| 明清 | Míng Qīng | the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties |  |
| 秦汉 | Qín Hàn | the Qin (221-207 BC) and Han (206 BC-220 AD) dynasties | |
| 唐宋 | Táng Sòng | the Tang (618-907) and Song (960-1279) dynasties | |
| 魏晋 | Wèi Jìn | Wei (220-265) and Jin (265-420) dynasties | |
| 蟒袍 | mǎng páo | official robe worn by ministers during the Ming 明 / (1368-1644) and Qing 清 / (1644-1911) dynasties |  |
| 均田制 | jūn tián zhì | equal-field system of Wei of the Northern dynasties 北魏 / and Tang 唐 / dynasties | |
| 历代 | lì dài | successive generations / successive dynasties / past dynasties | |
| 九州 | Jiǔ zhōu | division of China during earliest dynasties / fig. ancient China / Kyūshū, southernmost of Japan's four major islands | |
| 三代 | sān dài | three generations of a family / the three earliest dynasties (Xia, Shang and Zhou) | |
| 丞相 | chéng xiàng | the most senior minister of many kingdoms or dynasties (with varying roles) / prime minister | |
| 匈奴 | Xiōng nú | Xiongnu, a people of the Eastern Steppe who created an empire that flourished around the time of the Qin and Han dynasties | |
| 五代 | Wǔ dài | Five Dynasties, period of history between the fall of the Tang dynasty (907) and the founding of the Song dynasty (960), when five would-be dynasties were established in quick succession in North China | |
| 宋朝 | Sòng cháo | Song Dynasty (960-1279) / also Song of Southern dynasties 南朝宋 / (420-479) | |
| 中古 | zhōng gǔ | medieval / Middle Ages / Chinese middle antiquity, 3rd to 9th centuries, including Sui and Tang Dynasties / Middle (of a language, e.g. Middle English) / used / second-hand | |
| 南北朝 | Nán Běi cháo | Northern and Southern dynasties (420-589) | |
| 隋唐 | Suí Táng | Sui (581-617) and Tang dynasties (618-907) | |
| 花木兰 | Huā Mù lán | Hua Mulan, legendary woman warrior (c. fifth century), Northern dynasties folk hero recorded in Sui and Tang literature | |
| 北魏 | Běi Wèi | Wei of the Northern Dynasties (386-534), founded by the Tuoba 拓跋 / branch of Xianbei 鮮卑|鲜卑 | |
| 南朝 | Nán Cháo | Southern Dynasties (420-589) | |
| 土司 | tǔ sī | sliced bread (loanword from "toast") / government-appointed hereditary tribal headman in the Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties | |
| 建康 | Jiàn kāng | old name for Nanjing 南京, esp. during Southern dynasties | |
| 六朝 | Liù Cháo | Six Dynasties (220-589) | |
| 刘裕 | Liú Yù | Liu Yu, founder of Song of the Southern dynasties 劉宋|刘宋[Liu2 Song4], broke away from Eastern Jin in 420, reigned as Emperor Wu of Song 宋武帝[Song4 Wu3 di4] | |
| 拓拔 | Tuò bá | branch of the Xianbei 鮮卑|鲜卑 / nomadic people, founders of Wei 北魏 / of the Northern Dynasties (386-534) / also written 拓跋 | |
| 拓跋 | Tuò bá | branch of the Xianbei 鮮卑|鲜卑 / nomadic people, founders of Wei 北魏 / of the Northern Dynasties (386-534) / also written 拓拔 | |
| 南苑 | Nán yuàn | Nanyuan or "Southern Park", an imperial hunting domain during the Yuan, Ming and Qing Dynasties, now the site of Nanhaizi Park in the south of Beijing | |
| 南唐 | Nán Táng | Tang of the Five Southern Dynasties 937-975 | |
| 后汉书 | Hòu Hàn shū | History of Eastern Han (later Han), third of the 24 dynastic histories 二十四史[Er4 shi2 si4 Shi3], composed by Fan Ye 范曄|范晔[Fan4 Ye4] in 445 during Song of the Southern Dynasties 南朝宋[Nan2 chao2 Song4], 120 scrolls | |
| 北齐 | Běi Qí | Qi of the Northern Dynasties (550-557) | |
