Chinese Events that Influenced Literature Timeline

Shang Dynasty

1700 BCE

The first dynasty for which there is historical record and archaeological evidence. Archaeological objects were found of hieroglyphic writing on items like bronze and even bones.

Ming Dynasty

1368 BCE

Isolationist was put into place and ensued. Traveling and discovery was popular and interesting, novels were a huge contribution to this time.

Yuan Dynasty

1279 BCE

Novels were another outstanding achievement of the era. The novelists influenced the future development of the genre. "Water Margin" and "The Romance of the Three Kingdoms" are still widely read now. They are generally considered two of the four greatest novels in Chinese literature

Zhou Dynasty

1045 BCE

The works of philosophy and religion were popular during this time. Such pieces of literature became the basis for Chinese religious such as Taoism, Confucianism and other big religions.

Song Dynasty

960 BCE

During this rule the movable type was invented and made writing more simple plus convenient. This helped to spread knowledge since printed material could be published more quickly and cheaper. Travel literature in which authors wrote about their trips and destinations became popular as well. The Confucian Classics were used as test material for the entrance exams into the bureaucracy, advanced scientific texts and atlases were published, and important poems were written.

Tang Dynasty

618 BCE

This time brought poetry into a new light for Chinese literature. These poems reflected the hard realities of war, dying people living next to rich rulers, and primitive rural life. More than 1,400 of famous poems survived, and are still read and appreciated by modern Chinese people.

Han Dynasty

206 BCE

Around this time, Confucianism was brought back to everyday life. Confucian texts were rewritten and republished and available to the people.The era’s major contributions were historical texts and scientific works.

Qin Dynasty

221

The first emperor was the Qin emperor, once he had control, he wanted to keep it. He abolished literature that involved philosophical and religious teachings .The Emperor ordered the destruction of most books all over the empire, even killed those found disobeying him. However, he did allow books on scientific subjects like medicine or agriculture to survive.