Dynasties

Dunhuang

Xia 夏

2205–1766 BC (?)

Inhabited by the people of Yuezhi (whose descendents became the Kushan rulers of northwestern India between the 1st and the 5th centuries), Wusun and Xiong-nu (the Huns).

Shang 商

1766–1122 BC (?)

Zhou 周

Western Zhou 西 周
Eastern Zhou 東 周770 – 256 BC
Spring & Autumn 春 秋770 – 476 BC
Warring States 戰 國 475 – 221 BC

1122(?) – 771 BC

770 –221BC

Qin 秦

221 - 206 BC

Han 漢

Western Han 西 漢 　206 – 25 BC
Eastern Han 東 漢 　25 BC – 220 AD

206 BC – 220 AD

Established as a garrison, 111 BC

Three kingdoms
三 國

Wei 　 魏 　 220 – 265 AD
Shu Han 蜀 漢 　221 - 263 AD
Wu 　 吳 　 222 - 280 AD

220 –265 AD

Jin 晉

Western Jin 西 晉265 – 316 AD
Eastern Jin 東 晉 317 – 420 AD

265 – 420 AD

First cave built: 366
Sixteen Kingdoms (304-439)
Northern Liang (421-439)
Northern Wei(439-534)
Western Wei(534-556)
Northern Zhou (557-581)

Northern & Southern Dynasties
南 北 朝

Southern Dynasties 南 朝 420- 589
Northern Dynasties 北 朝 439 - 581

420 AD – 581 AD

Sui 隋

581 – 618 AD

Tang 唐

618 – 907 AD

Early Tang (618-705)
High Tang (705-781)
Middle Tang (781-848) (Tibetan ruling)
Late Tang (848-906)

Five Dynasties
五代

907 – 960 AD

Song 宋

Northern Song 北宋960 – 1127 AD
Southern Song 南宋 1127 – 1279 AD

960 – 1279 AD

Western Xia(1038-1227)
Mongolia-Yuan (1227-1373)

Yuan 元

1271 – 1368 AD

Ming 明

1368 – 1644 AD

Qing 清

1644 – 1911 AD

Library Cave found in 1900