This is a list of the Chinese era names used by the various dynasties and regimes in the history of China, sorted by monarch.
The English renditions of the era names in this list are based on the Hanyu Pinyin system. However, some academic works utilize the Wade–Giles romanization. For instance, the era of Zhenguan () during the reign of the Emperor Taizong of Tang is rendered as Chen-kuan in Wade–Giles.
Han dynasty Western Han Era namePeriod of useLength of useRemarkEmperor Wu of HanJianyuan140–135 BCE6 yearsYuanguang134–129 BCE6 yearsYuanshuo128–123 BCE6 yearsYuanshou122–117 BCE6 yearsYuanding116–111 BCE6 yearsYuanfeng110–105 BCE6 yearsTaichu104–101 BCE4 yearsTianhan100–97 BCE4 yearsTaishi96–93 BCE4 yearsZhenghe92–89 BCE4 yearsOr Yanhe ().Houyuan88–87 BCE2 yearsOr Hou (), Zhenghehouyuan (). Might not be an era name.Emperor Zhao of HanShiyuan86–80 BCE7 yearsYuanfeng80–75 BCE6 yearsYuanping74 BCE1 yearUsage continued by Liu He and the Emperor Xuan of Han upon their ascension to the throne.Emperor Xuan of HanBenshi73–70 BCE4 yearsDijie69–66 BCE4 yearsYuankang65–61 BCE4 years 2 monthsShenjue61–58 BCE4 yearsWufeng57–54 BCE4 yearsGanlu53–50 BCE4 yearsHuanglong49 BCE1 yearEmperor Yuan of HanChuyuan48–44 BCE5 yearsYongguang43–39 BCE5 yearsJianzhao38–34 BCE5 yearsJingning33 BCE1 yearUsage continued by the Emperor Cheng of Han upon his ascension to the throne.Emperor Cheng of HanJianshi32–28 BCE4 years 2 monthsHeping28–25 BCE4 yearsReferenced the pacification of the Yellow River after its major 29BCE floodYangshuo24–21 BCE4 yearsHongjia20–17 BCE4 yearsYongshi16–13 BCE4 yearsYuanyan12–9 BCE4 yearsSuihe8–7 BCE2 yearsUsage continued by the Emperor Ai of Han upon his ascension to the throne.Emperor Ai of HanJianping6–3 BCE4 yearsTaichuyuanjiang5 BCE3 monthsOr Taichu (). Subsequently, reverted to Jianping ().Yuanshou2–1 BCE2 yearsOr Yuanshou (). Usage continued by the Emperor Ping of Han upon his ascension to the throne.Emperor Ping of HanYuanshi1–5 CE5 years1st year of Yuanshi is 1 CELiu YingJushe6–8 CE3 yearsChushi8 CE1 monthOr Shichu ().
Xin dynasty Era namePeriod of useLength of useRemarkWang MangShijianguo9–13 CE5 yearsOr Jianguo ().Tianfeng14–19 CE6 yearsOr Shijianguotianfengshangwu (), Shijianguotianfeng ().Dihuang20–23 CE4 yearsOr Shijianguodihuangshangwu (), Shijianguodihuang ().
