Culture Shock! China - A Survival Guide to Customs and Etiquette, 2nd Edition

Enjoying the Culture 149

Chinese Dynasties Period

Northern & Southern

—Northern Dynasties

—Southern Dynasties

386–58 1

420–589

Sui Dynasty 581–618

Tang Dynasty 618–907

Five Dynasties & Ten States

—Later Liang

—Later Tang

—Later Jin

—Later Han

—Later Zhou

—Ten States

907–923

923–936

936–946

947–951

951–960

902–979

Northern Song Dynasty 960–1127

Southern Song Dynasty 1127–1279

Liao Dynasty 916–1125

Jin Dynasty 1125–1234

Yuan Dynasty 1271–1368

Ming Dynasty 1368–1644

Qing Dynasty 1644–1911

BELIEFS AND CULTURE

Confucianism, Daoism (Taoism), and Buddhism form the
three main pillars of historic Chinese thought. Much of
Chinese tradition and culture is shaped by the influence of
these three philosophies, from the way a child cares for his
or her parents, to how to approach one’s career.
In the past 50 years, Communism has overlaid another set
of attitudes, beliefs and actions over these traditions, adding a
discipline and focus that has allowed China to quickly reshape
itself into a force in the modern world.