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The 5 Dynasty era of China was a interesting and important time. Different forms of governments were used and new and various contributions were made. The 5 Dynasty Period in China was a powerful time of many different rulers and states. These 5 Dynasties quickly suceeded one another and created a fast-paced dynasty. Many occurances happened and change was constant. This dynasty was a important period of Chinese history that needn't be forgotten or overlooked in our society of today.

ming and qing dynasty (mostly)-- **CHINESE DYNASTIES **

//By Subhuti Dharmananda, Ph.D., Director, Institute for Traditional Medicine, Portland, Oregon // Chinese history is normally described in relation to Dynasties. The first historical emperor of China was Qinshi Huangdi, or the Yellow Emperor of the Qin clan. His tomb has become the famous archeological site at Xian, best known for its hundreds of terra cotta guards and horses. Before him, there were diverse tribes forming confederations, depicted as the Xia, Shang, and Zhou Dynasties. Dating of the Xia and Shang Dynasties are based on archeological finds; dating of the Zhou Dynasty is influenced by historical records that are imprecise. Before that time, one encounter stories of a mythical period, projecting back to 5,000 years before the present, which gives the commonly-cited figure for the age of many Chinese cultural activities, include the frequently recited statement: "Chinese medicine has a 5,000-year history." Beginning with the Qin Dynasty, the common characteristic of Chinese rule is that there was one primary leader of China, the head of the Dynasty. Each leader was succeeded by another, usually by birthright, until an opposing group took power (at times, two or more Dynasties coexisted in different parts of China). It was common for a Chinese Dynasty to follow a basic pattern: begin with a very powerful leader taking over a weakened country; develop over several generations to a highly successful and vital civilization; and then degrade to the point that an opponent could take over. Some historical periods were highly unstable, in which there was frequent or nearly continuous upheaval. Thus, before the Tang Dynasty, there was the Six Dynasties period, followed by the short-lived Sui Dynasty (all together 7 Dynasties in 140 years). For those who are interested in China, the famous Han, Tang, Song, Ming, and Qing Dynasties particularly stand out; each of these lasted for about 300 years and ruled a vast territory. In Chinese historical documents, it is common to identify a person's life and accomplishments by the Dynasty in which he (or she) lived, and, frequently, according to the Emperor who lived at that time. For precision, a person's birth date, date of a publication or accomplishment, or date of death might be given as the "16th year of the Kangxi Emperor of the Qing Dynasty," thus allowing modern historians to translate to a specific year of the calendar. Major historical developments are described in relation to the Dynastic period in which they took place. In the medical field, it is common to refer to medical works that arose during the Han, Song, Ming, or Qing Dynasties; one particularly productive period is known as the Jin-Yuan; referring to the Southern Song (corresponding to Jin) and Mongolian (Yuan) Dynastic periods. While the Chinese people, as well as scholars who specialize in Chinese history, are well aware of these Dynasties by name and when they occurred, those who have a more cursory interest in things Chinese may not gain much insight by typical references to "the Warring States period," or the Manchu Dynasty (the Qing Dynasty). In order to assist readers in understanding the timeline of Chinese history, the following table (on two pages) is offered. It should be understood that there are some disagreements among scholars about the dates involved, particularly before about 300 A.D. In the table, some alternative dates are presented in brackets. Often times, the transition would not be a clean one; an emperor of one Dynasty might retreat to a different part of China and continue on for some years; or, a new Dynasty might begin in a remote part of China and then take over the capitol. The question arises: what date is chosen to define when the Dynasty starts and ends? There can also be slight discrepancies in the year assigned due to uncertainties in the historical records; these usually involve only a year or two of difference from the years cited here. To help further elucidate the nature of a Dynasty, details of the Qing Dynasty, China's last, are presented in a separate table, showing each of the Emperors, and depicting some events that took place during their reign that influenced the future development of China. Several books about individual Chinese Emperors and the events taking place during their rule are available. Examples are: **The First Emperor of China** (1), **A Year of No Significance** (2; about the Wangli Emperor of the Ming Dynasty), and **Emperor of China** (3; about the Kangxi Emperor of the Qing Dynasty).

