Chinese First Empire
Table of Contents
Qin Dynasty 秦朝 (221-206 BC)
The Qin Dynasty established the first empire in China, starting with efforts in 230 B.C., during which the Qin leaders engulfed final six Eastern Zhou Dynasty states. Their reign over Imperial China existed only briefly—from 221 to 206 B.C.—but the Qin Dynasty had a lasting cultural impact on the dynasties that followed.
Artefacts from Qin Dynasty 秦朝 (221-206 BC)
National Treasure – Bronze Chariot No. 1 (Qin Dynasty) - The two bronze chariots and horses found at Emperor Qin Shihuang’s mausoleum are known as "The Crown of Bronze Works".… Continue Reading
Treasures – Terracotta Cavalryman and Saddled Horse (Qin Dynasty) - 2,500 years ago, a cavalryman and his horse, replicated in clay, were buried with Emperor Qin Shihuang, the first Emperor… Continue ReadingEighteen Kingdoms 十八國 (206-202 BC)
鸿门宴图，西汉古墓壁画，现存洛阳古墓博物馆
Eighteen Kingdoms 十八國 refers to the eighteen states in China created by military leader Xiang Yu 项羽 in 206 BC7, after the collapse of the Qin dynasty. The establishment and abolishment of the Eighteen Kingdoms marked the beginning and end of a turbulent interregnum known as the Chu-Han Contention 楚漢相爭.
Han Dynasty 漢朝 (202 BC-220 AD)
The Han dynasty was an imperial dynasty of China established by Liu Bang 劉邦 (256–195 BC, r. 202-195 BC) and ruled by the House of Liu. The dynasty was preceded by the short-lived Qin dynasty and a warring interregnum known as the Chu–Han Contention, and it was succeeded by the Three Kingdoms period.
National Treasure – Jade Drinking Vessel in Rhinoceros Horn Shape (Early Han) - This ancient jade sippy cup from the Han Dynasty is so fabulous, it’s a National Treasure. Continue Reading
National Treasure – Lacquered Wooden Screen Accessories (Early Han) - Accessories of the lacquered screen exhibits exceptional craftsmanship, significant historical value, and serves as a cultural relic. Continue Reading
Treasures – Bronze Bucket with Boating Paintings (Early Han) - One of the earliest artefact to feature China as a seafaring nation, peaceful or otherwise. Continue Reading
Treasures – Gold Seal with Dragon Knob (Early Han) - Zhao Mo, the self-proclaimed Emperor of Nanyue, left behind shiny seals, proving even royalty enjoys a good stamp collection—talk about… Continue Reading
Treasures – Jade Openwork Disk with Dragon and Phoenix (Early Han) - Guangzhou's cultural gem—a jade disc with a dragon and phoenix—proved dead kings have better bling than most living folks. Continue ReadingWestern Han 西漢 (202 BC – 9 AD)
At the beginning of the Western Han 西漢, also known as the Former Han (前漢/前汉), thirteen centrally controlled commanderies—including the capital region—existed in the western third of the empire, while the eastern two-thirds were divided into ten semi-autonomous kingdoms. To placate his prominent commanders from the war with Chu, Emperor Gaozu enfeoffed some of them as kings. By 196, the Han court had replaced all of these kings with royal Liu family members, with the lone exception of Changsha.
