The following is a family tree of Chinese emperors (420–1279), from the Northern and Southern dynasties period, of first half of the fifth century AD, until the conquest of the Southern Song dynasty in 1279 by the Yuan dynasty.
The following is a simplified family tree for the Sui dynasty (隋朝), which ruled China between AD 581 and 618. The dynasty was named for the family title: the Yang (楊) family were the Dukes of Sui.
Those who became emperor are listed in bold, with their years of reign large. The names given for emperors are posthumous names, the form by which Sui emperors were most commonly known.
The following is a simplified family tree for the Tang dynasty (唐朝), which ruled China between AD 618 and 907. The Tang dynasty was interrupted by the reign of Empress Wu Zetian (AD 690–705), who after deposing her sons, declared herself the founder of a Wu Zhou dynasty (武周); the Tang dynasty was resumed by her sons following her abdication. The dynasty was named for the family title: the Li (李) family were the Dukes of Tang.
The names given in bold for emperors are temple names, the form by which Tang emperors were most commonly known (with the exception of Shangdi/Shaodi (殤帝 / 少��), whose posthumous titles mean simply "died young" and "the young emperor", and Aidi (哀帝), also known as Zhaoxuan (昭宣), neither of whom were awarded temple names). The names of Xuánzōng I (玄宗) and Xuānzōng II (宣宗) are originally different in Mandarin Chinese, but are rendered the same in Pinyin English transliteration (once the tones have been removed).
Tang and Wu Zhou dynasties
The Tang emperors claimed descent from people such as Li Guang and Laozi
Li Zhu 李柷 892–908 Aidi 哀帝 or Zhaoxuan 昭宣 904–90722
Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period[]
The fifty years between the fall of the Tang dynasty and the establishment of the Song dynasty were a time of upheaval known as the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period. During this period, five short-lived imperial dynasties ruled the heart of China, while a series of small independent kingdoms were established in the south.
Li Siyuan 李嗣源 Mingzong 明宗 of (Later) Tang 867–926–933
Shi Shaoyong 石紹雍
Empress Li d. 950
Shi Jingtang 石敬瑭 892–942 Gaozu 高祖 936–942
Shi Jingru 石敬儒
Shi Chonggui 石重貴 914–974 Chudi 出帝 942–947
Later Han and Northern Han[]
The Later Han ruled between 947 and 951. Liu Min, brother of Emperor Gaozu the founder of the Later Han, established the Northern Han kingdom, which ruled the area north of the Chinese heartland until it was overrun by Emperor Taizong of Song in 979.
The family tree of the Later Han and Northern Han rulers
The Wu kingdom existed as an independent state 907–937. In 937 Li Bian (also known as Xu Zhigao), at one point an adopted son of Yang Xingmi and later the adopted son of the paramount general Xu Wen, usurped power and established the Southern Tang kingdom, which remained an independent state until conquered by the Song dynasty in 975.
The following is a simplified family tree for the Song dynasty, which ruled China between 960 and 1279. The names given are temple names, the form by which Song Emperors are most commonly known (with the exception of the last emperor, Bing, who is simply known by his given name). The Song dynasty is often divided into the Northern Song (960–1127), which ended when the Song lost control of Northern China to the Jin dynasty, and the Southern Song (1127–1279).
Song dynasty
– Northern Song emperors – Southern Song emperors
A dashed line denotes an adoption
Zhao Defang 趙德芳 959–981 Prince Kanghui of Qin 秦康惠王
Zhao Heng 趙恆 968–1022 Zhenzong 真宗 997–1022
Zhao Yuanfen 趙元份 969–1005 Prince Gongjing of Shang 商恭靖王
2
2
6
3
Zhao Weiji 趙惟吉 Prince Ji 冀王
Zhao Weixian 趙惟憲 979–1016 Duke of Ying 英國公
Zhao Zhen 趙禎 1010–1063 Renzong 仁宗 1022–1063
Zhao Yunrang 趙允讓 995–1059 Prince Anyi of Pu 濮安懿王
4
3
13
Zhao Shoudu 趙守度 Marquess of Lujiang 庐江侯
Zhao Congyu 趙從郁 Marquess of Xinxing 新興侯
Zhao Shu 趙曙 1032–1067 Yingzong 英宗 1063–1067
1
Zhao Shikuo 趙世括 Duke of Jia 嘉国公
Zhao Shijiang 趙世將 Marquess of Huayin 華陰侯
Zhao Xu 趙頊 1048–1085 Shenzong 神宗 1067–1085
6
11
Zhao Lingjia 趙令稼 Duke of Fang 房国公
Zhao Linghua 趙令譮 Duke of Qing 慶國公
Zhao Xu 趙煦 1076–1100 Zhezong 哲宗 1085–1100
Zhao Ji 趙佶 1082–1135 Huizong 徽宗 1100–1126