Information on the Later Liang Dynasty-

=Later Liang dynasty= // Chinese history [907-923]//

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The first of the five [|dynasties] was the Hou (Later) Liang, which was established by the rebel leader Zhu Wen after he usurped the Tang throne in 907. Zhu was murdered by his own son in 912, and the Hou Liang was overthrown by one of its generals, Zhuangzong (personal name Li Cunxu), who established the... Chinese general who usurped the throne of the last emperor of the Tang dynasty (618–907) and proclaimed himself the first emperor of the Hou (Later) Liang dynasty (907–923). ...Bian’s lack of historical [|prestige] was balanced by its proximity to the ancient capital, Luoyang, a short distance to the west, which was still China’s cultural centre. Zhu Wen’s short-lived Hou (Later) Liang dynasty, founded in 907, was superseded by the Hou Tang in 923, by the Hou Jin in 936, by the Hou Han in 947, and by the Hou Zhou in 951. These rapid successions of dynasties came...
 * **Five Dynasties period** ( //in// [|**Five Dynasties (Chinese history)**] )
 * **founding by Zhu Wen** ( //in// [|**Zhu Wen (emperor of Later Liang dynasty)**] )
 * **history of China** ( //in// [|**China: The Wudai (Five Dynasties)**] )

Encyclopædia Britannica articles, from the full Encyclopædia Britannica database
[|**Later Liang dynasty**]The first of the five dynasties was the Hou (Later) Liang, which was established by the rebel leader Zhu Wen after he usurped the Tang throne in 907. Zhu was murdered by his own son in 912, and the Hou Liang was overthrown by one of its generals, Zhuangzong (personal name Li Cunxu), who established the...[|**Later Liang dynasty**]By the late 580s Wendi’s state was stable and secure enough for him to take the final step toward reunifying the whole country. In 587 he dethroned the emperor of the Hou (Later) Liang, the state that had ruled the middle Yangtze valley as a puppet of the Bei Zhou since 555. In 589 he overwhelmed the last southern dynasty, the Chen, which had put up only token resistance. Several rebellions...[|**Zhu Wen**]Chinese general who usurped the throne of the last emperor of the Tang dynasty (618–907) and proclaimed himself the first emperor of the Hou (Later) Liang dynasty (907–923).

Student Britannica Articles (Ages 11 and up) on " Later Liang dynasty (Chinese history [907-923]) " from the [|Britannica Online Student Edition]
[|**China**]Most of the T'ang accomplishments were attained during the first century of the dynasty's rule, through the early part of Emperor Hsüan Tsung's long reign from 712 to 756. However, late in his reign he neglected government affairs to indulge in his love of art and study. This led to the rise of viceroys, commanders responsible for military and civil affairs in the regions. An Lu-shan was a powerful viceroy commanding the northwest border area. He had both connections at the imperial court and hidden imperial ambitions. In 755 he rose in rebellion.[|**China**]The dynasty itself had fallen into the hands of the empress dowager Tz'u-hsi, who dominated the central government for the rest of the Ch'ing period. Both a schemer and an archconservative, the empress dowager considerably delayed China's modernization.[Liang dynasty|**More Student Britannica results...**]For a definition of " Later Liang dynasty (Chinese history [907-923]) ", visit [|**Merriam-Webster**].

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Information on the Later Tang Dynasty-

=Later Tang dynasty= // Chinese history//

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...by his own son in 912, and the Hou Liang was overthrown by one of its generals, Zhuangzong (personal name Li Cunxu), who established the Hou (Later) Tang [|dynasty] in 923. Although Zhuangzong and his successors ruled relatively well for 13 years, the Hou Tang was finally terminated when one of its generals, Gaozu (personal name Shi... ...to the ancient capital, Luoyang, a short distance to the west, which was still China’s cultural centre. Zhu Wen’s short-lived Hou (Later) Liang dynasty, founded in 907, was superseded by the Hou Tang in 923, by the Hou Jin in 936, by the Hou Han in 947, and by the Hou Zhou in 951. These rapid successions of dynasties came to an end only with the rise in 960 of the Song dynasty, which...
 * **Five Dynasties period** ( //in// [|**Five Dynasties (Chinese history)**] )
 * **history of China** ( //in// [|**China: The Wudai (Five Dynasties)**] )

Encyclopædia Britannica articles, from the full Encyclopædia Britannica database
[|**Later Tang dynasty**]...by his own son in 912, and the Hou Liang was overthrown by one of its generals, Zhuangzong (personal name Li Cunxu), who established the Hou (Later) Tang dynasty in 923. Although Zhuangzong and his successors ruled relatively well for 13 years, the Hou Tang was finally terminated when one of its generals, Gaozu (personal name Shi...

