Chinese Timelines Comparisons

This article contains my comparisons of primarily ancient and mediaeval Chinese timelines that are popular through Google searches. I currently have put in data from 20 websites that range from websites aimed to educate young children to websites that contain publications by respected colleges and universities. These 20 websites satisfy my standard for the high likelihood that a person going to look for a date of a specific Chinese dynasty/kingdom/period may receive and believe one of the dates listed.

This article serves to show that the general datings of the Chinese timeline are not absolute or agreed upon.
Most of the periods have numerous different datings.
My question is; are any of these datings correct?

This article may be updated in the future with more sources and more statistical data.

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Prehistoric China

I recorded 3 datings from the 20 links for the Prehistoric China. Out of these 3 datings, there are 3 different datings for this dynasty.

c.500,000BC-2200? – (19)

up until c.1600BC – (4)

beyond 11,000BC – ancient China begins (15)

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Xia/Hsia Dynasty

I recorded 14 datings from the 20 links for the Xia/Hsia Dynasty. Out of these 14 datings, there are 12 different datings for this dynasty.

2257-1766BC – traditional dating (9)

2205?-1806BC – (19)

2205-1575BC – (1)

c.2200-750BC – (13)

2100s,2000s-1600sBC – modern dating (9)

c.2100-1600 – (2)

2100-1600 – (10)

2100-1600 – (20)

c.2070-1600 – (4)

2070-1600 – (5)

2070-1600 – (14)

2000s-1600sBC – (3)

c.2000-1500BC – (12)

c.2000 – Xia Dynasty begins (15)

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Shang/Yin Dynasty

I recorded 19 datings from the 20 links for the Shang/Yin Dynasty. Out of these 19 datings, there are 17 different datings for this dynasty.

1783?-1134BC – (19)

1752-1122BC – traditional dating (9)

1750-1066BC – (13)

1700-1027BC – (12)

1600s-1000sBC – modern dating (9)

1600-1100 – (14)

1600-1050BC – (17)

1600-1050BC – (2)

1600-1050BC – (4)

1600-1046BC – (5)

c.1600-1046BC – (18)

1600s-1046BC – (3)

1600-1045BC – (20)

1600-1000BC – (10)

c.1600-1000 – (11)

1570-1045BC – (1)

1523-1028BC – (6)

c.1500-1045 – (16)

1400s-1000sBC – (8)

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Zhou/Chou Dynasty

I recorded 20 datings from the 20 links for the Zhou/Chou Dynasty. Out of these 20 datings, there are 12 different datings for this dynasty.

1134?-256BC – (19)

1121-222BC – traditional dating (9)

1066-221 – (13)

1066-256 – (17)

1046-256BC – (2)

1046-256BC – (3)

1046-256BC – (5)

1046-256BC – (7)

1046-256BC – (18)

1046-256BC – (20)

1045-256BC – (1)

1045-256BC – (16)

1045-221BC – (4)

1027-256BC – (6)

1027-221BC – (12)

1027-221BC – (14)

1000-256BC – (10)

c.1000-256BC – (11)

1000s-222, 221BC – modern dating (9)

1000s-221BC – (8)

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Qin/Ch’in Dynasty

I recorded 18 datings from the 20 links for the Qin/Ch’in Dynasty. Out of these 18 datings, there are 8 different datings for this dynasty.

50 years of rule, unlisted time, between 1000-0BC – (10)

771-206BC – (13)

255-206 – (17)

246?-206 – (19)

221-206BC – (16)

221-206BC – (20)

221-207BC – (3)

221-207BC – (5)

221-207 – (12)

221-206/7BC – (14) – this source claims Qin/Ch’in is the likely source of “China”

221-206BC – (1)

221-206BC – (2)

221-206BC – (4)

221-206BC – (6)

221-206BC – (7)

221-206BC – (8)

221-206BC – (9)

221-206BC – (17)

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Han Dynasty

I recorded 19 datings from the 20 links for the Han Dynasty. Out of these 19 datings, there are 2 different datings for this dynasty.

