CHINA     ANCIENT 3 Sovereigns and 5 Emperors Xia Dynasty 2070-1600 BCE Shang Dynasty 1600-1046 BCE Zhou Dynasty 1122-256 BCE Western Zhou Eastern Zhou Spring and Autumn Period Warring States Period   IMPERIAL Qin Dynasty 221 BCE-206 BCE Han Dynasty 206 BCE-220 CE Western Han Xin Dynasty Eastern Han Three Kingdoms 220-280 Wei, Shu & Wu Jin Dynasty 265-420 Western Jin Eastern Jin 16 Kingdoms 304-439 Southern & Northern Dynasties 420-589 Sui Dynasty 581-619 Tang Dynasty 618-907 5 Dynasties & 10 Kingdoms 907-960 Liao Dynasty 907-1125 Song Dynasty 960-1279 Northern Song W. Xia Dyn. Southern Song Jin Dyn. Yuan Dynasty 1271-1368 Ming Dynasty 1368-1644 Qing Dynasty 1644-1911

The Three Sovereigns The Three Sovereigns, sometimes known as the Three August Ones, were said to be god-kings or demigods who used their magical powers to improve the lives of their people. Because of their lofty virtue they lived to a great age and ruled over a period of great peace. The Three Sovereigns are ascribed various identities in different Chinese historical texts. The Records of the Grand Historian by Sima Qian states that they were: * The Heavenly Sovereign; * The Earthly Sovereign; * The Human Sovereign. The Yundou shu and Yuanming bao identify them as: * Fuxi; * Nüwa; * Shennong. Fuxi and Nüwa are respectively the god and goddess husband and wife credited with being the ancestors of humankind after a devastating flood. The invention of the Primal Arrangement of the Eight Trigrams (Xian Tian Ba Gua) is attributed to Fuxi. Shennong invented farming and was the first to use herbs for medical purposes. The I Ching, starts like this: "In the old times of King Fuxi's regime, he observed sky and the stars when he looks upwards, and researched the earth when he looks downwards, and watched the birds and beasts to see how they live in their environment. He took examples from nearby and far away, and then made 8 Yin Yang signs to simulate the rules of universe. After Fuxi died, Shennong rises. He made Plow and teach people how to raise crops and fishing. He invented money and market for the exchange of goods." The Shangshu dazhuan and Baihu tongyi replace Nüwa with Suire, the inventor of fire. The Diwang shiji replaces Nüwa with the Yellow Emperor, the supposed ancestor of all Han Chinese people. The Pure One, the Supreme God-King and Creator The Yellow Emperor, the Earthly Sovereign