China has been populated and ruled over since the 27th century BCE. Prior to Qin Shihuangdi proclaiming himself emperor in 221 BCE, China was ruled by families with kings as the head or ruler of a family and with that, an area of land.
From 475-221 BCE, these powerful families fought for land and supreme power. This time in China’s history, The Warring States period, saw a dis-unified country struggling to determine its future.
China’s emperors ruled for over 2000 years. Their reigns began during the time of the Roman Empire in the third century and ended near the beginning of the twentieth century.
Emperors were known as the “Son of Heaven” representing their bridge between the reality of life on earth and the spirit world or heaven.
China is derived from Qin (pronounced – Chin), which was the name of Emperor Qin Shihuangdi’s home state or area and the name of the first dynasty – the Qin (Chin) dynasty. The Chinese call their land, Middle Kingdom (Zhongguo or Chung-kuo) or Central Country.
| Dynasty | Emperor | Reign |
| Shen Nong (Yellow Emperor) (Huangdi) | 2697-2597 BCE | |
| Chin | 859-376 BCE | |
| Zhao | 518-222 BCE | |
| Qin | Qin Shihuangdi | 221-210 BCE |
| Er Shi | 210-207 BCE | |
| Western Han | Gaodi | 206-195 BCE |
| Huidi | 195-188 BCE | |
| Lu Hou | 188-180 BCE | |
| Wendi | 180-157 BCE | |
| Jingdi | 157-141 BCE | |
| Wudi | 141-87 BCE | |
| Zhaodi | 87-74 BCE | |
| Xuandi | 74-49 BCE | |
| Yuandi | 49-33 BCE | |
| Chengdi | 33-7 BCE | |
| Aidi | 7-1 BCE | |
| Pingdi | 1 BCE – 6 CE | |
| Ruzi | 7-9 CE | |
| Wang Mang | 9-23 CE | |
| Eastern Han | Guang Wudi | 25-57 CE |
| Mingdi | 57-75 CE | |
| Zhangdi | 75-88 CE | |
| Hedi | 88-106 CE | |
| Shangdi | 106 CE | |
| Andi | 106-125 CE | |
| Shundi | 125-144 CE | |
| Chongdi | 144-145 CE | |
| Zhidi | 145-146 CE | |
| Huandi | 146-168 CE | |
| Lingdi | 168-189 CE | |
| Xiandi | 189-220 CE | |
| The Three Kingdoms – Wei | Wendi (Cao Pi) | 220-226 CE |
| Mingdi | 227-239 CE | |
| Shaodi | 240-253 CE | |
| Gao Gui Xiang Gong | 254-260 CE | |
| Yuandi | 260-264 CE | |
| The Three Kingdoms – Wu | Wudi | 222-252 CE |
| Feidi | 252-258 CE | |
| Jingdi | 258-264 CE | |
| Modi | 264-280 CE | |
| The Three Kingdoms – Shu Han | Xuande | 221-223 CE |
| Hou Zhu | 223-263 CE | |
| Western Jin | Wudi | 265-289 CE |
| Huidi | 290-306 CE | |
| Huaidi | 307-312 CE | |
| Mindi | 313-316 CE | |
| Eastern Jin | Yuandi | 317-322 CE |
| Mingdi | 323-325 CE | |
| Chengdi | 326-342 CE | |
| Kangdi | 343-344 CE | |
| Mudi | 345-361 CE | |
| Aidi | 362-365 CE | |
| Hai Xi Gong | 366-370 CE | |
| Jian Wendi | 371-372 CE | |
| Xiao Wudi | 373-396 CE | |
| Andi | 397-418 CE | |
| Gongdi | 419 CE | |
| Liu Song | Wudi | 420-422 CE |
| Ying Yang Wang | 423 CE | |
| Wendi | 424-453 CE | |
| Xiao Wudi | 454-464 CE | |
| Mingdi | 465-472 CE | |
| Cang Wu Wang | 473-476 CE | |
| Shundi | 477-479 BCE | |
| Qi | Gaodi | 479-482 CE |
| Wudi | 483-493 CE | |
| Mingdi | 494-498 CE | |
| Dong Hunhou | 499-500 CE | |
| Hedi | 501 CE | |
| Liang | Wudi | 502-549 CE |
