In ancient times, people could not explain a great number of natural occurrences and their causes, always feeling they were too mysterious to understand, that people imagined that between the heaven and the earth there were supernatural beings, who created everything and dominated the heaven and earth. Every time they were confronted by natural disasters such as earthquakes, strong winds, heavy storms, inundating floods, ravaging beasts and fires, people would think that these deities were angry,and thus would grow very frightened. Then at times of propitious winds and rains, as well as abundant harvests of all food crops, people would think the gods were blessing them. In a word, out of awe, gratitude and admiration,people would offer a variety of sacrifices to these deities,praying for their protection and blessing. The worship of deities became rituals to demonstrate people's respect and gratitude to various deities and to pray for their protection.

Legendary Period of

the Three Sage Kings

Legendary Period of

the Five Virtuous Emperors

Xia

Shang

Zhou

Western Zhou

Eastern Zhou

Qin

Han

Western Han

Eastern Han

Three Kingdoms

Kingdom of Wei

Kingdom of Shu-Han

Kingdom of Wu

Jin

Western Jin

Eastern Jin

Southern and Northern

Dynasties

Song

Qi

Liang

Chen

Northern Wei

Eastern Wei

Northern Qi

Western Wei

Northern Zhou

Sui

Tang

Five Dynasties

Later Liang

Later Tang

Later Jin

Later Han

Later Zhou

Song

Northern Song

Southern Song

Liao

Jin (Kin)

Yuan

Ming

Qing

Republic of China

People's Republic of China