DATE DYNASTY EVENTS CALLIGRAPHERS WORKS

1400 B.C.?

 Shang Dynasty        Bone and tortoiseshell inscriptions
1100? Zhou Dynasty    End of the Shang dynasty,establishment of the Zhou, with its capital at Hao    
770 Eastern Zhou    Ping Wang Dong Qian transfers capital to Luoyang. Spring and Autumn Annals period (722 - 440)    
494         Wu Wang Fu Cha defeats Yue Wang Gou Jian   494 B.C. Gou Jian, Prince of Yue’s sword inscription
403-256 Warring States Period        422? Stone-drum inscription
              313 Divinatory script of Chu
              300? Chu characters on silk
Zhongshan bronze
Inscriptions
256         Zhou defeated by the Qin    
249         Shi Huang of the Qin ascends the throne    
221 Qin Dynasty    The empire is unified, dividedinto districts and prefectures, weights, measures, and writing standardized    
            Meng Tian (died 210)  
            Li Si (died 208)  
219         Shi Huang makes journeys to various locations and leaves stone inscriptions Cheng Miao 219 Taishan, Langye Terrace stone inscriptions
202 Former Han Dynasty         
          Liu Bang founds the Han dynasty    
              194 Mawangdui Tomb bamboo tablets, Laozi on silk
              149 Lu Lingguan Palace stone inscription
136         Confucianism made the official religion of the realm    
              131 Qunchen Shangchou stone inscription
              102 B.C.-68 A.D. Bamboo tablets of the Han dynasty
91         Sima Qian’s History (Shi Ji)    
              56 B.C. Lu Xiaowang Stone inscription
48         Cursive script (caoshu) created by Shi You Shi You  
1 A.D.              
8 A.D.         Wang Mang assumes the throne, end of the Former Han dynasty    
               
25 Later Han    Guangwu founds the Later Han    
              66 A.D. Stone Inscription Commemorating the Opening of the Baoxie Road
100         Xu Shen’s Dictionary of Characters and Phrases Xu Shen  
            Cao Xi  
            Du Du 137 Stele Recording the Virtues of Pei Cen
            Cui Yuan (77-142) 148 Stone Gate Verses
              159 Zhang Jing Stele
              164 Kong Zhou Stele
              165 Tomb Steles of the Western Peaks of Mt. Hua
              169 Shichen Stele
              175-83 Xiping Stone Classic
              185 Cao Quan Stele
              186 Zhang Qian Stele
190         Capital transferred to Chang’an    
            Cai Yong (132 – 92)  
            Zhang Zhi  
            Liu Desheng  
            Shi Xuanguan  
205         Cao Cao prohibits burial steles    
            Zhang Chang (died 206)  
            Handan Chun  
            Liang Hu  
            Wei Ji  
220 Three Kingdoms Period: Wei    Fall of the Later Han, establishment of the Wei, and the Beginning of the Three Kingdoms Period (Wei, Wu, and Shu)    
            Zhong Yao (151 – 230) Xuanshi Memorial, Memorial awarding an Honorary Name to Gong Qing, Imperial Accession Memorial
            Hu Zhao (162 – 250)  
            Wei Dan (179 - 253)  
            Huang Xiang Jijiu Zhang, Wenwu Album
263         Fall of the Shu Zhong Hui (225 - 64) 240-48 Stone Classic in three styles
265 Western Jin    Fall of the Wei, founding of the Jin    
              276 Divine Omen Stele
              278 Imperial Academy Stele
280              
            Wei Heng (252 - 91) 296 Zhufo Yaoji Jing
          Defeat of the Wu by the Jin Su Jing (239 – 303) Yueyi Album
            Lu Ji (261 – 303) Pingfu Album
311         Yongjia Revolt    
316         Fall of the Western Jin, Beginning of the Five Barbarians and Sixteen Kingdoms Period (316 – 439)    
317 Eastern Jin    Yuan Di founds the Eastern Jin    
              Li Bo’s Draft of a Letter (328)
            Chi Jian (269 – 339)  
            Wang Dao (276 – 339)  
            Wei Shuo (272 – 349)  
              Epitaph for Liu Ke (357)
            Wang Xia (323 – 58)  
            Wang Xizhi (303? – 61?) Yue Yi Treatise, Orchid Pavillion Preface, Paean to Dong Fangshuo, Imperial Court Classic, Wang Lüe Album, Sang Luan Album, Kong Shizong Album, Feng Ju Album, Shiqi Album
            Huan Wen (312 – 73)  
            Chin Yin (313 – 84)  
            Xie An (330 – 85) Fifth Day of the Eight Month Album
386 Northern Wei      Northern Wei is founded by Tuoba    
            Wang Huizhi (died 388?)  