Student Britannica Articles (Ages 11 and up) on " Later Tang dynasty (Chinese history) " from the [|Britannica Online Student Edition]
[|**China**]Having restored Chinese rule to China, the first Ming emperor tried to model his rule after that of the Han, but the Ming fell far short of the Han's accomplishments. The land under Ming domination was less than under either the Han or the T'ang. The Ming dominion changed little after the first two decades. It was confined mostly to what is known as China proper, south of the Great Wall and east of Xinjiang and Tibet.[|**Xinjiang**]The land that is now Xinjiang autonomous region was initially populated by nomadic herdsmen and farmers who were loosely organized into small kingdoms and tribes. By 100 the southern portions of the region were controlled by the Western Han Dynasty of China, and an extension of the Great Wall was built 300 miles (480 kilometers) west of the present Gansu-Xinjiang border. As China developed trade relations with the Roman Empire, the famous Silk Road was established. This was a 4,000-mile (6,400-kilometer) trade route along which traders from east and west could travel to exchange goods. Xinjiang's position at the crossroads of Central Asia and China allowed the region to prosper.[|**China**]Most of the T'ang accomplishments were attained during the first century of the dynasty's rule, through the early part of Emperor Hsüan Tsung's long reign from 712 to 756. However, late in his reign he neglected government affairs to indulge in his love of art and study. This led to the rise of viceroys, commanders responsible for military and civil affairs in the regions. An Lu-shan was a powerful viceroy commanding the northwest border area. He had both connections at the imperial court and hidden imperial ambitions. In 755 he rose in rebellion.[|**Lao-Tzu**] (604?–531? ). Some people believe that only one man, Lao-tzu, wrote the most translated work in all the literature of China, the ‘Lao-Tzu' (also called ‘Tao-te Ching'). The book is the earliest document in the history of Taoism (“the Way”), one of the major philosophical-religious traditions that, along with Confucianism, has shaped Chinese life and thought for more than 2,000 years. It is a viewpoint that emphasizes individuality, freedom, simplicity, mysticism, and naturalness. (See also Confucius.)[|**Korea**]Archaeological evidence indicates that people lived in southwestern Korea well before 10,000. Later, Korea was inhabited by at least two distinct groups of people who migrated from the north. One group consisted of fishermen and shellfish gatherers, who settled along the rivers and the seacoast about the 3rd millennium. They produced an earthenware that is known as “comb ceramic” from the linear decoration on its surface. The second group entered the Korean peninsula around the 7th century. It was made up of hunters and gatherers who produced mumun (undecorated pottery). They developed a primitive agriculture and may have built the great stone-slab tombs, or dolmens, found throughout Korea. Wet-field rice agriculture and the use of metal appear to have been introduced from China by 300 .[Tang dynasty|**More Student Britannica results...**]

Children's Encyclopedia Articles (Ages 8-11) on " Later Tang dynasty (Chinese history) " from the [|Britannica Online Student Edition]
[|**Han and Tang Dynasties**] // (from the China article) // The Qin was replaced by the Han Dynasty (202 – 220). During Han times, the Chinese distinguished themselves in making scientific discoveries, many of which were not known to Westerners until centuries later. The Chinese were most advanced in astronomy. They invented sundials and water clocks and divided the day equally into 12 periods. After the fall of the Han, China was a divided empire for several centuries. It was reunited under the short-lived Sui Dynasty ( 581–618).[|**Golden age of poetry**] // (from the Chinese literature article) // The period from 681 to 960 was the time of the Tang Dynasty and the Five Dynasties. This was China's golden age of poetry. The works of more than 2,000 poets from the period have been preserved. Poets followed traditional verse forms but also adopted new ones. Among these was the popular ci, a song form. The ci was made up of lines of irregular length (as short as one syllable or as long as 11 syllables). It remained a major style of poetry for hundreds of years.[Tang dynasty|**More Children's Encyclopedia results...**]For a definition of " Later Tang dynasty (Chinese history) ", visit [|**Merriam-Webster**].