National Treasure – Bronze Cowrie Containers from Antiquity Yunnan (Western Han Dynasty) - Piggy bank from 2nd century BC, it was used by the Dian 滇 people to keep their precious cowrie shells. Continue Reading
National Treasure – Jade Seal of the Empress (Western Han Dynasty) - She was the dictator behind the young emperors in the early years of the Han dynasty, and this seal was… Continue Reading
National Treasure – Rectangular casket with lacquered shallow relief with gilt painting (Western Han) - These trinket boxes from 2000 years ago will make Marie Kondo smile with approval. Continue Reading
National Treasure – Statue of Horse Trampling a Xiongnu (Western Han Dynasty) - Huo Qubing, a legendary Han Dynasty general, is commemorated by the statue of a horse trampling a Xiongnu barbarian. Continue Reading
National Treasure – T-Shaped Silk Funeral Banner From The Tomb Of Lady Dai (Western Han) - The silk painting expresses the ancients' imagination of heaven and their pursuit of immortality. Continue Reading
National Treasures – Coffin With Painted Design On Vermilion Lacquer Coating (Western Han) - This is the second of four coffins that are nested like a Russian Doll. Continue Reading
National Treasures – Liubo Chess Set (Western Han) - "A strange game... the only winning move is not to play. How about a nice game of chess?" - WOPR,… Continue Reading
National Treasures – Straight Lapel Plain Unlined Silk Gauze Gown (Western Han) - But thy eternal summer shall not fade, / Nor lose possession of that fair thou ow’st; / Nor shall death… Continue Reading
Treasures – Jade Shroud Fastened with Gold Threads (Western Han) - In the movie it was called 金縷玉衣, and it caused quite a stir when it came to Singapore for an… Continue Reading
Treasures – Liu Fei’s Jade Suit (Western Han) - 勸君莫惜金縷衣，勸君惜取少年時。 Do not waste your golden robes, but cherish your youth. 《金縷衣》 杜秋娘 Continue Reading
Treasures – Rhinoceros-shaped Bronze Zun (Western Han Dynasty) - A wine jug reminding us the importance of conservation. Continue Reading
Treasures – Wine Vessels of Hu Fu (Western Han) - "Drink with me to days gone by...." Les Miserables, the Musical Continue ReadingWang Mang dethroned the child emperor Liu Ying 劉嬰 (r. 6-8) and proclaimed himself emperor
Interregnum period of the Han dynasty – Xin Mang 新莽 (9-23 AD)
Wang Mang 王莽 (45 BC – 23 AD) was a high ranking minister and nephew of Empress Dowager Wang 王太后 (Wang Zhengjun 王政君, 71 BC – 13 AD) of the Western Han period 西漢 (202 BC – 9 AD). He managed to control the succession to the throne and in 8 AD usurped the throne, proclaiming his own Xin dynasty 新 (9-23). After unsuccessful attempts at reform he met resistance by large parts of the officialdom and the population and was killed in the course of a vast rebellion.
Treasures – Mural Tomb At Xincun Village, Yanshi District, Luoyang (Xin Dynasty) - The tomb raiders would have been scared out of their wits when they walked through the tomb door. Continue Reading
Treasures – Plaque and Measuring Rod with Emperor’s Decree (Xin Mang) - Very little was known about the Xin dynasty, but they do have a government issued weighing scale. Continue ReadingThe Xin armies were completely defeated by Han restorationist armies in the Battle of Kunyang in June–July 23 AD. Upon hearing of this event, the irregular militias of Zhuang Ben and Zhuang Chun captured Chang’an in October 23, plundering the capital and killing Wang Mang. The various rebel armies subsequently fought each other to gain full control over the empire.
Eastern Han 東漢 (25-220 AD)
Emperor Guangwu 漢光武帝 (r. 25-57 AD), born Liu Xiu 劉秀 (5 BC – 57 AD), restored the rule of the dynasty by the House of Liu in 25 AD, thus founding the Eastern Han dynasty. He ruled over parts of China at first since his dynasty was formed through rebellion against the short-lived Xin dynasty, and through suppression and conquest of regional warlords, the whole of China proper was consolidated by the time of his death in 57 AD.
Treasures – Luoyang Tomb Mural (Eastern Han) - Grand Tour in the Eastern Han dynasty captured for posterity. Continue Reading
Treasures – Stone Bi Xie (Eastern Han Dynasty) - The stone bixie, an imposing sculpture, reflects a fusion of foreign and Chinese artistry. Continue Reading
Treasures – Stone Relief of the Textile Production Scene (Eastern Han) - Carved in stone : A mother after hearing a rumour that her filial son committed murder, believed it after too… Continue Reading
Treasures – Tomb Beast Stone Bi Xie (Eastern Han) - The stone bixie, an imposing sculpture, reflects a fusion of foreign and Chinese artistry. Continue Reading
Treasures – Tomb Brick, “Ascending to the Heaven” (Eastern Han) - "He saw a stairway resting on the earth, with its top reaching to heaven, and the angels of God were… Continue ReadingThe Han dynasty came to an end in 220 AD when Cao Pi 曹丕 (187-226), King of Wei 魏王 (r. 220), usurped the throne from Emperor Xian 漢獻帝 (r. 189-220), name Liu Xie 劉協 (181-234).