1
9
Zhao Zishi 趙子奭 Duke of Wu 吳國公
Zhao Zicheng 趙子偁 d.1143 Prince Anxi of Xiu 秀安僖王
Zhao Huan 趙桓 1100–1161 Qinzong 欽宗 1126–1127
Zhao Gou 趙構 1107–1187 Gaozong 高宗 1127–1162
2
Zhao Bowu 趙伯旿 Duke of Yi 益國公
Zhao Shen 趙昚 1127–1194 Xiaozong 孝宗 1162–1189
3
Zhao Shiyi 趙師意 Duke of Zhao 趙國公
Zhao Dun 趙惇 1147–1200 Guangzong 光宗 1189–1194
2
Zhao Xilu 趙希瓐 Prince Rong 榮王
Zhao Kuo 趙擴 1168–1224
Ningzong 寧宗 1194–1224
1
2
Zhao Yun 趙昀 1205–1264 Lizong 理宗 1224–1264
Zhao Yurui 趙與芮 1207–1287 Prince Rong 榮王
Zhao Mengqi 趙孟启 1240–1274 Duzong 度宗 1264–1274
1
2
3
Zhao Shi 趙昰 1268–1278 Duanzong 端宗 1276–1278
Zhao Xian 趙顯 1271–1323 Gongdi 恭帝 1274–1276
Zhao Bing 趙昺 1271–1279 Bing 昺 1278–1279
Liao, Jin, Western Xia dynasties[]
Liao dynasty[]
The following is a simplified family tree for the Liao dynasty, which ruled much of northern China between 907 and 1125. The names given are temple names, the form by which Liao Emperors are most commonly known (with the exception of the last emperor, Tianzuodi, who was not awarded a temple name).
The following is a simplified family tree for the Jin dynasty. Arising from a family of Jurchen chieftains (whose inaugural years of rule are given in brackets), the dynasty was declared by Aguda in 1115; in 1125 his successor Wuqimai conquered the Liao dynasty. The Jin ruled much of northern China until their conquest by the Mongol Empire 1234. They were the cultural 'ancestors' of the Qing dynasty, which was initially named the Later Jin in recognition of this heritage. The names given are temple names, the form by which Jin emperors are most commonly known (with the exceptions of the Prince of Hailing, Prince Shao of Wei and Emperor Mo; these are posthumous names, as temple names were not awarded).
Wanyan Chenglin 完顏承麟 Emperor Mo 末帝 r. 1234; d. 1234
Western Xia and Dingnan Jiedushi[]
The following is a family tree of the military governor (Jiedushi) of Dingnan Circuit, the region that eventually evolved into the independent state of Western Xia, that existed between 1038 and 1227, followed by the family tree of the Western Xia emperors.
The Tuoba clan of the Xianbei of Tuyuhun founded the Western Xia. After the Tibetans destroyed the Tuyuhun in 670, its famous prince, Tuoba Chici, who controlled the Dangxiang Qiang submitted to the Tang, which "bestowed" upon him the royal name of Li (李). Towards the end of the Tang, the Tuoba brought troops to suppress the Huang Chao Rebellion (874–884) on behalf of the Tang court and took control of the Xia State, or Xia Zhou, in northern Shaanxi in 881. After the Tang fell in 907, the Tuoba descendants formally declared resistance against the expanding Northern Song in 982 and proclaimed independence to establish the Western Xia in 1038.
The foundation of Western Xia goes back to the year 982 under Li Jiqian. However, only in 1038 did the Tangut chieftain Li Yuanhao (son of Li Deming, named himself emperor of Da Xia and demanded the Song emperor recognise him as an equal. The Song court recognised Li Yuanhao as governor but not as "emperor", a title it regarded as exclusive to the Song emperor. After intense diplomatic contacts, in 1043 the Tangut state accepted the recognition of the Song emperor as emperor in exchange for annual gifts, which implied tacit recognition on the part of the Song of the military power of the Tanguts.
Family tree of the Western Xia emperors and the rulers of Dingnan
Latourette, Kenneth Scott (1934). The Chinese: their history and culture. Vol. Volume 1 (2nd ed.). Macmillan. Retrieved February 8, 2012. {{cite book}}: |volume= has extra text (help)
Victor H. Mair; Nancy Shatzman Steinhardt; Paul Rakita Goldin (2005). Victor H. Mair; Nancy Shatzman Steinhardt; Paul Rakita Goldin (eds.). Hawai'i reader in traditional Chinese culture (illustrated ed.). University of Hawai'i Press. ISBN0824827856. Retrieved February 8, 2012.
Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland (1889). Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland, Volume 21. Vol. Volume the Twenty-First. London: W. H. Allen & Co., 13, Waterloo Place, Pall Mall: Cambridge University Press for the Royal Asiatic Society. Retrieved February 8, 2012. {{cite book}}: |volume= has extra text (help)CS1 maint: location (link)