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Information on the Later Jin dynasty-

=Later Jin dynasty= // Chinese history [936-946/947]//

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...was finally terminated when one of its generals, Gaozu (personal name Shi Jingtang), overthrew his master with the aid of the Khitan, a seminomadic people of Inner Asia, and Gaozu established the Hou (Later) Jin [|dynasty]. When Gaozu’s son attempted to halt his tribute payments to the Khitan in 946, they reinvaded North China and carried him into captivity, thus ending the 10-year Hou Jin... //in// [|**China: The Wudai (Five Dynasties)**] ) ...Luoyang, a short distance to the west, which was still China’s cultural centre. Zhu Wen’s short-lived Hou (Later) Liang dynasty, founded in 907, was superseded by the Hou Tang in 923, by the Hou Jin in 936, by the Hou Han in 947, and by the Hou Zhou in 951. These rapid successions of dynasties came to an end only with the rise in 960 of the Song dynasty, which finally succeeded in...
 * **place in Five Dynasties period** ( //in// [|**Five Dynasties (Chinese history)**];

Encyclopædia Britannica articles, from the full Encyclopædia Britannica database
[|**Later Jin dynasty**]...was finally terminated when one of its generals, Gaozu (personal name Shi Jingtang), overthrew his master with the aid of the Khitan, a seminomadic people of Inner Asia, and Gaozu established the Hou (Later) Jin dynasty. When Gaozu’s son attempted to halt his tribute payments to the Khitan in 946, they reinvaded North China and carried him into captivity, thus ending the 10-year Hou Jin...[|**Gaozu**]...Cunxu), who established the Hou (Later) Tang dynasty in 923. Although Zhuangzong and his successors ruled relatively well for 13 years, the Hou Tang was finally terminated when one of its generals, Gaozu (personal name Shi Jingtang), overthrew his master with the aid of the Khitan, a seminomadic people of Inner Asia, and Gaozu established the Hou (Later) Jin dynasty. When Gaozu’s son attempted...

Student Britannica Articles (Ages 11 and up) on " Later Jin dynasty (Chinese history [936-946 947]) " from the [|Britannica Online Student Edition]
[|**Taiyuan**]One of the greatest industrial cities in China, Taiyuan is the capital city of Shanxi Province. It lies on the Fen River amid some of the world's richest iron ore and coal reserves. Its heavy industry, especially iron and steel, is of prime importance to China's economy. There is also coal and cement production. The city is an engineering center and has a large chemical-industrial complex. As a center of education and research, Taiyuan is especially strong in the fields of technology and applied science.[Jin dynasty|**More Student Britannica results...**]For a definition of " Later Jin dynasty (Chinese history [936-946 947]) ", visit [|**Merriam-Webster**].

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Info on the later han dynasty-

=Later Han dynasty= // Chinese history [25-220]//

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The Han house was restored by [|Liu] Xiu, better known as Guangwudi, who reigned from ad 25 to 57. His claim had been contested by another member of the Liu house—Liu Xuan, better known as Liu Gengshi—who had been actually enthroned for two years, until his death in the [|course] of turbulent civil fighting. Chang’an had been virtually destroyed by warfare, and Guangwudi established his... ...people of Wo, who are divided into more than 100 states, and who bring tribute at fixed intervals.” Lo-lang was one of the Han colonies established in the Korean peninsula. A [|history] of the Later (Eastern) Han (ad 25–220) records that in ad 57 the “state of Nu in Wo” sent emissaries to the Later Han court and that the emperor gave them a gold seal. The “state... ...Han minister who established the Xin dynasty (ad 9–25). The restored Han dynasty is sometimes referred to as the Dong (Eastern), or the Hou (Later), Han (ad 25–220). ...abroad and opened up China itself to foreign ideas and artistic influences. After the period of the usurping Hsin dynasty (ad 9 to 25), the Tung (Eastern) Han, with its capital at Lo-yang, recovered something of the dynasty’s former prosperity but was increasingly beset by natural...
 * **major reference** ( //in// [|**China: Dong (Eastern) Han**] )
 * **Japanese history** ( //in// [|**Japan: Chinese chronicles**] )
 * **role of Guangwudi** ( //in// [|**Guangwudi (emperor of Han dynasty)**] )
 * **visual arts** ( //in// [|**Chinese music: Ch’in (221–206 bc) and Han (206 bc–ad 220) dynasties.**] )

External Web sites
This topic is discussed at the following external Web sites. [|Washington State University - The Chinese Empire: The Middle Kingdom]

