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Chinese Dynasty Guide


Ch'in Dynasty

Dynasty Timeline Ching Dynasty Ming Dynasty Yuan Dynasty Sung Dynasty Sung Dynasty Five Dynasties Tang Dynasty Sui Dynasty Six Dynasties Han Dynasty Chou Dynasty Shang Dynasty Neolithic Era

From This Period

Cocoon-shaped Jar
Cocoon-shaped Jar


Ch'in (Pinyin: Qin)

221 - 206 B.C.

Pronunciation: "chin"

During this very brief dynasty, a dynamic leader named Shih-huang unified the "warring states" of the preceding era and declared himself China's first emperor. Buried with him in his tomb were more than 6,000 terra-cotta soldiers and horses; obviously, this dynasty supported a sophisticated ceramic industry. The first sections of the Great Wall were built and so was an extensive highway system.

Great Wall Terra-Cotta Soldiers
The Great Wall Terra-Cotta Soldiers

Video: Ch'in Dynasty
Curator of Asian art Robert Jacobsen takes us through China's illustrious past by focusing on each of its historical dynasties.

Ch'in Dynasty Map