fourth emperor of the Ming dynasty in China. He succeeded his father, Yongle, in 1424. His era name means "Vastly bri...
1425 Jun 27
to 1435 Jan 31
 Reign of Xuande Emperor: The Fifth Emperor of the Ming Dynasty
The Xuande Emperor (宣德 [ɕɥántɤ̌]; February 25, 1398 – January 31, 1435) was Emperor of China (Ming dynasty) between 1425–1435. His era name means "Proclamation of virtue". Born Zhu Zha...
1435 Feb 7
to 1449 Sep 1
 First Reign of Zhengtong Emperor: The Sixth Emperor of the Ming Dynasty
Zhu Qizhen ( 29 November 1427 – 23 February 1464) was an emperor of the Ming Dynasty. He ruled as the Zhengtong Emperor (正統 IPA: [tʂɤ̂ŋtʰʊ̀ŋ]) from 1435 to 1449, and as the Tianshun Emper...
1449 Sep 1 Tumu Crisis
The Tumu Crisis (simplified Chinese: 土木之变; traditional Chinese: 土木之變; pinyin: Tŭmù zhī Bìan); also called the Crisis of Tumubao (simplified Chinese: 土木堡之变; traditional Chinese: 土木堡之變; pin...
1449 Sep 22
to 1457 Feb 11
 Reign of Jingtai Emperor: The Seventh Emperor of the Ming Dynasty
Zhu Qiyu ( 21 September 1428 – 14 March 1457) was, as the Jingtai Emperor (景泰 IPA: [tɕìŋtʰâɪ]), a Ming Dynasty Emperor of China from 1449 to 1457. His era name means "Exalted view". Zh...
1457 Feb 11
to 1464 Feb 23
 Second Reign of Zhengtong (Tianshun) Emperor: The Sixth Emperor of the Ming Dynasty
Zhu Qizhen ( 29 November 1427 – 23 February 1464) was an emperor of the Ming Dynasty. He ruled as the Zhengtong Emperor (正統 IPA: [tʂɤ̂ŋtʰʊ̀ŋ]) from 1435 to 1449, and as the Tianshun Emper...
1464 Feb 28
to 1487 Sep 9
 Reign of Chenghua Emperor: The Eighth Emperor of the Ming Dynasty
The Chenghua Emperor (pronounced [tʂʰɤ̌ŋxwâ]; December 9, 1447 – September 9, 1487) was Emperor of the Ming dynasty in China, between 1464 and 1487. His era name means "Accomplished chang...
1487 Sep 22
to 1505 Jun 8
 Reign of Hongzhi Emperor: The Ninth Emperor of the Ming Dynasty
The Hongzhi Emperor (弘治 IPA: [xʊ̌ŋtʂɨ̂]) (July 30, 1470 – June 8, 1505) was emperor of the Ming dynasty in China between 1487 and 1505. Born Zhu Youtang, he was the son of the Chenghua Em...
1500 Porcelain Tower of Nanjing Completed
The Porcelain Tower (or Porcelain Pagoda) of Nanjing (Chinese: 南京陶塔; pinyin: Nánjīng Táotǎ), also known as Bao'ensi (meaning "Temple of Gratitude"; Chinese: 大报恩寺, Da Bao'en Si), is a his...
1505 Jun 19
to 1521 Apr 20
 Reign of Zhengde Emperor: The Tenth Emperor of the Ming Dynasty
The Zhengde Emperor (正德 [tʂə̂ŋtɤ̌]) (October 26, 1491 – April 20, 1521) was emperor of China (Ming dynasty) between 1505-1521. Born Zhu Houzhao, he was the Hongzhi Emperor's eldest son. H...
1521 May 27
to 1567 Jan 23
 Reign of Jiajing Emperor: The 11th Emperor of the Ming Dynasty
The Jiajing (or Chia-ching) Emperor (嘉靖 IPA: [tɕjɑ́tɕîŋ]; 16 September 1507–23 January 1567) was Emperor of China from 1521 to 1567, the 11th emperor of the Ming dynasty. Born Zhu Houcong...
1556 Jan 23 Shaanxi Earthquake
The 1556 Shaanxi earthquake or Jiajing earthquake was a catastrophic earthquake and is also the deadliest earthquake on record, killing approximately 830,000 people in China. It occurred ...
1567 Feb 4
to 1572 Jul 5
 Reign of Longqing Emperor: The 12th Emperor of the Ming Dynasty
The Longqing Emperor (隆慶 [lʊ̌ŋtɕʰîŋ]; March 4, 1537- July 5, 1572) was the 12th emperor of the Ming dynasty in China between 1567-1572. His era name means "Great celebration". Born Zhu Za...
1572 Jul 19
to 1620 Aug 18
 Reign of Wanli Emperor: The 13th Emperor of the Ming Dynasty
The Wanli Emperor (4 September 1563 – 18 August 1620) was emperor of China (Ming dynasty) between 1572 and 1620. His era name means "Ten thousand calendars". Born Zhu Yijun, he was the Lo...