Three Kingdoms 三國時代 (220-280)
On 11 Dec 220, Cao Cao’s successor Cao Pi 曹丕 (187-226) urged Emperor Xian to abdicate and lay the Heavenly Mandate into the hands of the Cao family. Half a year later, Liu Bei 劉備 (161-222), master over the region of Shu 蜀 (Sichuan), proclaimed himself emperor of Han (Shu-Han) 蜀漢 (221-263). In 222, Cao Pi allowed the warlord of the southeast, Sun Quan 孫權 (182-252), to bear the title of King of Wu 吳 (222-280). In 229, Sun also adopted the imperial title. These were Three Kingdoms.
Cao Wei 曹魏 (220-265)
The Kingdom of Wei 魏 (220-265) was one of the Three Kingdoms 三國 (220~280) that was founded by Cao Pi 曹丕 (Emperor Wen 魏文帝, r. 220-226), son of the warlord Cao Cao 曹操 (155-220).
Treasures – Amber Figurine of a Child on a Ram and Stone Plaque with the Inscription (Three Kingdoms – Wei Dynasty) - A father's love on display for a child that did not live to enjoy her royal life. Continue ReadingShu Han 蜀漢 (221-263)
Culturally, due to the popularity of the 14th-century historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Liu Bei 劉備 is widely regarded as the ideal benevolent and humane ruler who cared for his people and selected good advisers for his government.
Eastern Wu 東吳 (222–280)
The empire of Wu 吳 (222/229-280) was one of the Three Empires 三國 (220~280). It was founded by Sun Quan 孫權 (182-252), the “Great Emperor” 吳大帝 （r. 222-252).
National Treasure – Celadon Granary Jar with Architecture, Figurines and Animals (Three Kingdoms – Wu) - The purpose of a hunping is somewhat enigmatic, but archaeologists suggest that they may have been used as containers for… Continue ReadingThe empire of Shu, whose rulers claimed the right to inherit the Han dynasty, was likewise dependent on the goodwill of the old gentry of the Sichuan Basin. The latter was conquered by the state of Wei. The Wei dynasty itself succumbed to internal quarrels and was replaced by the Jin dynasty 晉 (265-420), founded by a powerful general of the family Sima 司馬 which eventually reunited China.
Jin Dynasty 晉 (265-420)
The Jin dynasty 晉 (265-420) was a ruling house founded by Sima Yan 司馬炎 (Emperor Wu 晉武帝, r. 265-289). The Jin were the successor dynasty of Cao Wei 曹魏 (220-265) in China’s north, and conquered the last of the Three Kingdoms 三國 (220-280), the Kingdom of Wu 吳 (222-280), in southern China.
While politically this was a very weak dynasty – the princes fought among themselves, rebellions and incursions from northern minorities, etc- this was a glorious period for Chinese art. Among the members of the Jin period aristocracy, many famous writers and poets were to be found. Such were the calligrapher Wang Xizhi 王羲之 (303-361) and the painter Gu Kaizhi 顧愷之 (348-409) or the writers and poets Xie Lingyun 謝靈運 (385-433) and Tao Yuanming 陶淵明 (365-427).
Western Jin 西晉 (265-316)
National Treasure- Celadon Glazed Porcelain Zun With Design Of A Monster (Western Jin) - It looks like a child's Play-doh creation, but it has been guarding its master's tomb for the past 1300 years Continue Reading
Treasures – Silver Seal of the Xianbei Commandant of Shuai Shan (Western Jin) - The seal is a 3rd century badge of honour, and example of gamification by the rulers of the period to… Continue ReadingWestern Jin ended during the uprising of the Sixteen Kingdoms 五胡十六國 (304-439), when the capital Luoyang was sacked by Liu Cong 劉聰 (r. 310-318), who founded Northern Han 北漢 (also referred to as the “barbarian state” Former Zhao 前趙9.）He also captured Emperor Huai of Jin and Emperor Min of Jin, whom he both executed after forcing them to act as cupbearers. The imperial court fled to the southwest.