Xuan Han Era namePeriod of useLength of useRemarkGengshi EmperorGengshi23–25 CE3 years
Eastern Han Era namePeriod of useLength of useRemarkEmperor Guangwu of HanJianwu25–56 CE32 yearsJianwuzhongyuan56–57 CE2 yearsOr Zhongyuan (). Usage continued by the Emperor Ming of Han upon his ascension to the throne.Emperor Ming of HanYongping58–75 CE18 yearsUsage continued by the Emperor Zhang of Han upon his ascension to the throne.Emperor Zhang of HanJianchu76–84 CE9 yearsYuanhe84–87 CE4 yearsZhanghe84–87 CE4 yearsUsage continued by the Emperor He of Han upon his ascension to the throne.Emperor He of HanYongyuan89–105 CE17 yearsYuanxing105 CE9 monthsEmperor Shang of HanYanping106 CE1 yearUsage continued by the Emperor An of Han upon his ascension to the throne.Emperor An of HanYongchu107–113 CE7 yearsYuanchu114–120 CE7 yearsYongning120–121 CE2 yearsJianguang121–122 CE2 yearsYanguang122–125 CE4 yearsUsage continued by Liu Yi and the Emperor Shun of Han upon their ascension to the throne.Emperor Shun of HanYongjian126–132 CE7 yearsYangjia132–135 CE4 yearsYonghe136–141 CE6 yearsHan'an142–144 CE3 yearsJiankang144 CE9 monthsUsage continued by the Emperor Chong of Han upon his ascension to the throne.Emperor Chong of HanYongxi145 CE1 yearOr Yuanjia (), Yongjia (), Yongxi (). Usage continued by the Emperor Zhi of Han upon his ascension to the throne.Emperor Zhi of HanBenchu146 CE1 yearUsage continued by the Emperor Huan of Han upon his ascension to the throne.Emperor Huan of HanJianhe147–149 CE3 yearsHeping150 CE1 yearYuanjia151–153 CE3 yearsYongxing153–154 CE2 yearsYongshou155–158 CE4 yearsYanxi158–167 CE10 yearsYongkang167 CE6 monthsEmperor Ling of HanJianning168–172 CE5 yearsXiping172–178 CE7 yearsGuanghe178–184 CE7 yearsZhongping184–189 CE6 yearsLiu BianGuangxi189 CE5 monthsZhaoning189 CE2 monthsEmperor Xian of HanYonghan189 CE4 monthsZhongping189 CE1 monthChuping190–193 CE4 yearsXingping194–195 CE2 yearsJian'an196–220 CE25 yearsYankang220 CE7 months
Other regimes contemporaneous with Han dynasty Era namePeriod of useLength of useRemarkKui XiaoHanfu23–34 CE12 yearsGongsun ShuLongxing25–36 CE12 yearsLiu PenziJianshi25–27 CE3 yearsOr Jianshi ().Yuan ShuZhongjia197-199 CE3 yearsZhang ManchengShenshangUnknownUnknown
Three Kingdoms Cao Wei Era namePeriod of useLength of useRemarkEmperor Wen of Cao WeiHuangchu220–226 CE7 yearsUsage continued by the Emperor Ming of Cao Wei upon his ascension to the throne.Emperor Ming of Cao WeiTaihe227–233 CE7 yearsQinglong233–237 CE5 yearsJingchu237–239 CE3 yearsUsage continued by Cao Fang upon his ascension to the throne.Cao FangZhengshi240–249 CE10 yearsJiaping249–254 CE6 yearsCao MaoZhengyuan254–256 CE3 yearsGanlu256–260 CE5 yearsEmperor Yuan of Cao WeiJingyuan260–264 CE5 yearsXianxi264–265 CE2 years
Shu Han Era namePeriod of useLength of useRemarkEmperor Zhaolie of Shu HanZhangwu221–223 CE3 yearsEmperor Xiaohuai of Shu HanJianxing223–237 CE15 yearsYanxi238–257 CE20 yearsJingyao258–263 CE6 yearsYanxing263 CE5 months
Eastern Wu Era namePeriod of useLength of useRemarkEmperor Da of Eastern WuHuangwu222–229 CE8 yearsHuanglong229–231 CE3 yearsJiahe232–238 CE7 yearsChiwu238–251 CE14 yearsTaiyuan251–252 CE2 yearsShenfeng252 CE3 monthsSun LiangJianxing252–253 CE2 yearsWufeng254–256 CE3 yearsTaiping256–258 CE3 yearsEmperor Jing of Eastern WuYong'an258–264 CE7 yearsSun HaoYuanxing264–265 CE2 yearsGanlu265–266 CE2 yearsBaoding266–269 CE4 yearsJianheng269–271 CE3 yearsFenghuang272–274 CE3 yearsTiance275–276 CE2 yearsTianxi276 CE6 monthsTianji277–280 CE4 years
