China: Rulers

Updated August 5, 2020 | Infoplease Staff

See this list of Chinese Dynasties.

• Liu Pang, founder of the Han dynasty (206–195 B.C.)
• Wu-ti, posthumous temple name of the fifth emperor (140–87 B.C.) of the Han dynasty
• Wang Mang, Chinese Han dynasty regent (45 B.C.–A.D. 23)
• Sui, dynasty of China that ruled from 581 to 618
• Hsüan-tsung, Chinese emperor (712–56), ninth of the T'ang dynasty
• Sung, dynasty of China that ruled 960–1279
• Chao K'uang-yin, founder of the Sung dynasty (960–79)
• Hui-tsung, Chinese emperor of the Northern Sung dynasty, painter, and a great patron of art (1082–1135)
• Kublai Khan, Mongol emperor, founder of the Yüan dynasty of China (1215–94)
• Ming, dynasty of China that ruled from 1368 to 1644
• Yung-lo, reign title of the third emperor (1403–24) of the Chinese Ming dynasty
• Nurhaci, Manchu national founder (1559–1626)
• Manchu, people who lived in Manchuria for many centuries and who ruled China from 1644 until 1912
• K'ang-hsi, second emperor of the Ch'ing dynasty of China (1661–1722)
• Ch'ien-lung, reign title of the fourth emperor (1735–96) of the Ch'ing dynasty
• Tz'u Hsi, Tsu Hsi, dowager empress of China (1861–1908) and regent (1861–73, 1874–89, 1898–1908)
• Kuang-hsu, emperor of China (1875–1908)
• Henry Pu Yi, last emperor (1908–12) of China
• Yüan Shih-kai, president of China (1912–16)
• Li Yüan-hung, president of China (1916–17, 1922–23)
• Chiang Kai-shek, Chinese Nationalist leader (1928–48)
• Lin Sen, president of China (1932–43)
• Mao Zedong, founder of the People's Republic of China (1943–76)
• Deng Xiaoping, Chinese revolutionary and government leader (1945–89)
• Li Peng, Chinese premier (1987–98)
• Wen Jiabao, Chinese premier (2003–2013)
• Li Keqiang, Chinese premier (2013–)
• Jiang Zemin, president of China (1993–2003)
• Hu Jintao, president of China (2003–2012 )
• Xi Jinping, president of China (2012–)