Encyclopædia Britannica articles, from the full Encyclopædia Britannica database
[|**Later Han dynasty**]The Han house was restored by Liu Xiu, better known as Guangwudi, who reigned from ad 25 to 57. His claim had been contested by another member of the Liu house—Liu Xuan, better known as Liu Gengshi—who had been actually enthroned for two years, until his death in the course of turbulent civil fighting. Chang’an had been virtually destroyed by warfare, and Guangwudi established his...[|**Later Han dynasty**]...China and carried him into captivity, thus ending the 10-year Hou Jin dynasty. The following year a former Hou Jin general who also bore the name of Gaozu (personal name Liu Zhiyuan) founded the Hou (Later) Han dynasty and pushed the Khitan back into Inner Asia. But this regime lasted only four years before still another general usurped the throne, founding the Hou (Later) Zhou dynasty....[|**Gaozu**]...to the Khitan in 946, they reinvaded North China and carried him into captivity, thus ending the 10-year Hou Jin dynasty. The following year a former Hou Jin general who also bore the name of Gaozu (personal name Liu Zhiyuan) founded the Hou (Later) Han dynasty and pushed the Khitan back into Inner Asia. But this regime lasted only four years before still another general usurped the...

Student Britannica Articles (Ages 11 and up) on " Later Han dynasty (Chinese history [25-220]) " from the [|Britannica Online Student Edition]
[|**Ch'in dynasty**] The Ch'in Dynasty, from which the country name China is derived, ruled for only a brief period—from 221 to 206. But during that time it established the approximate boundaries and basic administrative system that lasted in China for the next 2,000 years.[|**China**]The Chinese show their pride in Han accomplishments by calling themselves the Han people. Philosophies and institutions that began in the Chou and Ch'in periods reached maturity under the Han. During Han times, the Chinese distinguished themselves in making scientific discoveries, many of which were not known to Westerners until centuries later. The Chinese were most advanced in astronomy. They invented sundials and water clocks, divided the day equally into ten and then into 12 periods, devised the lunar calendar that continued to be used until 1912, and recorded sunspots regularly. In mathematics, the Chinese were the first to use the place value system, whereby the value of a component of a number is indicated by its placement. Other innovations were of a more practical nature: wheelbarrows, locks to control water levels in streams and canals, and compasses.[|**China**]The four-century-long Han rule is divided into two periods: the Earlier or Western Han and the Later or Eastern Han. In between these two was the short-lived Hsin Dynasty ( 9–23).[|**China**]The Han Kao Tsu preserved many features of the Ch'in imperial system, such as the administrative division of the country and the central bureaucracy. But the Han rulers lifted the Ch'in ban on philosophical and historical writings. Han Kao Tsu called for the services of men of talent, not only to restore the destroyed classics but to serve as officials in the government. From that time, the Chinese Empire was governed by a body of officials theoretically selected on merit. Such a practice has few parallels elsewhere at this early date in human history.[|**Chinese literature**]During the Sung Dynasty, especially in the 11th century, the tz'u form of poetry and song was brought to its greatest heights, particularly through the efforts of China's best woman poet, Li Ch'ing-chao. She produced six volumes of poetry and seven volumes of essays, all of which have been lost except for some poetry fragments. Her early poems dealt with the joys of love and were intensely personal. Later in life her writing began to reflect a dark despair, caused by long separations from her husband and, eventually, by his untimely death.[Han dynasty|**More Student Britannica results...**]

Children's Encyclopedia Articles (Ages 8-11) on " Later Han dynasty (Chinese history [25-220]) " from the [|Britannica Online Student Edition]
[|**Han Dynasty**] // (from the Han Dynasty article) // The second of China's great imperial, or royal, dynasties was the Han. It spanned the four centuries from 206 to 220. During this time Chinese culture became firmly established. The Han Dynasty was considered so outstanding that it served as the model for all later Chinese dynasties.[|**Han and Tang Dynasties**] // (from the China article) // The Qin was replaced by the Han Dynasty (202 – 220). During Han times, the Chinese distinguished themselves in making scientific discoveries, many of which were not known to Westerners until centuries later. The Chinese were most advanced in astronomy. They invented sundials and water clocks and divided the day equally into 12 periods. After the fall of the Han, China was a divided empire for several centuries. It was reunited under the short-lived Sui Dynasty ( 581–618).[|**Literature of the early dynasties**] // (from the Chinese literature article) // In 221 China was united under the rule of Shi Huangdi, who started the Qin Dynasty. He was determined to govern with absolute authority. Shi Huangdi often found himself at odds with the Confucian scholars, who did not approve of his harsh rule. In 213 he ordered the destruction of all texts that he thought threatened his power.[|**History**] // (from the Han Dynasty article) // In 221 the Qin had united vast China into one empire for the first time. But the Qin were harsh rulers. In 206 a man named Liu Pang led a revolt against the Qin Dynasty and took power. Liu was the first Han emperor.[|**Golden age of poetry**] // (from the Chinese literature article) // The period from 681 to 960 was the time of the Tang Dynasty and the Five Dynasties. This was China's golden age of poetry. The works of more than 2,000 poets from the period have been preserved. Poets followed traditional verse forms but also adopted new ones. Among these was the popular ci, a song form. The ci was made up of lines of irregular length (as short as one syllable or as long as 11 syllables). It remained a major style of poetry for hundreds of years.[Han dynasty|**More Children's Encyclopedia results...**]For a definition of " Later Han dynasty (Chinese history [25-220]) ", visit [|**Merriam-Webster**].[]