206BC-220AD – (1)

206BC-220AD – (2)

206BC-220AD – (4)

206BC-220AD – (6)

206BC-220AD – (8)

206BC-220AD – (9)

206BC-220AD – (10)

206BC-220AD – (11)

206BC-220AD – (12)

206BC-220AD – (13)

206BC-220AD – (14)

206BC-220AD – (16)

206BC-220AD – (17)

206BC-220AD – (18)

206BC-220AD – (19)

206BC-220AD – (20)

202BC-220AD – (3)

202BC-220AD – (5)

202BC-220AD – (7)

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Six Dynasties (Chinese Dark Ages)

I recorded 7 datings from the 20 links for the Six Dynasties. Out of these 7 datings, there are 4 different datings for this dynasty.

220-581 – (4)

220-586AD – (6)

220-589AD – (2)

220-589AD – (8)

220-589AD – (14)

220-589AD – (16)

222-581AD – (1)

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Three Kingdoms

I recorded 9 datings from the 20 links for the Three Kingdoms. Out of these 9 datings, there are 3 different datings for this dynasty.

184-280 – (18)

220-265 – (2)

220-265 – (19)

220-280 – (3)

220-280 – (5)

220-280 – (9)

220-280 – (12)

220-280 – (13)

220-280 – (20)

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Jin Dynasty

I recorded 9 datings from the 20 links for the Jin Dynasty. Out of these 9 datings, there are 2 different datings for this dynasty.

265-420 – (2)

265-420 – (3)

265-420 – (9)

265-420 – (12)

265-420 – (13)

265-420 – (17)

265-420 – (19)

265-420 – (20)

266-420 – (5)

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Northern and Southern Dynasties

I recorded 5 datings from the 20 links for the Northern and Southern Dynasties. Out of these 5 datings, there are 4 different datings for this dynasty.

386-589 – (5)

386-589 – (20)

420-581 – (9)

420-581 – (13)

420-588 – (12)

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Sui Dynasty

I recorded 17 datings from the 20 links for the Sui Dynasty. Out of these 17 datings, there are 6 different datings for this dynasty.

30 years of rule, unlisted time, between 0-1000AD – (10)

581-617 – (12)

581-618 – (3)

581-618 – (4)

581-618 – (5)

581-618 – (6)

581-618 – (9)

581-618 – (13)

581-618 – (14)

581-618 – (17)

581-618 – (19)

581-618 – (20)

581-619 – (2)

589-617 – (16)

589-618 – (1)

589-618 – (7)

589-618 – (8)

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Tang/T’ang Dynasty

I recorded 18 datings from the 20 links for the Tang/T’ang Dynasty. Out of these 18 datings, there are 2 different datings for this dynasty.

618-906 – (2)

618-906 – (6)

618-906 – (11)

618-907 – (1)

618-907 – (3)

618-907 – (4)

618-907 – (5)

618-907 – (7)

618-907 – (8)

618-907 – (9)

618-907 – (10)

618-907 – (12)

618-907 – (13)

618-907 – (14)

618-907 – (17)

618-907 – (18)

618-907 – (19)

618-907 – (20)

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Five Dynasties

I recorded 15 datings from the 20 links for the Five Dynasties. Out of these 15 datings, there are 2 different datings for this dynasty.

907-960 – (1)

907-960 – (2)

907-960 – (3)

907-960 – (4)

907-960 – (5)

907-960 – (6)

907-960 – (7)

907-960 – (8)

907-960 – (9)

907-960 – (14)

907-960 – (16)

907-960 – (19)

907-960 – (20)

907-979 – (12)

907-979 – (13)

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Song/Sung Dynasty

I recorded 17 datings from the 20 links for the Song/Sung Dynasty. Out of these 17 datings, there are 3 different datings for this dynasty.