Eastern Jin 東晉 (317–420)
After the fall of Luoyang and Chang’an and the execution of Emperor Min of Jin, Sima Rui 司馬睿 (Emperor Yuan 晉元帝, r. 317-322), was enthroned as Jin emperor in 318. He reestablished the Jin government at Jiankang 建康 (modern Nanjing), which became the dynasty’s new capital.
Treasures – Gold Buyao Crown with Antler Design (Wei-Jin Dynasties) - The world is smaller than we think, a 4th century crown in Inner Mongolia may find its inspiration for 1st… Continue ReadingAt the court of the Eastern Jin empire 東晉 in Jiankang, Liu Yu 劉裕 (363-422) was able to overcome the powerful regents and finally dethroned Emperor Gong 晉恭帝 (r. 418-420) and founded his own dynasty referred to as Liu Song 劉宋 (420–479) (to avoid confusion with Song dynasty that comes much later), which herald the start of the Southern Dynasties.
Sixteen Kingdoms 五胡十六國 (304-439)
In the coming one hundred years northern China was ruled by the so-called Sixteen Kingdoms 十六國 10 (300~430). The Five Barbarian States 五胡 refers to Xiongnu 匈奴, Xianbei 鮮卑, Jie 羯, Qiang 羌 and Di 氐.
The Sixteen Kingdoms arranged Geographically (Horizontal) and Chronologically (Vertical)
| Shanxi/Hebei | Shaanxi | Gansu | Sichuan | ||||
| 前趙 Former Zhao (304-329) | 前涼 Former Liang (314-376) | 成漢 Cheng-Han (304-347) | |||||
| 代 Dai (315-376) | 後趙 Later Zhao (319-350) | ||||||
| 前燕 Former Yan (337-370) | 前秦 Former Qin (351-395) | ||||||
| 西燕 Western Yan (384-394) | 後燕 Later Yan (384-409) | 後秦 Later Qin (384-417) | 仇池 Qiuchi (296-473) | 後涼 Later Liang (386-403) | |||
| 南燕 Southern Yan (398-410) | 北燕 Northern Yan (409-436) | 西秦 Western Qin (385-431) | 夏 Xia (407-432) | 南涼 Southern Liang (397-414) | 西涼 Western Liang (400-421) | 北涼 Northern Liang (398-439) | |
Colours indicate ethnicity as defined in Chinese sources: Di 氐, Jie 羯, Qiang 羌, Xianbei 鮮卑, Xiongnu 匈奴, Chinese no colour. |
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National Treasure – Duck-Shaped Glass Water Dropper (Northern Yan) - Its use was not known, but it is the testimony of an ancient trade route called the Silk Road. Continue Reading
Treasures – Daxia Stone Horse (Great Xia Dynasty) - And this time during Great Xia dynasty, the invaders were victorious and created a similar horse statue. Continue ReadingThe last of these states were swept away by the troops of the Northern Wei that reunited northern China. The boundaries of the Northern Wei reached from the city states of the Tarim Basin to the Yellow Sea. In the southwest, the Northern Wei empire also included parts of modern Sichuan, and from the northern steppe to the River Huai 淮河, the border with the Southern Dynasties.
Southern Dynasties 南朝 (420-589)
The south was ruled by a series of dynasties that ruled over southern China collectively known as the Southern Dynasties 南朝. It began with the the Liu-Song dynasty 劉宋 (420-479), and finally ended with the conquest of Chen dynasty 陳 (557-589) by Sui dynasty 隋 (581-618) in 589.
