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From the Shang dynasty to the Qin, rulers usually held the title King (王 wáng). With the division of China into separate Warring States, this title had become so common that the unifier of China, the first Qin emperor Qin Shi Huang created a new title for himself, that of Emperor (皇帝 huángdì). This title of Emperor continued to be used for the remainder of China's imperial history, right down to the fall of the Qing dynasty in 1912.
Chinese monarchs were known by many different names, and how they should be identified is often confusing. Sometimes the same emperor is commonly known by two or three separate names, or the same name is used by emperors of different dynasties. The tables below do not necessarily include all of an emperor's names - for example, posthumous names could run to more than twenty characters and were rarely used in historical writing - but where possible the most commonly used name or naming convention has been indicated.
These tables may not necessarily represent the most recently updated information on Chinese monarchs; please check the page for the relevant dynasty for possible additional information.
| Reign name2 | Notes | Name by which most commonly known |
|---|---|---|
| Yǔ 禹 |
Also known as Dà Yǔ, 大禹 |
Yu |
| Qǐ 啟 |
Son of Yu; beginning of hereditary succession |
Qi |
| Tài Kāng 太康 |
Tai Kang | |
| Zhòng Kāng 仲康 |
Zhong Kang | |
| Xiāng 相 |
Xiang | |
| Shào Kāng 少康 |
Shao Kang | |
| Zhù 杼 |
Zhu | |
| Huái 槐 |
Huai | |
| Máng 芒 |
Mang | |
| Xie 泄 |
Xie | |
| Bù Jiàng 不降 |
Bu Jiang | |
| Jiōng 扃 |
Jiong | |
| Jǐn 廑 |
Jin | |
| Kǒng Jiǎ 孔甲 |
Kong Jia | |
| Gāo 皋 |
Gao | |
| Fā 發 |
Fa | |
| Jié 桀 |
Also known as Lǚ Gǔi, 履癸 |
Jie |
| 1 The first generally accepted date in Chinese history is 841 BC. All dates prior to this are the subject of often vigorous dispute. The dates provided here are those put forward by The Xia-Shang-Zhou Chronology Project, the work of scholars sponsored by the Chinese government which reported in 2000. They are given only as a guide. | ||
| 2 The reign name is sometimes preceded by the name of the dynasty, Xià (夏), for example Xià Yǔ (夏禹). | ||
| Personal name | Reign name2 | Temple nameTemple names ( or less commonly Pinyin: miao hao , are commonly used when naming most Chinese and certain Korean rulers. When compared to posthumous names, the use of temple names is more exclusive. Both titles were given after death to an emperor or king3 | Reign years1 | Name by which most commonly known |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tang 湯 |
1600 BC - 1300 BC | Tang | ||
| Wai Bing 外丙 |
Wai Bing | |||
| Zhong Ren 仲壬 |
Zhong Ren | |||
| Tai Jia 太甲 |
Tai Jia | |||
| Wo Ding 沃丁 |
Wo Ding | |||
| Tai Geng 太庚 |
Tai Geng | |||
| Xiao Jia 小甲 |
Xiao Jia | |||
| Yong Ji 雍己 |
Yong Ji | |||
| Tai Wu 太戊 |
Tai Wu | |||
| Zhong Ding 仲丁 |
Zhong Ding | |||
| Wai Ren 外壬 |
Wai Ren | |||
| He Dan Jia 河亶甲 |
He Dan Jia | |||
| Zu Yi 祖乙 |
Zu Yi | |||
| Zu Xin 祖辛 |
Zu Xin | |||
| Wo Jia 沃甲 |
Wo Jia | |||
| Zu Ding 祖丁 |
Zu Ding | |||
| Nan Geng 南庚 |
Nan Geng | |||
| Yang Jia 陽甲 |
Yang Jia | |||
| Pan Geng 盤庚 |
1300 BC - 1251 BC | Pan GengPan Geng moved the capital of the Shang Dynasty to Yinxu, which today is at Anyang; in Henan Province, China.4 | ||
| Xiao Xin 小辛 |
Xiao Xin | |||
| Xiao Yi 小乙 |
Xiao Yi | |||
| Wu Ding 武丁 |
1250 BC - 1192 BC | Wu Ding | ||
| Zu Geng 祖庚 |
1191 BC - 1148 BC | Zu Geng | ||
| Zu Jia 祖甲 |
Zu Jia | |||
| Lin Xin 廩辛 |
Lin Xin | |||
| Geng Ding 庚丁 |
Kang Ding 康丁 |
Kang Ding | ||
| Wu Yi 武乙 |
1147 BC - 1113 BC | Wu Yi | ||
| Wen Ding5 文丁 |
1112 BC - 1102 BC | Wen Ding | ||
| Di Yi 帝乙 |
1101 BC - 1076 BC | Di Yi | ||
| Zi Zhou 子紂 |
Di Xin 帝辛 |
1075 BC - 1046 BC | Di Xin | |
| 1 The first generally accepted date in Chinese history is 841 BC. All dates prior to this are the subject of often vigorous dispute. The dates provided here are those put forward by The Xia-Shang-Zhou Chronology Project, the work of scholars sponsored by the Chinese government which reported in 2000. They are given only as a guide. | ||||
| 2 The reign name is sometimes preceded by the name of the dynasty, Shang (商), for example Shang Tang (商湯). | ||||
| 3 The name used in the oracle bone inscription records of ancestral sacrifice. | ||||
| 4 The period of the Shang dynasty starting from Pan Geng is also frequently referred to as the Yin (殷) dynasty. because he changed capital to Yin. | ||||
| 5 Also known as Tai Ding (太丁). | ||||