            Wang Xianzhi (344 – 88) Di Huang Tang Epistle, Ode to Luo Shen, Jinbao Muzhi
            Wang Ningzhi (died 399)  
            Wang Xun (349 – 400)  
            Huan Xuan (369 – 404)  
      Song Dynasty
 Collapse of the Eastern Jin, Founding of the Song    
            Kong Linzhi (369 – 423)  
          The north is unified under the Northern Wei, and the Northern and Southern Dynasties Period begins    
            Yang Xin (370 – 422)  
            Kou Qianzhi (365 – 448)  
            Cui Hao (died 450)  
            Xiao Sihua (406 – 55)  
            Boshaozhi  
479     Qi
Dynasty
 		 Collapse of the Song, founding of the Qi    
            Wang Sengqian (426 – 85)  
              492 Dafangden Daiji Jing
494         Northern Wei capital transferred to Luoyang    
495         Excavations begins at Longmen    
              496 Epitaph for Yuan Zhen
              498 Title Inscription for Buddhist Image Contructed by Duke Shiping
502     Liang Dynasty
 		 Qi is defeated by the Liang    
505         Luongmen Binyang cave construction begins   505 Daban Niepan Jing
              510 Dazhidulun Jing
              513 Huayan
              514 Yi He Inscription
            Zheng Daozhao (died 516) Zheng Xi Steles, Confucians Didactict Verses (511)
            Jiang Shi  
            Bei Yiyuan Stele for Zhongwu Xiao Dan, Prince of Shixing
              520 Epitaph for Sima Bing
              522 Zhang Meng Long Stele
              523 Gao Zhen Stele, Vinaya Preface
534 W. Wei E. Wei     North splits into Eastern and Western Wei. Yungang cave construction ends    
            Tao Hongjing (456 – 536)  
            Xiao Ziyun (487 – 549)  
            Ruan Yan  
550   N. Qi     Collapse of Eastern Wei, founding of Northern Qi Yu Jianwu (died 550) 550 Pusa Chutai Jing
557 N. Zhou   Chen   Collapse of the Liang, establishment of the Chen. Collapse of the Western Wei, founding of the Northern Zhou    
            Zhao Wenyuan Tomb Steles of the Western Peaks of Mt. Hua
574         Northern Zhou prohibition of Buddhism and Taoism, return of all monks to lay status    
577         Wu Di of the Northern Zhou defeats the Northern Qi    
580         Northern Zhou revival of Taoism and Buddhism    
581 Sui Dynasty       Collapse of the Northern Zhou    
589         Sui defeats the Chen, unifies the land    
            Fang Yanqian (547 – 615) 597 Epitaph for Dong Meiren
            Hu Chuo  
            Shi Ling  
            Ding Daohu 602 Qifa Temple Stele
              615 Epitaph for Duke Yuan, Office of the Stables
              Longcangsi Monastery Stele
              Epitaph for Li Jingxun
              Tomb Stele of Xiu, Head of the Chen Clan
              Tomb Stele of Cao Zhi
              Statue Inscription of Du Qianzhu and Others
            Zhao Xiaoyi  
            Zhiyong Thousand- Character Essay , Postscript to Feng Yu Epistles
            Zhiguo  
618 Tang Dynasty       Sui Emperor killed. Tang established by Li Yu    
627         Establishment of the Hong Wen Department, with Yu Shinan and Ouyang Xun    
            Yu Shinan (558 – 638) Memorial Stele at Confucius Tomb, Epitaph for Lord Runan, Jishi Album
639         Taizong presents rubbings of Wang Xizhi’s works to his ministers. Chu Suiliang’s rub-bing of the Yue Yi Treatise completed    
            Ouyang Xun (557 – 641) 627 Huang Fudan Stele, Fang Yanqian Stele, 631 Huadu Temple Stele, 632 Jiucheng Palace Spring Inscription , 637 Wen Yanfu
            Taizong (598 – 649) Jin Ci Inscription (646), Hot Spring Inscription (648)
            Huairen 672 Preface to the Buddhist Canon after Wang Xizhi
            Chu Suiliang (596 – 658) Yique Buddhist Image-niche Stele (641), Dharma Master Meng’s Stele (642), Fang Xuanling Stele (630), Yan Pagoda Prefaces (653)
            Ouyang Tong (died 691) Master Daoyin Stele (663), Epitaph for Quan Nansheng (679)