| 施琅 | Shī Láng | Shi Lang (1621-1696), Chinese admiral who served under the Ming and Qing Dynasties | |
| 魏晋南北朝 | Wèi Jìn Nán Běi Cháo | Wei, Jin and North-South dynasties / generic term for historic period 220-589 between Han and Sui | |
| 后汉 | Hòu Hàn | Later Han or Eastern Han dynasty (25-220) / Later Han of the Five Dynasties (947-950) | |
| 北朝 | Běi Cháo | Northern Dynasties (386-581) | |
| 北周 | Běi Zhōu | the Northern Zhou Dynasty (557-581) / one of the Northern Dynasties | |
| 士族 | shì zú | land-owning class, esp. during Wei, Jin and North-South dynasties 魏晉南北朝|魏晋南北朝[Wei4 Jin4 Nan2 Bei3 Chao2] | |
| 后周 | Hòu Zhōu | Later Zhou of the Five Dynasties (951-960), centered on Shandong and Hebei, with capital at Kaifeng 開封|开封[Kai1 feng1] | |
| 八股文 | bā gǔ wén | eight-part essay one had to master to pass the imperial exams in Ming and Qing dynasties | |
| 旧唐书 | Jiù Táng shū | History of the Early Tang Dynasty, sixteenth of the 24 dynastic histories 二十四史[Er4 shi2 si4 Shi3], compiled under Liu Xu 劉昫|刘昫[Liu2 Xu4] in 945 during Later Jin 後晉|后晋[Hou4 Jin4] of the Five Dynasties, 200 scrolls | |
| 后唐 | Hòu Táng | Later Tang of the Five Dynasties (923-936) | |
| 魏书 | Wèi shū | History of Wei of the Northern Dynasties, tenth of the 24 dynastic histories 二十四史[Er4 shi2 si4 Shi3], compiled by Wei Shou 魏收[Wei4 Shou1] in 554 during Northern Qi Dynasty 北齊|北齐[Bei3 Qi2], 114 scrolls | |
| 西魏 | Xī Wèi | Western Wei of the Northern dynasties (535-557), formed from the break-up of Wei of the Northern Dynasties 北魏 | |
| 谢灵运 | Xiè Líng yùn | Xie Lingyun (385-433) poet during Song of the Southern Dynasties 南朝宋 | |
| 东魏 | Dōng Wèi | Eastern Wei of the Northern dynasties (534-550), formed from the break-up of Wei of the Northern Dynasties 北魏 | |
| 夏商周 | Xià Shāng zhōu | Xia, Shang and Zhou, the earliest named Chinese dynasties | |
| 周书 | Zhōu shū | History of Zhou of the Northern Dynasties, twelfth of the 24 dynastic histories 二十四史[Er4 shi2 si4 Shi3], compiled under Linghu Defen 令狐德棻[Ling2 hu2 De2 fen1] in 636 during Tang Dynasty, 50 scrolls | |
| 后梁 | Hòu Liáng | Later Liang of the Five Dynasties (907-923) | |
| 宋书 | Sòng shū | History of Song of the Southern Dynasties 南朝宋[Nan2 chao2 Song4] or Liu Song 劉宋|刘宋[Liu2 Song4], sixth of the 24 dynastic histories 二十四史[Er4 shi2 si4 Shi3], compiled by Shen Yue 沈約|沈约[Shen3 Yue1] in 488 during Liang of the Southern Dynasties 南朝梁[Nan2 chao2 Liang2], 100 scrolls / (not to be confused with 宋史[Song4 shi3]) | |
| 唐书 | Táng shū | same as 舊唐書|旧唐书[Jiu4 Tang2 shu1], History of the Early Tang Dynasty, sixteenth of the 24 dynastic histories 二十四史[Er4 shi2 si4 Shi3], compiled under Liu Xu 劉昫|刘昫[Liu2 Xu4] in 945 during Later Jin 後晉|后晋[Hou4 Jin4] of the Five Dynasties, 200 scrolls | |
| 南朝梁 | Nán cháo Liáng | Liang of the Southern dynasties (502-557) | |
| 沈约 | Shěn Yuē | Shen Yue (441-513), writer and historian during Liang of Southern dynasties 南朝梁, compiler of History of Song of the Southern dynasties 宋書|宋书 | |
| 顾恺之 | Gù Kǎi zhī | Gu Kaizhi or Ku K'aichih (346-407), famous painter of Eastern Jin dynasty, one of the Four Great Painters of the Six Dynasties 六朝四大家 | |
| 梁书 | Liáng shū | History of Liang of the Southern Dynasties, eighth of the 24 dynastic histories 二十四史[Er4 shi2 si4 Shi3], compiled by Yao Silian 姚思廉[Yao2 Si1 lian2] in 636 during Tang dynasty, 56 scrolls | |
| 庾信 | Yǔ Xìn | Yu Xin (513-581), poet from Liang of the Southern dynasties 南朝梁朝 / and author of Lament for the South 哀江南賦|哀江南赋 | |
