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Throughout Chinese history, China had multiple periods of golden age. In Chinese historiography, golden ages on a large scale are known as shèngshì (盛世, lit. Prosperous Era), while golden ages on a smaller scale are termed as zhìshì (治世, lit. Well-Governed Era).
For periods of regional peace maintained by Chinese hegemony, see Pax Sinica.List of Chinese golden ages
This is a list of the golden ages in the history of China, sorted by dynasty.
| Golden age | Presided by | Period | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shang dynasty | |||
| Restoration of Pan Geng 盤庚中興 |
Pan Geng | 1300–1292 BCE | Social stability following the relocation of the Shang capital to Yin. |
| Rule of Wu Ding 武丁之治 |
Wu Ding | 1250–1190 BCE | Peak of the Shang dynasty. |
| Zhou dynasty | |||
| Rule of Cheng and Kang 成康之治 |
King Cheng of Zhou King Kang of Zhou |
1043–1005 BCE | Suppressed the Rebellion of the Three Guards and instituted the Fengjian system. |
| Restoration of King Xuan 宣王中興 |
King Xuan of Zhou | 828–797 BCE | Recovery of the society following the tyrannical rule of the King Li of Zhou. |
| Han dynasty | |||
| Rule of Wen and Jing 文景之治 |
Emperor Wen of Han Emperor Jing of Han |
180–141 BCE | Laid the economic foundation for the subsequent conquest of the Xiongnu by the Emperor Wu of Han. |
| Golden Age of the Emperor Wu of Han 漢武盛世 |
Emperor Wu of Han | 141–87 BCE | Pacification of the Xiongnu, establishment of contact with the Western Regions, and centralization of power. Peak of the Western Han. |
| Rule of Zhao and Xuan 昭宣之治 |
Emperor Zhao of Han Emperor Xuan of Han |
87–49 BCE | Stabilization of the society following the Han–Xiongnu War, and establishment of the Protectorate of the Western Regions. |
| Guangwu Restoration 光武中興 |
Emperor Guangwu of Han | 25–57 CE | Restoration of the Han dynasty following a 16-year interregnum. |
| Rule of Ming and Zhang 明章之治 |
Emperor Ming of Han Emperor Zhang of Han |
57–88 CE | Submission of the Southern Xiongnu. |
| Prosperity of Yongyuan 永元之隆 |
Emperor He of Han | 92–105 CE | Destruction of the Northern Xiongnu. Peak of the Eastern Han. |
| Jin dynasty | |||
| Reign of Taikang 太康之治 |
Emperor Wu of Jin | 280–289 CE | Reunification of China following the conquest of the Eastern Wu, and economic recovery. |
| Liu Song | |||
| Reign of Yuanjia 元嘉之治 |
Emperor Wen of Liu Song | 424–450 CE | Peace and stability as a result of good governance and reforms. |
| Northern Wei | |||
| Reforms of Xiaowen 孝文改革 |
Emperor Xiaowen of Northern Wei | 471–499 CE | Political and cultural development following the policy of Sinicization. |
| Southern Qi | |||
| Reign of Yongming 永明之治 |
Emperor Wu of Southern Qi | 482–493 CE | Establishment of peaceful relations with the Northern Wei, promotion of domestic education, and good management of the bureaucracy. |
| Liang dynasty | |||
| Reign of Tianjian 天監之治 |
Emperor Wu of Liang | 464–549 CE | Peace and stability. |
| Chen dynasty | |||
| Reign of Tianjia 天嘉之治 |
Emperor Wen of Chen | 559–566 CE | Economic recovery and prosperity following the rebellion of Hou Jing. |
| Sui dynasty | |||
| Reign of Kaihuang 開皇之治 |
Emperor Wen of Sui | 581–604 CE | Establishment of the Sui dynasty. Political stability and economic prosperity. |
| Tang dynasty | |||
| Reign of Wude 武德之治 |
Emperor Gaozu of Tang | 618–626 CE | Establishment of the Tang dynasty. Political stability and economic prosperity. |
| Reign of Zhenguan 貞觀之治 |
Emperor Taizong of Tang | 626–649 CE | Good governance, development of culture and production, and strengthening of territorial boundaries. |
| Reign of Yonghui 永徽之治 |
Emperor Gaozong of Tang | 649–683 CE | Continuation of policies introduced by the Emperor Taizong of Tang. Territorial height of the Tang dynasty. |