Other regimes contemporaneous with Three Kingdoms Era namePeriod of useLength of useRemarkGongsun YuanShaohan237–238 CE1 year 1 month
Jin dynasty Western Jin Era namePeriod of useLength of useRemarkEmperor Wu of JinTaishi265–274 CE10 yearsXianning275–280 CE6 yearsTaikang280–289 CE10 yearsTaixi290 CE4 monthsEmperor Hui of JinYongxi290 CE9 monthsYongping291 CE3 monthsYuankang291–299 CE9 yearsYongkang300–301 CE2 yearsYongning301–302 CE2 yearsTai'an302–303 CE2 yearsOr Da'an ().Yong'an304 CE8 monthsJianwu304 CE5 monthsSubsequently, reverted to Yong'an ().Yongxing304–306 CE3 yearsGuangxi306 CE7 monthsUsage continued by the Emperor Huai of Jin upon his ascension to the throne.Emperor Huai of JinYongjia307–313 CE7 yearsEmperor Min of JinJianxing313–317 CE5 years
Eastern Jin Era namePeriod of useLength of useRemarkEmperor Yuan of JinJianwu317–318 CE2 yearsDaxing318–321 CE4 yearsOr Taixing ().Yongchang322–323 CE2 yearsUsage continued by the Emperor Ming of Jin upon his ascension to the throne.Emperor Ming of JinTaining323–326 CE4 yearsUsage continued by the Emperor Cheng of Jin upon his ascension to the throne.Emperor Cheng of JinXianhe326–334 CE9 yearsXiankang335–342 CE8 yearsUsage continued by the Emperor Kang of Jin upon his ascension to the throne.Emperor Kang of JinJianyuan343–344 CE2 yearsUsage continued by the Emperor Mu of Jin upon his ascension to the throne.Emperor Mu of JinYonghe345–356 CE12 yearsShengping357–361 CE5 yearsUsage continued by the Emperor Ai of Jin upon his ascension to the throne. Emperor Ai of JinLonghe362–363 CE2 yearsOr Chonghe ().Xingning363–365 CE3 yearsUsage continued by Sima Yi upon his ascension to the throne.Sima YiTaihe366–371 CE6 yearsEmperor Jianwen of JinXian'an371–372 CE2 yearsUsage continued by the Emperor Xiaowu of Jin upon his ascension to the throne.Emperor Xiaowu of JinNingkang373–375 CE3 yearsSometimes erroneously referred to as Kangning ().Taiyuan376–396 CE21 yearsUsage continued by the Emperor An of Jin upon his ascension to the throne.Emperor An of JinLong'an397–401 CE5 yearsOr Chong'an ().Yuanxing402–404 CE3 yearsDaheng402 CE9 monthsSubsequently, reverted to Long'an ().Yixi405–419 CE15 yearsUsage continued by the Emperor Gong of Jin upon his ascension to the throne.Emperor Gong of JinYuanxi419–420 CE2 years
Huan Chu Era namePeriod of useLength of useRemarkEmperor Wudao of Huan ChuYongshi403–404 CE2 yearsHuan QianTiankang404–405 CE2 years
Other regimes contemporaneous with Jin dynasty Era namePeriod of useLength of useRemarkZhao XinTaiping300–301 CE2 monthsSima LunJianshi301 CE4 monthsQiu ShenShenfeng303 CE4 monthsSima BaoJiankang319–320 CE2 yearsLi HongFenghuang370 CE1 year
Sixteen Kingdoms Han-Zhao Era namePeriod of useLength of useRemarkEmperor Guangwen of Han-ZhaoYuanxi304–308 CE5 yearsYongfeng308–309 CE2 yearsHerui309–310 CE2 yearsUsage continued by Liu He upon his ascension to the throne.Emperor Zhaowu of Han-ZhaoGuangxing310–311 CE2 yearsJiaping311–315 CE5 yearsJianyuan315–316 CE2 yearsLinjia316–318 CE3 yearsEmperor Yin of Han-ZhaoHanchang318 CE3 monthsLiu YaoGuangchu318–329 CE12 yearsOr Zuochu ().