| 五代史 | Wǔ dài shǐ | History of the Five Dynasties, eighteenth of the 24 dynastic histories 二十四史[Er4 shi2 si4 Shi3], compiled under Xue Juzheng 薛居正[Xue1 Ju1 zheng4] in 974 during Northern Song 北宋[Bei3 Song4], 150 scrolls | |
| 新五代史 | Xīn Wǔ dài shǐ | Later History of the Five Dynasties (between Tang and Song), nineteenth of the 24 dynastic histories 二十四史[Er4 shi2 si4 Shi3], compiled under Ouyang Xiu 歐陽修|欧阳修[Ou1 yang2 Xiu1] in 1053 during Northern Song Dynasty, 74 scrolls | |
| 北齐书 | Běi Qí shū | History of Qi of the Northern Dynasties, eleventh of the 24 dynastic histories 二十四史[Er4 shi2 si4 Shi3], compiled by Li Baiyao 李百藥|李百药[Li3 Bai3 yao4] in 636 during Tang Dynasty, 50 scrolls | |
| 旧五代史 | Jiù Wǔ dài shǐ | History of the Five Dynasties (between Tang and Song), eighteenth of the 24 dynastic histories 二十四史[Er4 shi2 si4 Shi3], compiled under Xue Juzheng 薛居正[Xue1 Ju1 zheng4] in 974 during Northern Song 北宋[Bei3 Song4], 150 scrolls | |
| 宋 | Sòng | surname Song / the Song dynasty (960-1279) / also Song of the Southern dynasties 南朝宋 / (420-479) | |
| 谢赫 | Xiè Hè | Xie He (479-502), portrait painter from Qi of Southern dynasties 南齊|南齐[Nan2 Qi2] | |
| 长乐 | Cháng lè | Changle, county-level city in Fuzhou 福州[Fu2 zhou1], Fujian / Princess Changle of Western Wei of the Northern dynasties 西魏[Xi1 Wei4], given in marriage c. 545 to Bumin Khan 土門|土门[Tu3 men2] | |
| 李煜 | Lǐ Yù | Li Yu (c. 937-978), given name of the final ruler of Tang of the Five Southern dynasties Li Houzhu 李後主|李后主, a renowned poet | |
| 五代十国 | Wǔ dài Shí guó | Five Dynasties (907-960) and Ten Kingdoms (902-979), period of political turmoil in ancient China | |
| 令狐德棻 | Líng hú Dé fēn | Linghu Defen (583-666), Tang dynasty historian, compiler of History of Zhou of the Northern dynasties 周書|周书 | |
| 侯景之乱 | Hóu Jǐng zhī luàn | rebellion against Liang of the Southern Dynasties 南朝梁 / in 548 | |
| 六朝四大家 | liù cháo sì dà jiā | Four Great Painters of the Six Dynasties, namely: Cao Buxing 曹不興|曹不兴[Cao2 Bu4 xing1], Gu Kaizhi 顧愷之|顾恺之[Gu4 Kai3 zhi1], Lu Tanwei 陸探微|陆探微[Lu4 Tan4 wei1] and Zhang Sengyou 張僧繇|张僧繇[Zhang1 Seng1 you2] | |
| 六朝时代 | Liù Cháo Shí dài | the Six Dynasties period (222-589) between Han and Tang | |
| 刘宋 | Liú Sòng | Song of the Southern dynasties 南朝宋 / (420-479), with capital at Nanjing | |
| 刘宋时代 | Liú Sòng Shí dài | Song of the Southern dynasties (420-479), with capital at Nanjing | |
| 刘昫 | Liú Xù | Liu Xu (887-946), politician in Later Jin of the Five Dynasties 後晉|后晋[Hou4 Jin4], compiled History of Early Tang Dynasty 舊唐書|旧唐书[Jiu4 Tang2 shu1] | |
| 北史 | Běi shǐ | History of the Northern Dynasties, fifteenth of the 24 dynastic histories 二十四史[Er4 shi2 si4 Shi3], compiled by Li Yanshou 李延壽|李延寿[Li3 Yan2 shou4] in 659 during Tang Dynasty, 100 scrolls | |
| 北汉 | Běi Hàn | Han of the Five dynasties (951-979), one of ten kingdoms during the Five Dynasties, Ten Kingdoms period (907-960) | |
| 十六国春秋 | Shí liù guó Chūn qiū | history of the Sixteen Kingdoms 304-439 by Cui Hong 崔鴻|崔鸿, written towards the end of Wei of the Northern Dynasties 北魏, 100 scrolls | |
| 南史 | Nán shǐ | History of the Southern Dynasties, fourteenth of the 24 dynastic histories 二十四史[Er4 shi2 si4 Shi3], compiled by Li Yanshou 李延壽|李延寿[Li3 Yan2 shou4] in 659 during Tang Dynasty, 80 scrolls | |
| 南朝宋 | Nán cháo Sòng | Song of the Southern dynasties (420-479), with capital at Nanjing / also known as Liu Song 劉宋|刘宋 | |