960-1270 – (10)

960-1276 – (11)

960-1279 – (1)

960-1279 – (2)

960-1279 – (3)

960-1279* – (4) *The article says 1297, but this may be an error as the same article later says 1279

960-1279 – (5)

960-1279 – (6)

960-1279 – (8)

960-1279 – (9)

960-1279 – (12)

960-1279 – (13)

960-1279 – (16)

960-1279 – (17)

960-1279 – (18)

960-1279 – (19)

960-1279 – (20)

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Jin Dynasty

I recorded 7 datings from the 20 links for the Jin Dynasty. Out of these 7 datings, there is only 1 dating for this dynasty.

1115-1234 – (3)

1115-1234 – (5)

1115-1234 – (9)

1115-1234 – (12)

1115-1234 – (13)

1115-1234 – (17)

1115-1234 – (20)

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Yuan/Mongol Dynasty

I recorded 15 datings from the 20 links for the Yuan/Mongol Dynasty. Out of these 15 datings, there are 5 different datings for this dynasty.

1270-1370 – (10)

1271-1368 – (3)

1271-1368 – (5)

1271-1368 – (14)

1271-1368 – (17)

1271-1368 – (18)

1277-1367 – (9)

1279-1368 – (1)

1279-1368 – (2)

1279-1368 – (8)

1279-1368 – (12)

1279-1368 – (16)

1279-1368 – (19)

1279-1368 – (20)

1280-1365 – (6)

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Ming Dynasty

I recorded 17 datings from the 20 links for the Ming Dynasty. Out of these 17 datings, there are 2 different datings for this dynasty.

1368-1644 – (1)

1368-1644 – (2)

1368-1644 – (3)

1368-1644 – (4)

1368-1644 – (5)

1368-1644 – (6)

1368-1644 – (8)

1368-1644 – (9)

1368-1644 – (11)

1368-1644 – (12)

1368-1644 – (13)

1368-1644 – (16)

1368-1644 – (17)

1368-1644 – (18)

1368?-1644 – (19)

1368-1644 – (20)

1370-1640 – (10)

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Qing/Ch’ing Dynasty

I recorded 16 datings from the 20 links for the Qing/Ch’ing Dynasty. Out of these 16 datings, there are 3 different datings for this dynasty.

1636-1912 – (5)

1644-1911 – (3)

1644-1911 – (8)

1644-1911 – (9)

1644-1911 – (11)

1644-1911 – (12)

1644-1911 – (13)

1644-1911 – (16)

1644-1911 – (18)

1644?-1911 – (19)

1644-1911 – (20)

1644-1912 – (1)

1644-1912 – (2)

1644-1912 – (4)

1644-1912 – (6)

1644-1912 – (17)

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References;

(1) – https://www.ducksters.com/history/china/timeline_of_ancient_china.php

(2) – http://afe.easia.columbia.edu/timelines/china_timeline.htm

(3) – https://www.travelchinaguide.com/intro/history/

(4) – https://www.chinahighlights.com/travelguide/culture/china-history.htm

(5) – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dynasties_in_Chinese_history

(6) – http://archive.artsmia.org/art-of-asia/history/chinese-dynasty-guide.cfm

(7) – https://www.ancient.eu/china/

(8) – https://www2.kenyon.edu/Depts/Religion/Fac/Adler/Reln472/history-periods.pdf

*(9) – http://pages.ucsd.edu/~dkjordan/chin/chinahistory/ChinaPeriods.html

(10) – https://www.iro.umontreal.ca/~vaucher/Genealogy/Documents/Asia/ChinaOverview.html

(11) – https://depts.washington.edu/chinaciv/timeline.htm

(12) – http://www.chaos.umd.edu/history/time_line.html

(13) – https://www.pbs.org/kcts/preciouschildren/china/dynasties.html

(14) – https://www.thoughtco.com/the-dynasties-of-ancient-china-117659

(15) – https://china.mrdonn.org/dynasties.html

(16) – http://www.indiana.edu/~e232/Time1.html#A

(17) – https://ninchanese.com/blog/2016/04/14/chinese-dynasties/

(18) – https://www.naqt.com/you-gotta-know/chinese-dynasties.html

(19) – http://www.yutopian.com/history/

(20) – https://www.vmfa.museum/wp-subsite/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Chinese-Dynasties.pdf

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