National Treasure – Picture of the Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove (Southern Dynasties) - They were spiritual symbols of the mandarins, taking a laissez-faire approach to life, the Hippies of the 3rd century China. Continue ReadingLiu Song dynasty 劉宋 (420–479)
The Liu Song dynasty 劉宋 (420-479) was the first of the Southern Dynasties 南朝 (420~589). It was founded by Liu Yu 劉裕. Liu Yu 劉裕 (posthumous title Emperor Wu of the Song 宋武帝, r. 420-422) had achieved greatest merits as a military commander over the elite army of the northern quarter (beifubing 北府兵) during his long-lasting fights against the non-Chinese states in the north, particularly the Later Qin 後秦 (384-417) and the Southern Yan 南燕 (398-410) empires. He also contributed to the defeat of the powerful regent Huan Xuan 桓玄 (369-404) and the rebel leaders Sun En 孫恩 (d. 402) and Lu Xun 盧循 (d. 411).
Southern Qi dynasty 南齊 (479–502)
Xiao Daocheng 蕭道成 (posthumous title Emperor Gao of the Qi 齊高帝, r. 479-482) had been called a “saviour of the house of Liu-Song” from its self-lacerating actions and was therefore bestowed with offices, honors and nobility titles (king of Qi 齊王). Yet in 479 he founded his own dynasty that was called Qi. The last decade of the Southern Qi period is characterised by succession struggles. Xiao Ze’s sons Xiao Zhaoye 蕭昭業 and Xiao Zhaowen 蕭昭文 were deposed by their uncle Xiao Luan 蕭鸞 (posthumous title Emperor Ming 齊明帝, r. 494-498). Xiao Luan’s own sons Xiao Baojuan 蕭寶卷 (Duke of Donghun 東昏侯) and Xiao Baorong 蕭寶融 on their parts fell victim to their distant relative Xiao Yan 蕭衍, the Prince of Liang 梁王
Liang dynasty 南梁 (502–557)
The Liang dynasty 梁 (502-557) was the third of the Southern Dynasties 南朝 (420~589). It was founded by Xiao Yan 蕭衍, known as Emperor Wu 梁武帝 (r. 502-549), who is known in history as a famous poet and patron of Buddhism.
Artefacts from Liang dynasty 南梁 (502–557)
Treasures – Back Screen Images of Buddha (Southern Liang) - Buddhism, introduced from India, flourished in China during the Southern Liang due to imperial support. Continue ReadingWestern Liang 西梁 (555-587)
The Western Liang dynasty 西梁 (555-587) was ruled by members of the same imperial clan as the Liang dynasty. It was located in the middle Yangtze region in today’s central Hubei province. Throughout its existence, it remained a puppet state of the Western Wei, Northern Zhou and Sui dynasties. The Western Liang’s founding emperor, Xiao Cha 蕭詧 (Emperor Xuan, r. 555-562), was a grandson of the Liang dynasty founder Emperor Wu of Liang. From 617 to 621, when the Sui dynasty collapsed, Xiao Cha’s great-grandson Xiao Xian 蕭銑 (583–621) occupied the former Western Liang territory (and more) and proclaimed himself King of Liang, but his short-lived state is usually considered separate.
Chen dynasty 陳朝 (557–589)
The Chen dynasty 陳 (557-589) was the last of the Southern Dynasties 南朝 (420~589). It was founded by Chen Baxian 陳霸先 (r. 557-559). During the disturbances of the last decade of the Liang period, the empire of the Northern Zhou 北周 (557-581) was able to conquer the whole western part of southern China, that is modern Sichuan and Yunnan. Chen Baxian’s empire was therefore only half the size of the Liang dynasty’s. Furthermore, Chen Baxian was never able to fully control all territories of his empire as well as the political and military activities of the local gentry. It took him a long time to subdue all claimants to the throne from the Xiao family that had survived the foundation of the Chen dynasty. Several Liang princes continued the rule of the Liang dynasty in the so-called Later Liang empire 後梁 (555-587) in the middle Yangtze valley. Northern Zhou dynasty itself was destroyed by general Yang Jian 楊堅, who founded the Sui Dynasty 隋 (581-618). For Yang Jian, it was an easy game to conquer the small state of Chen in the south and to reunite China under his rule.