| Reign of Kaiyuan 開元盛世 |
Emperor Xuanzong of Tang | 712–741 CE | Peak of the Tang dynasty. |
| Yuanhe Restoration 元和中興 |
Emperor Xianzong of Tang | 805–820 CE | Stability following the An Lushan Rebellion. |
| Huichang Restoration 會昌中興 |
Emperor Wuzong of Tang | 840–846 CE | Increase in government revenue, and consolidation of imperial influence. |
| Reign of Dazhong 大中之治 |
Emperor Xuanzong of Tang | 846–859 CE | Domestic stability, and restoration of control over the Guiyi Circuit. |
| Wu Zhou | |||
| Continuation of the Order of Zhenguan 貞觀遺風 |
Wu Zhao | 690–705 CE | Continuation of the policies introduced during the Reign of Zhenguan. |
| Song dynasty | |||
| Reign of Jianlong 建隆之治 |
Emperor Taizu of Song | 960–976 CE | Establishment of the Song dynasty, and conquest of the remaining Ten Kingdoms with the exception of the Northern Han. |
| Reign of Xianping 咸平之治 |
Emperor Zhenzong of Song | 997–1022 CE | Conclusion of the Chanyuan Treaty which heralded the start of a century-long peace with the Liao dynasty. |
| Prosperous Rule of the Emperor Renzong of Song 仁宗盛治 |
Emperor Renzong of Song | 1022–1063 CE | Peak of the Song dynasty. |
| Reign of Qianchun 乾淳之治 |
Emperor Xiaozong of Song | 1162–1189 CE | Conclusion of the Longxing Peace Accord which heralded the start of a 40-year-long peace with the Jin dynasty. |
| Liao dynasty | |||
| Restoration of the Emperor Jingzong of Liao 景宗中興 |
Emperor Jingzong of Liao | 969–982 CE | Stability and prosperity following the policy of Sinicization. |
| Reign of Taiping 太平之治 |
Emperor Shengzong of Liao | 1021–1031 CE | Peak of the Liao dynasty. |
| Western Xia | |||
| Rule of Chong and Ren 崇仁之治 |
Emperor Chongzong of Western Xia Emperor Renzong of Western Xia |
1086–1193 CE | Peak of the Western Xia. |
| Jin dynasty | |||
| Prosperous Age of Dading 大定盛世 |
Emperor Shizong of Jin | 1161–1189 CE | Conclusion of the Longxing Peace Accord which heralded the start of a 40-year-long peace with the Song dynasty, increase in government revenue, and good governance. |
| Reign of Mingchang 明昌之治 |
Emperor Zhangzong of Jin | 1189–1208 CE | Peak of the Jin dynasty; the Jin dynasty was the most powerful and prosperous state in East Asia during the time. |
| Yuan dynasty | |||
| Prosperous Age of Zhiyuan 至元盛世 |
Emperor Shizu of Yuan | 1271–1294 CE | Unification of China under the Yuan dynasty, and political and economic reforms. |
| Prosperous Age of Dade 大德盛世 |
Emperor Chengzong of Yuan | 1295–1307 CE | Domestic stability, reduction of taxation, economic growth, and institutionalization of Confucianism in the government. |
| Ming dynasty | |||
| Reign of Hongwu 洪武之治 |
Hongwu Emperor | 1368–1398 CE | Establishment of the Ming dynasty. |
| Prosperous Age of Yongle 永樂盛世 |
Yongle Emperor | 1402–1424 CE | Military campaigns against the Mongols, establishment of Chinese rule in Vietnam, and commissioning of six large-scale maritime expeditions. |
| Reign of Ren and Xuan 仁宣之治 |
Hongxi Emperor Xuande Emperor |
1424–1435 CE | Peak of the Ming dynasty. |
| New Order of Chenghua 成化新風 |
Chenghua Emperor | 1464–1487 CE | Good governance, liberal political policies, economic prosperity, and domestic stability. |
| Hongzhi Restoration 弘治中興 |
Hongzhi Emperor | 1487–1505 CE | Economic prosperity, and domestic stability. |
| New Governance of Longqing 隆慶新政 |
Longqing Emperor | 1567–1572 CE | Normalization of relations with foreign adversaries, and introduction of a series of new domestic policies. |
| Wanli Restoration 萬曆中興 |
Wanli Emperor | 1573–1582 CE | Implementation of reforms led by Zhang Juzheng, domestic stability, and increase in government revenue. |
| Qing dynasty | |||
| High Qing era 康雍乾盛世 |
Kangxi Emperor Yongzheng Emperor Qianlong Emperor |
1662–1799 CE | Peak of the Qing dynasty. |
See also
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