The Yuan Dynasty: China’s First Non-Han Dynasty
The Yuan dynasty (元朝), or the Great Yuan (大元), was a Mongol-led dynasty of China, and that was created when the Mongol empire fractured and … Read more
Ancient China
The Song Dynasty: China’s Philosophically Diverse Dynasty
The Song dynasty (960–1279) began in 960 and lasted until 1279. The dynasty was founded by Emperor Taizu and ended the chaotic Five Dynasties and … Read more
The Tang Dynasty: China’s ‘Golden’ Dynasty
The Tang dynasty (618–907) is considered a golden age in Chinese history. It followed the short-lived Sui dynasty (581–618), which had managed to largely reunify … Read more
Top 15 Chinese Ancient Instruments You Might Hear
According to recent archaeological findings, ancient Chinese music was much more developed and sophisticated than is generally believed. During the Shang Dynasty, music had already … Read more
The Qing Dynasty: China’s Final Dynasty
The Qing (Manchu) dynasty was China’s final imperial dynasty, lasting almost 300 years until its fall in 1911/12. At its height, the Qing dynasty was … Read more
The Four Great Towers in Ancient China
Yueyang Tower, Yellow Crane Tower, Tengwang Pavilion and Penglai Pavilion are the four famous towers in China, whose unique architectural styles are of great significance … Read more
Ancient Chinese Gardens: History, Elements, and Culture
During the long history of the Chinese nation, two main garden traditions have gradually formed: the vast imperial gardens and the private gardens. The former … Read more
Ancient China Funeral Customs, Arrangements, and Rituals
The earliest recorded funeral rituals in China are those of the Shang and Zhou dynasties, three to four thousand years ago. Later in history, based … Read more
Ancient China Wedding Traditions, Customs, and Ceremony
Chinese marriage became customary during the Warring States period. Due to the vast expanse of the territory, different practices are followed in different places, although … Read more
Ancient Chinese Education: Imperial Examination, Confucianism
The historical importance of education in Chinese culture is derived from the teachings of Confucius and philosophers of the middle and late Zhou eras. Education … Read more
Four Great Inventions of Ancient China
In more than a millennium from the Qin Dynasty to the Yuan Dynasty, Chinese science and technology took the lead in the world. The Four … Read more
Ancient Chinese Dynasty Timeline
The change of dynasties was one of the important phenomena in ancient Chinese societies that underwent social restructuring. When a dynasty develops to a later … Read more