| 南朝陈 | Nán cháo Chén | Chen of the Southern dynasties (557-589) | |
| 南朝齐 | Nán cháo Qí | Qi of Southern dynasties (479-502) | |
| 南齐 | Nán Qí | Qi of Southern dynasties (479-502) | |
| 南齐书 | Nán Qí shū | History of Qi of the Southern Dynasties, seventh of the 24 dynastic histories 二十四史[Er4 shi2 si4 Shi3], compiled by Xiao Zixian 蕭子顯|萧子显[Xiao1 Zi3 xian3] in 537 during Liang of the Southern Dynasties 南朝梁[Nan2 chao2 Liang2], 59 scrolls | |
| 哀江南赋 | Aī Jiāng nán fù | Lament for the South, long poem in Fu style by Yu Xin 庾信 / mourning the passing of Liang of the Southern dynasties 南朝梁朝 | |
| 宋武帝 | Sòng Wǔ dì | Emperor Wu of Song (363-422), personal name Liu Yu 劉裕|刘裕[Liu2 Yu4], founder of Song of the Southern dynasties 劉宋|刘宋[Liu2 Song4], broke away from Eastern Jin in 420, reigned 420-422 | |
| 崔鸿 | Cuī Hóng | Cui Hong, historian at the end of Wei of the Northern Dynasties 北魏 | |
| 张僧繇 | Zhāng Sēng yóu | Zhang Sengyou (active c. 490-540), one of the Four Great Painters of the Six Dynasties 六朝四大家 | |
| 后晋 | Hòu Jìn | Later Jin of the Five Dynasties (936-946) | |
| 后魏 | Hòu Wèi | Wei of the Northern Dynasties 386-534 | |
| 拓跋魏 | Tuò bá Wèi | Wei of the Northern Dynasties (386-534) | |
| 曹不兴 | Cáo Bù xīng | Cao Buxing or Ts'ao Pu-hsing (active c. 210-250), famous semilegendary painter, one of the Four Great Painters of the Six Dynasties 六朝四大家 | |
| 朱温 | Zhū Wēn | Zhu Wen (852-912), military governor 節度使|节度使[jie2 du4 shi3] at the end of Tang, founder of Later Liang of the Five Dynasties (907-923), also known as Emperor Taizu of Later Liang 後梁太祖|后梁太祖[Hou4 Liang2 Tai4 zu3] | |
| 李延寿 | Lǐ Yán shòu | Li Yanshou (fl. 650), compiler of History of the Southern 南史 / and Northern Dynasties 北史 | |
| 李昉 | Lǐ Fǎng | Li Fang (925-996), scholar between Tang and Song dynasties, author of fictional history | |
| 李百药 | Lǐ Bǎi yào | Li Baiyao (565-648), Tang dynasty writer and historian, compiler of History of Qi of the Northern dynasties 北齊書|北齐书 | |
| 柳毅传 | Liǔ Yì zhuàn | story of Liu Yi, Tang fantasy fiction by Li Chaowei 李朝威, popular with dramatist of subsequent dynasties | |
| 梁唐晋汉周书 | Liáng Táng Jìn Hàn Zhōu shū | another name for History of the Five Dynasties between Tang and Song 舊五代史|旧五代史[Jiu4 Wu3 dai4 shi3] | |
| 杨凝式 | Yáng Níng shì | Yang Ningshi (873-954) calligrapher of the Five Dynasties period | |
| 武定 | Wǔ dìng | Wuding reign name (543-550) during Eastern Wei of the Northern Dynasties 東魏|东魏[Dong1 Wei4] / Wuding County in Chuxiong Yi Autonomous Prefecture 楚雄彞族自治州|楚雄彝族自治州[Chu3 xiong2 Yi2 zu2 Zi4 zhi4 zhou1], Yunnan | |
| 历朝通俗演义 | lì cháo tōng sú yǎn yì | Dramatized history of successive dynasties (from Han to Republican China) by Cai Dongfan 蔡東藩|蔡东藩 | |
| 范晔 | Fàn Yè | historian from Song of the Southern Dynasties 南朝宋, author of History of Eastern Han 後漢書|后汉书 | |
| 范缜 | Fàn Zhěn | Fan Zhen (c. 450-c. 510), philosopher from Qi and Liang of the Southern dynasties, as atheist denying Buddhist teachings on karma and rebirth | |
| 萧子显 | Xiāo Zǐ xiǎn | Xiao Zixian (487-537), writer and historian of Liang of Southern Dynasties, compiler of History of Qi of the Southern dynasties 南齊書|南齐书[Nan2 Qi2 shu1] | |
| 萧梁 | Xiāo Liáng | Liang of the Southern dynasties (502-557) | |
| 薛居正 | Xuē Jū zhèng | Xue Juzheng (912-981), Song historian and compiler of History of the Five Dynasties between Tang and Song 舊五代史|旧五代史 | |
