Chinese History 历 史 Lì shǐ
Most countries can look back at a few hundred years of continuous recorded history; China looks back at thousands of years. From earliest times an accurate account of events has been treasured by the Chinese, this is embodied in the character 史 shǐ ‘history ’ which also has the meaning ‘impartial’ . Chinese people know their heritage well and have a long tradition of revering their ancestors . A good knowledge of Chinese history is essential to understanding and relating to its people.
We include pages on all the main dynasties (click on time chart) as well as significant events in Chinese history, up to the foundation of the Republic in 1912 (modern history is in a separate section ), including the Taiping Rebellion , the coming of railways , the Imperial system , the Hanlin Academy , Imperial officials , the kowtow , , the Mandate of Heaven and the Opium Wars . There are also pages covering relations with foreign countries: Early contacts with Britain , 18th century UK-China contacts and the great the European sinophile Leibniz , the Treaty port system , Chinoiserie , the Lay-Osborn debacle , General Charles ‘Chinese’ Gordon , and the despicable trade in Chinese coolies as slaves. We will continue to add new topics.
Click on the time chart on the left to go to a particular time period.
Song dynasty The Song dynasty is a period of Chinese refinement and peace rather than military prowess. Great strides were taken in the creative arts and literature. Prosperity from the growing trade by sea rather than overland fueled the building of huge cities. The eventual conquest by the Mongol hordes brought the dynasty to a tragic close. Read more…
China's Ancient Script The discovery of a huge number of 'oracle bones' has greatly added to the knowledge of the origins of China's written script. It pushes back the written language to at least 3,500 years ago. Careful study of the inscriptions is still revealing information about life in Shang dynasty times. Read more…
General 'Chinese' Gordon In a very unusual event in world history a British soldier served for the Qing dynasty in their fight against the Taiping rebels in southern China. He was instrumental in bringing modern military training to the Chinese armies and was renowned as an austere but brave and uncorruptible officer. Read more…
The Greatest Canal
China's greatest engineering construction is usually regarded as the Great Wall of China ; but the Grand canal is surely just as impressive. More importantly the Great Wall was an epic failure - it failed to stop both the invasion of the Mongols and Manchus. On the other and the 1,100 mile Emperor's canal proved most useful - it transported rice from the south to northern China without which there would have been mass starvation. The main building phase was in the Sui dynasty when a conscripted labor force of 5,000,000 dug the channel. .
Image: Ancient Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal in Wuxi area. 京杭古运河无锡段一景 . Image by 王波波 ➚ available under a Creative Commons License ➚
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The early history of China from pre-history to 770BCE Most of the ancient traditions of China had become established 3,000 years ago. The institution of Emperor, the written scripts and the key technologies (including silk) all come from China's distant past. The longevity and continuity of Chinese culture are the two key principles to understanding China - even today. Read more…
Japan and China History of the often difficult relations between China and Japan. The Japanese occupation of China 1937-45 and continued U.S. support for Japan has led to continuing frictions between governments and peoples. Read more…
The Great Mongol Empire The conquest of China by the Mongols took over 50 years. The north was taken in 1215 and the south held out until 1279. The horde of brutal horsemen from Mongolia swept all before them. The Mongols took to Chinese ways, using existing administration and traditions rather than imposing their own. It was China's most cosmopolitan era. Read more…
Yuan or Mongol dynasty The great Mongol hordes took northern China in 1215 but the south held out until 1279. Kublai khan established the capital of the Great Khan at Dadu, present day Beijing . Their brief period of rule (90 years) saw the Mongols take to Chinese ways, using existing administration and traditions rather than imposing their own. It was China's most cosmopolitan era with the famous visit of Marco Polo . Read more…
Quintessence of the Nation Traditional Chinese Opera was the entertainment of all Chinese over many centuries. A long evening performance contains elements of drama, music, comedy, acrobatics and martial arts. Each region has its own distinctive form. Over time complex body movements represent specific meanings as a very sparse set is used. The art form has inspired many Western composers and playwrights to emulate the style. Read more…
Foreigners in China China was exploited by foreign powers from the end of the Qing dynasty to the foundation of the PRC in 1949. The establishment of foreign enclaves within most Chinese cities one hundred years ago led to many frictions with the foreign powers, particularly Britain. The treaty port system forcibly opened up cities to foreign trade in late Qing dynasty China. Read more…
The 13 Ming Tombs The tombs of the 13 Ming Emperors is one of the largest and most lavish burial complexes anywhere in the world. Like the Valley of the Kings in Egypt the tombs are scattered around a valley of 17 square miles and only one tomb has been excavated and was found to be completely intact. Read more…
China's Neighbors The countries that surround China have an interesting history. Wars, conquest and religion have defined the current boundaries of the Peoples' Republic. India, Russia, Pakistan, Myanmar and Afghanistan all have important borders with China. Read more…
China's only female ruler Empress Wu Zetian of the early Tang The shrewd and ambitious Wu Zetian [624-705] came to rule China soon after the Tang dynasty had begun. Her legacy is still debated by some historians but it seems the brutality with which she is admonished was quite normal for the time period. For over 40 years she directed China's policies firstly as the Emperor Gaozong's wife and then in her own right. She championed the adoption of Buddhism in China and equal rights for women. Read more…
A history of Chinese Painting China has a very long tradition of painting. Most painting is done with the same brush and ink as calligraphy. Landscapes are the most cherished but exquisite paintings of nature subjects and portraits are also well represented. Read more…