684         Empress Wu come to power Sun Guoting (648? – 703) Treatise on Calligraphy (697)
697         Wang Fangqing presents the Wang-family copies of Wang Xizhi’s calligraphy to the throne Empress Wu (623 – 705) Stele for Crown Prince Sheng-xian (699)
              706 Epitaph Inscription for Princess Yongtai
              708 Epitaph for Wei Jiong
            Xue Ji (649 – 713) Chan Master Xin Xing Stele
              718 Epitaph for Wei Xu
727         Zhang Huaikuan’s Critique of Calligraphy (Shu Duan)    
              740 Epitaph for Zhang Jiuling
            He Zhizhang (659 – 744) Classic of Filial Piety in Cursive Characters (740)
            Li Yong (678 – 747) Li Sixun Stele (739), Lushansi Monastery Stele (730)
            Emperor Xuanzong (685 – 762) Taishan Inscription, Stone Terrace Classic of Filial Piety
            Zhang Xu Autobiographical Album
            Shi Weize Chan Master Dazhi Stele
            Li Yangbing Title Inscription of the BanruoTerrace (772)
            Han Zemu Epitaph for the Lord of Nanhuan Xian (752)
            Xu Hao (703 – 82) Epitaph for Zhang Tinggui(746), Stele for Amoghavajra (781)
            Yan Zhenqing (709 – 85) Eulogy for a Nephew (758),Contest for Rank (764),Datang Zhongxing Verses (771), Stele for the Yan Clan Tomb (780), Eulogy for Bo Fu, Poem of Parting for General Pei
            Huaisu (born 725) Autobiography (777)
              810 Epitaph for Prince Hui
            Chen Chuanshi (769 – 827)  
              848 Epitaph for Zheng Derou
            Liu Gongquan (778 – 865) Jingang Banruo Jing (824), Xuanbi Pagoda Stele (841)
907

Five Dynasty,

Later Liang

 		     Collapse of the Tang, founding of the Later Liang, and the beginning of the Five Dynasties period    
              918 Lament for Wang Jian Tablet
923 Later Tang      Collapse of the Later Liang, founding of the Later Tang    
934 Later Jin      Collapse of the Later Tang, founding of the Later Jin    
          Dengxin Hall Album    
          Sheng Yuan Album    
937         Dynasty changed name to Liao    
              943 Lament for Li Pian Tablet
947 Later Han      Later Han founded    
951 Later Zhou      Later Zhou founded    
            Yang Ningshi (873 – 954)  
              Luhong Caotang Shizhi Postscript (947)
960 Northern Song      Collapse of the later Zhou, founding of the Song Xu Jie (921 – 75)  
            Nantang Houzhou (937 – 78)  
 979         Later Han defeated by the Song, empire unified    
 992         Printing of the Chunhua Pavilion Album    
1004         Peace treaty with Liao    
            Cai Xiang (1012 – 67) Poems in Thanks for an Imperial Gift (1052), Four Sages and One Scoundrel, Tao Sheng Album
            Ouyang Xiu (1007 – 72) Collected Ancient Catalogues of Postscripts (1063)
            Su Shi (1036 – 1101) Cold Meal in Huangzhou Poem Scroll (1082), Hermit Li Taibo Poem Scroll (1093)
            Hung Tingjian 1045 – 1105) Li Taibo’s Recalling Past Wanderings Poem Scroll, Epitaph drafts for Wang Zhong and Shi Fu, Cold Meal in Huangzhou Poem Scroll Postscript
          Mi Fu’s History of Calligraphy, Catalogue of Masterpieces Mi Fu (1051 – 1107) Gangxian Poem Scroll, Four Cursive Albums, Three Semi-Cursive Albums, Thousand-Character Essay in Small Block Characters, Eulogy for Empress Dowager Taxing
1115 Jin       Establishment of the Jin    
1126         Jin armies capture the capital of the Song Cai Jing (1047 – 1126)  
1127     Southern Song    Wu Shuo  
            Yuanwu Keqin (1063 – 1135) Yuanwu Keqin’s Diploma
            Huizong (1082 – 1135) Thousand-Character Essay
1144         Albums of Ancient Inscriptions on Bronze Ding and Yi Vessels completed    
1147         Huang Bosi’s Study on the Chunhua Pavilion Album    
            Mi Youren (1072 – 1151)  
            Wang Sheng (1076 – 1150?)  
