China timeline
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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... Read more
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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... Read more
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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... Read more
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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... Read more
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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,... Read more
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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:... Read more
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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,... Read more
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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... Read more
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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... Read more
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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.... Read more
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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... Read more
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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... Read more
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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... Read more
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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... Read more
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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... Read more
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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,... Read more
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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,... Read more
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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,... Read more
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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,... Read more
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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... Read more
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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... Read more
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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... Read more
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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.... Read more
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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... Read more
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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... Read more