List of Chinese monarchs

List of Chinese monarchs
The Chinese monarchs were the rulers of China during its Ancient and Imperial periods. The earliest rulers in traditional Chinese historiography are of mythological origin, and followed by the Xia dynasty of highly uncertain and contested historicity. During the subsequent Shang and Zhou (1046–256 BCE) dynasties, rulers were referred to as Wang , meaning king. China was fully united for the first time by Qin Shi Huang (259–210 BCE), who established the first Imperial dynasty, adopting the title Huangdi, meaning Emperor, which remained in use until the Imperial system's fall in 1912.
At no point during Ancient or Imperial China was there a formalized means to confer legitimate succession between rulers. From the Zhou dynasty onwards, monarchs justified their reigns by claiming the Mandate of Heaven (Tianming). The mandate held that a ruler and their successors had permission from the heavens to rule as long as they did so effectively. It also declared a ruler the Son of Heaven (Tianzi), giving them the right to rule "all under heaven" (Tianxia). Given the Mandate's subjective nature, rulers also utilized a variety of methods to retain support and justify their accession. This ranged from military enforcement, political patronage, establishing peace and solidity, institutional reform, and historical revisionism to legitimize the previous dynasties dissolution and their own succession. For most of Imperial China, the wuxing ("Five Elements") philosophical scheme was also central to justify dynastic succession.
Most Chinese monarchs had many names. They were given a personal name (Mingzi) at birth, but later referred to be a posthumous name (Shihao)—which memorialized their accomplishments or character—due to a cultural naming taboo. Most emperors of the Imperial period also received a temple name (Miaohao), used to venerate them in ancestor worship. From the rule of Emperor Wu of Han (141–87 BCE) onwards, emperors also adopted one or several era names (Nianhao), or "reign mottos", to divide their rule by important events or accomplishments. Ming (1368–1644) and Qing (1644–1912) rulers are referred to solely by their era names, of which they only had one.
Rulers were often Han Chinese, but significant or complete control of the region was variously held by non-Han rulers, including Jurchen, Khitan, Manchu, Mongol and Tangut and many others. To justify their reign, foreign monarchs aligned themselves with the Confucian sages or the Chakravarti of Chinese Buddhism. There are numerous lengthy periods where many competing kingdoms claimed the throne, many of whose legitimacy is still debate by scholars.
Ancient China
Mythological rulers
In traditional Chinese historiography, various models of mythological founding rulers exist. The relevancy of these figures to the earliest Chinese people is unknown, since most accounts of them were written from the Warring States period (BCE) onwards. The sinologist Kwang-chih Chang has generalized the typical stages: "the first period was populated by gods, the second by demigods/culture hero, and the third by the legendary kings." The primordial god Pangu is given by many texts as the earliest figure and is credited with forming the world by separating heaven and earth. Other gods include Nüwa, who repaired heaven; Hou Yi, a mythical archer; and Gonggong, a serpent-like water deity.
Demigod and hero rulers from hero myths—the largest group Chinese myths—are attributed the invention of specific items, practices or traditions. Among the more important of them are Fuxi, the inventor of hunting; Suiren, who invented fire; and Shennong, who invented both agriculture and medicine. The subsequent legendary kings began with the Yellow Emperor, known as Huangdi, a major culture hero of Chinese civilization whose reign was considered exemplary. Succeeding rulers include some combination of Shaohao, Zhuanxu, Emperor Ku, Emperor Yao and Emperor Shun. Since the late Warring States onwards, early Chinese monarchs have traditionally been ground into the concept of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors; however, the chosen figures of this grouping varies considerably between sources. Generally, most accounts include at least Fuxi and Shennong among the Three Sovereigns as well as the Yellow Emperor, Yao and Shun among the Five Emperors.
Xia dynasty
The Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors period was followed by the Xia dynasty in traditional historiography. Founded by Yu the Great, both the dynasty and its rulers are of highly uncertain and controversial historicity.
Shang dynasty (c. 1600–1046 BCE)
Zhou dynasty (1046–256 BCE)
Early imperial China
Qin dynasty (221–207 BCE)
Han and Xin dynasties (202 BCE – 220 CE)
Six Dynasties
Three Kingdoms (220–280)
Cao Wei (220–266)
Shu Han (221–263)
Eastern Wu (222–280)
Jin dynasty (266–420)
Sixteen Kingdoms (304–439)
Northern and Southern Dynasties (420–589)
Northern Dynasties (420–581)
Southern Dynasties (420–589)
Mid-imperial China
Sui dynasty (581–619)
Tang and Zhou dynasties (618–907)
Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms
Five Dynasties (907–912)
Ten Kingdoms (907–979)
Late imperial China
Song dynasty (960–1279)
Northern regimes (916–1234)
Liao dynasty (916–1125)
Western Xia (1038–1227)
Jin dynasty (1115–1234)
Yuan dynasty (1271–1368)
Ming dynasty (1368–1644)
Qing dynasty (1636–1912)
References
Notes
Citations
Sources
Ancient Era
Early Imperial Era
Six Dynasties & Mid Imperial Era
Late Imperial Era
General
Further reading
External links
Rulers of China List at the Metropolitan Museum of Art
Table of Chinese Imperial Reigns at David K. Jordan's website
Guide to Names and Titles of Rulers at Chinaknowledge
Monarchs
Monarchs
Lists of Chinese people