Information on the Later Zhou Dynasty-

=Later Zhou dynasty= // Chinese history [951-960]//

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Aspects of this topic are discussed in the following places at Britannica.

Assorted References
...name Liu Zhiyuan) founded the Hou (Later) Han [|dynasty] and pushed the Khitan back into Inner Asia. But this regime lasted only four years before still another general usurped the throne, founding the Hou (Later) Zhou dynasty. Although progress toward a more stable government began to be made during this time, the emperor died, leaving an infant on the throne. As a result, another general,... //in// [|**China: The Wudai (Five Dynasties)**] ) ...was still China’s cultural centre. Zhu Wen’s short-lived Hou (Later) Liang dynasty, founded in 907, was superseded by the Hou Tang in 923, by the Hou Jin in 936, by the Hou Han in 947, and by the Hou Zhou in 951. These rapid successions of dynasties came to an end only with the rise in 960 of the Song dynasty, which finally succeeded in establishing another lasting [|empire] and in taking over... At about age 20 Zhao joined a leader whose adoptive father soon afterward established the Hou (Later) Zhou dynasty (951–960) at Kaifeng; Zhao’s patron succeeded to the throne in 954 and fought to extend his sway into South China and to eliminate a rival who, established to the north in Shanxi and supported by the Khitan (Chinese: Qidan) empire, laid claim to the rule of China. Through a...
 * **place in Five Dynasties period** ( //in// [|**Five Dynasties (Chinese history)**];
 * **Taizu** ( //in// [|**Taizu (emperor of Song dynasty): Early life and rise to power**] )

Encyclopædia Britannica articles, from the full Encyclopædia Britannica database
[|**Later Zhou dynasty**]...name Liu Zhiyuan) founded the Hou (Later) Han dynasty and pushed the Khitan back into Inner Asia. But this regime lasted only four years before still another general usurped the throne, founding the Hou (Later) Zhou dynasty. Although progress toward a more stable government began to be made during this time, the emperor died, leaving an infant on the throne. As a result, another general,...

Student Britannica Articles (Ages 11 and up) on " Later Zhou dynasty (Chinese history [951-960]) " from the [|Britannica Online Student Edition]
[|**Chinese literature**]The Ch'ing Dynasty was overthrown in the Chinese Revolution of 1911–12, and from that time China was in almost continual turmoil until the success of the Communist revolution in 1949. Even then the turmoil did not altogether cease, for the nation was subject to the whims of the Communist leadership. The Great Leap Forward, the government program of the 1950s, brought economic disaster to China, and the Cultural Revolution of the late 1960s poisoned the whole cultural and social environment.[Zhou dynasty|**More Student Britannica results...**]

Children's Encyclopedia Articles (Ages 8-11) on " Later Zhou dynasty (Chinese history [951-960]) " from the [|Britannica Online Student Edition]
[|**Laozi**] // (from the Laozi article) // (6th century ). A philosopher in ancient China, Laozi (or Lao-tzu) is credited with writing the Daode jing. The book is the earliest record of Daoism—a philosophy that has shaped Chinese life for more than 2,000 years. Daoism emphasizes self-knowledge, simplicity, spirituality, and openness.[Zhou dynasty|**More Children's Encyclopedia results...**]For a definition of " Later Zhou dynasty (Chinese history [951-960]) ", visit [|**Merriam-Webster**].

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