Cheng-Han Era namePeriod of useLength of useRemarkEmperor Jing of Cheng-HanJianchu303–304 CE2 yearsUsage continued by Li Liu upon his ascension to the throne.Emperor Wu of Cheng-HanJianxing304–306 CE3 yearsYanping306–310 CE5 yearsOr Xuanping ().Yuheng311–334 CE24 yearsUsage continued by the Emperor Ai of Cheng-Han and Li Qi upon their ascension to the throne.DawuUnknownUnknownLi QiYuheng335–338 CE4 yearsEmperor Zhaowen of Cheng-HanHanxing338–343 CE6 yearsUsage continued by Li Shi upon his ascension to the throne.Li ShiTaihe344–346 CE3 yearsJianing346–347 CE2 years
Later Zhao Era namePeriod of useLength of useRemarkEmperor Ming of Later ZhaoTaihe328–330 CE3 yearsJianping330–333 CE4 yearsUsage continued by Shi Hong upon his ascension to the throne.Shi HongYanxi334 CE1 yearUsage continued by the Emperor Wu of Later Zhao upon his ascension to the throne.Emperor Wu of Later ZhaoJianwu335–348 CE14 yearsTaining349 CE1 yearOr Taining (). Usage continued by Shi Shi, Shi Zun, and Shi Jian upon their ascension to the throne.YongxiUnknownUnknownYanxingUnknownUnknownShi JianQinglong350 CE3 monthsShi ZhiYongning350–351 CE1 year 1 month
Former Liang Era namePeriod of useLength of useRemarkPrince Ming of Former LiangJianxing317–320 CE4 yearsAdopted the era name of the Emperor Min of Jin. Or Yong'an ().Prince Cheng of Former LiangJianxing320–324 CE5 yearsAdopted the era name of the Emperor Min of Jin. Or Yongyuan ().Prince Wen of Former LiangJianxing324–346 CE23 yearsAdopted the era name of the Emperor Min of Jin. Or Taiyuan ().Prince Huan of Former LiangJianxing346–353 CE8 yearsAdopted the era name of the Emperor Min of Jin. Or Yongle ().Prince Wei of Former LiangHeping354–355 CE2 yearsPrince Chong of Former LiangJianxing355–361 CE6 yearsAdopted the era name of the Emperor Min of Jin.Shengping361–363 CE3 yearsAdopted the era name of the Emperor Mu of Jin. Or Taishi ().Zhang TianxiShengping363–376 CE14 yearsAdopted the era name of the Emperor Mu of Jin. Or Taiqing ().
Former Yan Era namePeriod of useLength of useRemarkEmperor Wenming of Former YanYanyuanUnknownUnknownEmperor Jingzhao of Former YanYuanxi352–357 CE6 yearsGuangshou357–359 CE3 yearsEmperor You of Former YanJianxi360–370 CE11 years
Former Qin Era namePeriod of useLength of useRemarkEmperor Jingming of Former QinHuangshi351–355 CE5 yearsFu ShengShouguang355–357 CE3 yearsEmperor Xuanzhao of Former QinYongxing357–359 CE3 yearsGanlu359–364 CE6 yearsJianyuan365–385 CE21 yearsEmperor Aiping of Former QinTai'an385–386 CE2 yearsEmperor Gao of Former QinTaichu386–394 CE9 yearsFu ChongYanchu394 CE4 months
Later Yan Era namePeriod of useLength of useRemarkEmperor Chengwu of Later YanYanyuan384–386 CE3 yearsJianxing386–396 CE11 yearsEmperor Huimin of Later YanYongkang396–398 CE3 yearsEmperor Zhaowu of Later YanJianping398 CE3 monthsChangle399–401 CE3 yearsEmperor Zhaowen of Later YanGuangshi401–406 CE6 yearsJianshi407 CE7 months
Later Qin