Throughout Chinese history, China had multiple periods of golden age. In Chinese historiography, golden ages on a large scale are known as (Chinese: 盛世, lit. Prosperous Era), while golden ages on a smaller scale are termed as (Chinese: 治世, lit. Well-Governed Era).
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[1] Chinese: 盤庚中興 | Pan Geng | 1300–1292 BCE | Social stability following the relocation of the Shang capital to Yin. |
| Rule of Wu Ding[2] Chinese: 武丁之治 | Wu Ding | 1250–1190 BCE | Peak of the Shang dynasty. |
| Zhou dynasty | |||
| Rule of Cheng and Kang[3] Chinese: 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[4] Chinese: 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[5] Chinese: 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[6] Chinese: 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[7] Chinese: 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[8] Chinese: 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[9] Chinese: 明章之治 | Emperor Ming of Han Emperor Zhang of Han | 57–88 CE | Submission of the Southern Xiongnu. |
| Prosperity of Yongyuan[10] Chinese: 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[11] Chinese: 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[12] Chinese: 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[13] Chinese: 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[14] Chinese: 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[15] Chinese: 天監之治 | Emperor Wu of Liang | 464–549 CE | Peace and stability. |
| Chen dynasty | |||
| Reign of Tianjia[16] Chinese: 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[17] Chinese: 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[18] Chinese: 武德之治 | Emperor Gaozu of Tang | 618–626 CE | Establishment of the Tang dynasty. Political stability and economic prosperity. |
| Reign of Zhenguan[19] Chinese: 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[20] Chinese: 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[21] Chinese: 開元盛世 | Emperor Xuanzong of Tang | 712–741 CE | Peak of the Tang dynasty. |
| Yuanhe Restoration[22] Chinese: 元和中興 | Emperor Xianzong of Tang | 805–820 CE | Stability following the An Lushan Rebellion. |
| Huichang Restoration[23] Chinese: 會昌中興 | Emperor Wuzong of Tang | 840–846 CE | Increase in government revenue, and consolidation of imperial influence. |
| Reign of Dazhong[24] Chinese: 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[25] Chinese: 貞觀遺風 | Wu Zhao | 690–705 CE | Continuation of the policies introduced during the Reign of Zhenguan. |
| Song dynasty | |||
| Reign of Jianlong[26] Chinese: 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[27] Chinese: 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[28] Chinese: 仁宗盛治 | Emperor Renzong of Song | 1022–1063 CE | Peak of the Song dynasty. |
| Reign of Qianchun[29] Chinese: 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[30] Chinese: 景宗中興 | Emperor Jingzong of Liao | 969–982 CE | Stability and prosperity following the policy of Sinicization. |
| Reign of Taiping[31] Chinese: 太平之治 | Emperor Shengzong of Liao | 1021–1031 CE | Peak of the Liao dynasty. |
| Western Xia | |||
| Rule of Chong and Ren[32] Chinese: 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[33] Chinese: 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[34] Chinese: 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[35] Chinese: 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[36] Chinese: 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[37] Chinese: 洪武之治 | Hongwu Emperor | 1368–1398 CE | Establishment of the Ming dynasty. |
| Prosperous Age of Yongle[38] Chinese: 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[39] Chinese: 仁宣之治 | Hongxi Emperor Xuande Emperor | 1424–1435 CE | Peak of the Ming dynasty. |
| New Order of Chenghua[40] Chinese: 成化新風 | Chenghua Emperor | 1464–1487 CE | Good governance, liberal political policies, economic prosperity, and domestic stability. |
| Hongzhi Restoration[41] Chinese: 弘治中興 | Hongzhi Emperor | 1487–1505 CE | Economic prosperity, and domestic stability. |
| New Governance of Longqing[42] Chinese: 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[43] Chinese: 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[44] Chinese: 康雍乾盛世 | Kangxi Emperor Yongzheng Emperor Qianlong Emperor | 1662–1799 CE | Peak of the Qing dynasty. |