            Cai Songnian (1107 – 59) Postscript to Su Shi’s Hermit Li Taibo Poem Scroll (1159)
1168         Hong Kuo’s Scribe and Li Script Dictionaries    
            Zhang Xiaoxiang (1133 – 70)  
1185         Junxibi Pavilion Copybook    
          Gaozong’s Brush and Ink Treatise Mi’an Xianjie (1118 – 86) Sermon
            Gaozong (1107 – 87) Preface to the Collected Writings of Huizong (1154), Volume of Proclamations Granted to Liang Rujia
            Fan Chengda (1126 – 93) Memorial Poem for Chan Master Fo Zhao (1181)
1195         Qunyu Hall Album    
            Zhu Xi (1130 – 1200) Cursive Draft of the Collected Notes on the Analects
            Wang Tingyun (1151 – 1202) Postscript to Painting of Bamboo
1203         Jiang Kui’s Jiangping Album    
1206         Chinggis Khan comes to power Yang Wanli (1124 – 1206)  
            Wu Jie  
1208         Jiang Kui’s Continued History of Calligraphy Lu You (1125 – 1210)  
1224         Sang Shichang’s Consideration of the Orchid Pavilion    
            Jiang Kui (1155 – 1231)  
1234         Collapse of the Jin    
1242         Yu Song’s Further Consideration of the Orchid Pavilion Preface    
            Wuzhun Shifan (1177 – 1249) Diploma (1237)
1260 Yuan Dynasty      Khubilai Khan ascends the throne, Yuan dynasty    
            Zhang Jizhi (1186-1266)  
            Yu Yunwen  
            Zhao Mengjian (1199 – 1264)  
1268         Cao Zhie’s Jewels of the Jin Archives Album    
1271         Dynasty name changed to Yuan    
1276         Song capital captured, and emperor put to death    
1279         Fall of the Southern Song and unification of China under the Yuan    
            Xianyu Shu (1257 – 1302) Du Fu’s Thatch Roof Destroyed by the Autumn Wind (1298)
1322         Zheng Yun’s Yan Ji completed Zhao Mengfu (1254 – 1322) Three Gates Record (1302 – 9), Miaoyan Temple Record (1309 – 10), Thirteen Postscripts to the Orchid Pavilion (1310), Dan Ba Stele, Epistle to Zhong-feng Mingben, Biography of Han Ji’an (1320)
            Feng Zizhen (1257 – 1327) Words Presented to Muin Genkai
            Deng Wenyuan (1259 – 1329)  
            Wu Qiuyan Xue Gu Bian
1342         Chen Yiceng’s Secret Teaching of the Hanlin Academy    
            Ke Jiusi (1290 – 1343) Postscript to the Orchid Pavilion Preface (1336)
            Kangli Kuikui (1295 – 1345) Three Verses Scroll (1336), Li Bo’s Ancient Wind Poem
            Yu Ji (1272 – 1348)  
            Wang Meng  
            Zhang Yu (1277 – 1348)  
            Rao Jie (died 1367)  
1368 Ming Dynasty      Founding of the Ming Zhou Boqi (1298 – 1369)  
            Yang Weizhen (1296 – 1370) Draft for Zhang Clan Memorial Stele (1365)
            Ni Zan (1301 – 74)  
1376         Tao Zongyi’s Brief Introduction to the History of Calligraphy    
            Song Lian (1310 - 81)  
            Song Ke (1327 – 87)  
            Jie Jin (1369 - 1415)  
            Shen Du (1357 – 1434)  
            Shen Can (1377 - 1453)  
            Jiang Ligang  
            Zhang Bi (1425 – 87) Postscript to Su Shi’s Hermit Li Taibo Poem Scroll (1483)
1489         Jin Jingwang’s Baoxian Hall Album    
            Xu Youzhen  
            Li Yingzhen (1431 - 93)  
            Chen Xianzhang (1428 – 1500) Poem Scroll
            Wu Xuan (1435 – 1504)  
            Shen Zhou (1427 – 1509)  
            Li Dongyang (1477 – 1516)  
            Zhu Yunming (1460 – 1526) Li Sao Classic Scroll (1490), Red Cliffs Ode (1508)
            Wang Chong (1494 - 1533)  
            Li Shen (1477 – 1544)  
            Wang Shouren (1472 –1528) Helou Pavilion Poem Scroll (1508)
            Chen Shun (1483 – 1544)  
            Wen Zhengming (1470 – 1559) Twelve Verses from Tao Yuanming’s Drinking Poem (1554)
            Wen Peng (1498 – 1573) Eulogy for Duke Xu
            Guang Jishui (1509 - 74)  
            Feng Fang (died 1576?)  