1597 Dec 23
to 1598 Jan 4
 Siege of Ulsan
The Siege of Ulsan (Hangul: 울산성 전투, Hanja: 蔚山城戰鬪) was an unsuccessful Korean and Chinese attempt to capture Ulsan Castle from the Japanese late in the Imjin War. The Japanese suffered hea...
1620 Aug 28
to 1620 Sep 26
 Reign of Taichang Emperor: The 14th Emperor of the Ming Dynasty
The Taichang Emperor (Zh: 泰昌, Pinyin: Táichàng; 28 August 1582 – 26 September 1620) was the fourteenth Emperor of the Ming Dynasty. He was born Zhu Changluo (Zh: 朱常洛), the eldest son of E...
1620 Oct 1
to 1627 Sep 30
 The Tianqi Emperor: The 15th Emperor of the Ming Dynasty
The Tianqi Emperor (23 December 1605 – 30 September 1627) was the 15th emperor of the Ming dynasty from 1620 to 1627. Born Zhu Youjiao, he was the Taichang Emperor's eldest son. His era n...
1627 Oct 2
to 1644 Apr 25
 Reign of Chongzhen Emperor: The 16th Emperor of the Ming Dynasty
The Chongzhen Emperor (traditional Chinese: 崇禎; pinyin: Chóngzhēn; Wade-Giles: Ch'ung-chen/old spelling: Ch'ung-cheng) (February 6, 1611 - April 25, 1644) was the 16th and last emperor of...
1644 Apr 25 End of Ming Dynasty
The collapse of the Ming Dynasty was a protracted affair, its roots beginning as early as 1600 with the emergence of the Manchu under Nurhaci. Originally a vassal of the Ming emperors, Nu...
1904 Aug 10 Battle of the Yellow Sea
On the morning of 10 August 1904, the First Pacific Squadron sailed out of Port Arthur to engage the Japanese fleet blockading the port. The Russian squadron consisted of the battleships ...
1914 Aug 27 Imperial Japanese Navy First Sends the Suwo to Blockade German-Controlled Kiaochow
The Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) first sent ships under Vice-Admiral Sadakichi Kato, flying his flag in the pre-dreadnought Suwo, to blockade the coast of German-controlled Kiaochow, begi...
1914 Sep 2 Japanese 18th Infantry Division Begins Landings at Longkou
During the course of the naval operations off Tsingtao, the British Royal Navy (RN) attached the China Station's pre-dreadnought HMS Triumph and the destroyer HMS Usk to the IJN. The Brit...
1914 Sep 18 Japanese Army Lands at Laoshan Bay
The 18th Infantry Division was the primary Japanese Army formation that took part in the initial landings, numbering 23,000 soldiers with support from 142 artillery pieces. They began to ...
1914 Oct 31 Siege of Tsingtao Begins
The Siege of Tsingtao was the attack on the German-controlled port of Tsingtao (now Qingdao) in China during World War I by Imperial Japan and the United Kingdom. It took place between 31...
1914 Nov 16 Allies Take Formal Possession of German-Controlled Colony at Qingdao
German PoWs returning to Wilhelmshaven, Germany from Japan in February 1920 The Allies took formal possession of the colony on 16 November 1914. Japanese army casualties numbered 23...
1927 Apr The Chinese Civil War Begins Amidst the Northern Expedition
The Chinese Civil War (traditional Chinese: 國共內戰; simplified Chinese: 国共内战; pinyin: Guógòng Nèizhàn; literally "Nationalist-Communist Civil War") was fought between the Kuomintang (KMT or...
1931 Aug 18 China Flood of 1931
On this day in 1931, the Yangtze River in China peaks during a horrible flood that kills 3.7 million people directly and indirectly over the next several months. This was perhaps the wors...
1931 Sep 18 Mukden Incident
On the evening of September 18, 1931, an explosion occurred on the tracks of the South Manchurian Railroad north of the Chinese city of Mukden (today Shen-yang). The railroad was owned an...
1931 Sep 21 Kwantung Army Issues Proclamation Installing Colonel Kenji Doihara as Mayor of Mukden (Modern-Day Shenyang)
The provincial government of Liaoning Province had fled west to Chinchow. Governor Zang Shiyi remained in Mukden, but refused to cooperate with the Japanese in establishing a separatist a...
1931 Sep 30 Lieutenant General Xi Qia Delcares Independence of Kirin Province from the Republic of China Under Protection of the Japanese Army
On 23 September 1931, Lieutenant General Xi Qia of the Kirin Army, was invited by the Japanese to form a provisional government for Kirin Province. In Kirin, the Japanese succeeded in ach...
1931 Nov 4 Resistance at Nenjiang Bridge
The Resistance at Nenjiang Bridge was a small battle fought between forces of the Chinese National Revolutionary Army against the Imperial Japanese Army and collaborationist forces, after...
1931 Nov 15 Battle of Tsitsihar
On November 15, 1931, despite having lost more than 400 killed and 300 wounded since November 5, General Ma declined a Japanese ultimatum to surrender Tsitsihar. On the November 17, in su...