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