            Wen Jia (1501 – 83)  
            Zhou Tianqiu (1514-95)  
1604         Dong Qichang’s Huhong Hall Album    
            Wang Zhideng (1535 – 1612)  
            Xing Tong (1551 – 1612)  
            Mo Shilong  
            Mi Wanzhong  
1616         Nurhachi assumes power, changes the dynasty name to Later Jin    
1636         Dynasty name of Later Jin changed to Qing Dong Qichang (1555 – 1636) Semi-Cursive and CursiveCalligraphy Scroll (1603)
            Chen Jiru (1558 – 1639)  
            Zhang Ruitu (1570 –1641) Building a Small Pagoda Between the Sala Trees
1644 Qing Dynasty    Ming emperor commits suicide. Qing capital transferred toYanking Ni Yuanlu (1593 – 1644) Seated in Silence Poem
            Huang Daozhou (1585 – 1646) Reply to Sun Boguan’s Poem
            Wang Duo (1592 – 1652) Xiangshan Poem
            Gu Yanwu (1613 – 82)  
            Chen Quan (1624 - 82)  
            Fu Shan (1607-84) Wandering Hermits Poem inTwelve Scrolls
            Zheng Fu (1622 – 93)  
            Jiang Chenying (1628 – 99) Poem
            Zhu Yizun (1629 – 1709)  
            Chen Yixi (1648 – 1709)  
1716         Kangxi Encyclopedia completed    
            Cha Sheng (1650 – 1722)  
            Yang Bin (1650? – 1722?)  
            He Zhuo (1661 – 1722)  
            Wang Shu (1668 – 1739)  
1744         Shi Qu Bao Ji compiled    
            Zhang Zhao (1691 – 1745) Ancient Poem by Du Fu
1750         Three Treasures Hall Album    
            Jin Nong (1687 – 1763) Poem
            Zheng Xie (1693 – 1765) In Praise of Ink Painting of Bamboo (1753)
            Ding Jing (1695 – 1765)  
1767         Wang Shu’s Bamboo and Clouds Postscript    
1778         Reprint of the Chunhua Pavilion Copybook    
            Jiang Ren (1743 - 95)  
            Huang Yi (1744 - 95)  
1798         Wang Fanggang’s Metal and Stone Inscriptions of the Han Dynasties    
            Wang Wenzhi (1730 – 1802) Bound Volume of Copies of Jin Calligraphy
            Huang Yi (1744 – 1802)  
1802         Wang Fenggang’s Su-Mi Library Orchid Pavilion Manuscript Xi Gang (1746 – 1803)  
            Liu Yong (1719 – 1804) Copybook of Calligraphic Techniques
            Qian Daxin (1728 - 1804)  
1805         Wang Chang’s Volume of Jin Stone Inscriptions Gui Fu (1736 - 1805)  
            Deng Shiru (1743 - 1805) Four Styles Album
            Qian Dian (1741 – 1806)  
1808         Duan Yucai’s Annotated Dictionary of Characters and Phrases    
            Qian Bojiong (1738 – 1812)  
1814         Cheng Xinwang’s Jin Archives Copybook Zhang Wentao (1763 – 1814)  
            Liang Tongshu (1723 – 1815) Two Poems in Seven Stanzas by Lu You
            Yao Nai (1731 - 1815)  
            Yi Bingshou (1754 -1815)  
            Liang Yan  
            Sun Huangyan (1753 – 1818)  
            Wang Fanggang (1733 – 1818)  
            Chen Hongshou (1768 – 1822)  
            Chen Xiwang (1752 – 1823)  
            Wu Yingguang (1773 – 1843)  
            Ruan Yuan (1764 – 1849)  
            Bao Shichen (1775 – 1885)  
            Wu Xizai (1799 – 1870)  
            He Shaoji (1799 – 1873) In Praise of Horse Paintings
            Yang Yisun (1813-81)  
            Zhao Ziqian (1829 -84) Four Scrolls
            Xu Sangeng(1826 - 90)  
            Yang Xian (1819 - 96)  
            Wu Dacheng (1835 - 1905)  
            Yang Shoujing (1839-1915) Description of Peach Blossoms and Spring
            Wu Changshi (1844-1927)  
            Kang Youwei (1858-1927) Five-Character Couplet



 

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