| Jian Wendi | 550 CE | |
| Yu Zhang Wang | 551 CE | |
| Yuandi | 552-554 CE | |
| Jingdi | 555-556 CE | |
| Chen | Wudi | 557-559 CE |
| Wendi | 560-566 CE | |
| Lin Hai Wang | 567-568 CE | |
| Xuandi | 569-582 CE | |
| Hou Zhu | 583-589 CE | |
| Sui | Wendi | 581-604 CE |
| Yangdi | 604-617 CE | |
| Gongdi | 617-618 CE | |
| Tang | Gaozu | 618-626 CE |
| Taizong | 626-649 CE | |
| Gaozong | 649-683 CE | |
| Zhongzong | 684 and 705-710 CE | |
| Ruizong | 684-690 and 710-712 CE | |
| Wu Zetian | 690-705 CE | |
| Xuanzong | 712-756 CE | |
| Suzong | 756-762 CE | |
| Daizong | 762-779 CE | |
| Dezong | 779-805 CE | |
| Shunzong | 805 CE | |
| Xianzong | 805-820 CE | |
| Muzong | 820-824 CE | |
| Jingzong | 824-827 CE | |
| Wenzong | 827-840 CE | |
| Wuzong | 840-846 CE | |
| Xuanzong | 846-859 CE | |
| Yizong | 859-873 CE | |
| Xizong | 873-888 CE | |
| Zhaozong | 888-904 CE | |
| Aidi (Zhaoxuan) | 904-907 CE | |
| Five Dynasties – Later Liang | Taizu | 907-910 CE |
| Modi | 911-923 CE | |
| Five Dynasties – Later Tang | Zhuangzong | 923-926 CE |
| Mingzong | 926-934 CE | |
| Feidi | 934-935 CE | |
| Five Dynasties – Later Jin | Gaozu | 936-944 CE |
| Chudi | 944-947 CE | |
| Five Dynasties – Later Han | Gaozu | 947-948 CE |
| Yindi | 948-951 CE | |
| Five Dynasties – Later Zhou | Taizu | 951-954 CE |
| Shizong | 954-960 CE | |
| Northern Song | Taizu | 960-976 CE |
| Taizong | 976-997 CE | |
| Zhenzong | 998-1022 CE | |
| Renzong | 1022-1063 CE | |
| Yingzong | 1064-1067 CE | |
| Shenzong | 1068-1085 CE | |
| Zhezong | 1086-1101 CE | |
| Huizong | 1101-1125 CE | |
| Qinzong | 1126 CE | |
| Southern Song | Gaozong | 1127-1162 CE |
| Xiaozong | 1163-1190 CE | |
| Guangzong | 1190-1194 CE | |
| Ningzong | 1195-1224 CE | |
| Lizong | 1225-1264 CE | |
| Duzong | 1265-1274 CE | |
| Gongzong | 1275 CE | |
| Duanzong | 1276-1278 CE | |
| Bing Di | 1279 CE | |
| Yuan | Khubilai (Shizu) | 1279-1294 CE |
| Temur Oljeitu (Chengzong) | 1294-1307 CE | |
| Khaishan (Wuzong) | 1308-1311 CE | |
| Ayurbarwada (Renzong) | 1311-1320 CE | |
| Shidebala (Yingzong) | 1321-1323 CE | |
| Yesun Temur (Taiding) | 1323-1328 CE | |
| Tugh Temur (Wenzong) | 1328-1329 and 1329-1332 CE | |
| Khoshila (Mingzong) | 1329 CE | |
| Toghon Temur (Shundi) | 1333-1368 CE | |
| Ming | Hongwu | 1368-1398 CE |
| Jianwen | 1399-1402 CE | |
| Yongle | 1403-1424 CE | |
| Hongxi | 1425 CE | |
| Xuande | 1426-1435 CE | |
| Zhengtong/Tianshun | 1436-1449 and 1457-1464 CE | |
| Jingtai | 1450-1457 CE | |
| Chenghua | 1465-1487 CE | |
| Hongzhi | 1488-1505 CE | |
| Zhengde | 1506-1521 CE | |
| Jiajing | 1522-1567 CE | |
| Longqing | 1567-1572 CE | |
| Wanli | 1573-1620 CE | |
| Taichang | 1620 CE | |
| Tianqi | 1621-1627 CE | |
| Chongzhen | 1628-1644 CE | |
| Qing | Shunzhi | 1644-1661 CE |
| Kangxi | 1661-1722 CE | |
| Yongzheng | 1723-1735 CE | |
| Qianlong | 1736-1795 CE | |
| Jiajing | 1796-1820 CE | |
| Daoguang | 1821-1850 CE | |
| Xianfeng | 1857-1867 CE | |
| Tongzhi | 1862-1874 CE | |
| Guangxu | 1875-1908 CE | |
| Puyi | 1909-1911 CE |
