This article is part of the
History of China series.
 Shang Dynasty
 Zhou Dynasty
 Qin Dynasty
 Han Dynasty
 Three Kingdoms
 Jin Dynasty
 Southern and Northern Dynasties
 Sui Dynasty 
 Tang Dynasty
 Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period
 Song Dynasty
 Yuan Dynasty
 Ming Dynasty
 Qing Dynasty
 History of the Republic of China
 History of the PRC (1949-1976)
 History of the PRC (1976-present)
 Timeline of Chinese History

Southern and Northern Dynasties (南北朝 Nan2bei3zhao1 420-589) followed Jin Dynasty and preceded Sui Dynasty in China and was an age of civil wars and disunity.

During this period the process of sinicization accelerated among the non-Chinese arrivals in the north and among the aboriginal tribesmen in the south. This process was also accompanied by the increasing popularity of Buddhism (introduced into China in the first century A.D.) in both north and south China.

Despite the political disunity of the times, there were notable technological advances. The invention of gunpowder (at that time for use only in fireworks) and the wheelbarrow is believed to date from the sixth or seventh century. Advances in medicine, astronomy, and cartography are also noted by historians.

See also


In the History of Vietnam, the Southern and Northern Dynasties (南北朝) (1527-1592, 1627-1672) followed the Le Dynasty (Later Le Dynasty) (後黎朝) (1428-1527) and preceded the Third Le Dynasty (1592-1627) of the Trinh (鄭) family in Vietnam.

The North Dynasty (1527-1592) was ruled by the Mac (莫) family whereas the South Dynasty (1527-?) was ruled by the Nguyen family.