List of wars and battles involving China

The following is a list of wars and battles involving China, organized by date.see Larry M. Wortzel, and Robin Higham, Dictionary of contemporary Chinese military history (Abc-clio, 1999).Xiaobing Li, ed. China at War: An Encyclopedia. (ABC-CLIO, 2012). online passim.

Ancient China

Year(s) Event Brief description 26th century BCE Battle of Banquan The Yellow Emperor defeats the Yan Emperor. 26th century BCE Battle of Zhuolu The Yellow Emperor defeats Chiyou and establishes the Han Chinese civilization. 1675 BCE Battle of Mingtiao The Xia dynasty is overthrown and replaced by the Shang dynasty. 1046 BCE Battle of Muye The Shang dynasty is overthrown and replaced by the Zhou dynasty.c. 1042–1039 BCERebellion of the Three GuardsThe Zhou dynasty defeats the discontented Zhou princes, and their Shang loyalist allies.c. 961-957 BCEZhou–Chu War The chu defeats the Zhou 771 BCE Battle of Mount Li (Lishan) King You of Zhou is killed and the Western Zhou dynasty ends. 739–678 BCE Jin–Quwo wars Dynastic struggles between two branches of Jin's ruling house 707 BCE Battle of Xuge The Eastern Zhou dynasty is defeated by the vassal Zheng state. 701–680 BCE Zheng war of succession Caused by the death of Duke Zhuang of Zheng 685 BCE Battle of Qianshi The Qi state defeats the Lu state. 684 BCE Battle of Changshao The Lu state defeats the Qi state 657–651 BCE Li Ji Unrest War about the future succession of Duke Xian of Jin Yang 643–642 BCE War of Qi's succession Caused by the death of Duke Huan of Qi 635 BCE War of the Zhou succession Jin state assisted King Xiang of Zhou against his brother, Prince Dai, who claimed the Zhou throne 632 BCE Battle of Chengpu The Jin state defeats the Chu state. 627 BCE Battle of Xiao The Jin defeats Qin. 595 BCE Battle of Bi The Chu state defeats the Jin state. 589 BCE Battle of An The Jin state defeats the Qi state. 575 BC Battle of Yanling The Jin state defeats the Chu state. 506 BCE Battle of Boju The Wu state defeats the Chu state. 4th century BCE Gojoseon–Yan War The Yan state defeats the Gojoseon kingdom. 494 BCE Battle of Fujiao The Wu state defeats the Yue state. c. 481–403 BCE Partition of Jin Series of wars between rival noble families of Jin, who eventually sought to divide the state's territory amongst themselves at the expense of Jin's ruling house.The state was definitively carved up between the successor states of Zhao, Wei and Han in 376 BCE. 478 BCE Battle of Lize The Yue state defeats the Wu state. 453 BCE Battle of Jinyang The Zhao state defeats the Zhi state. Leads to the Partition of Jin. c. 403–221 BCE Warring States period Series of dynastic interstate and intrastate wars during the Eastern Zhou dynasty over succession and territory 370–367 BCE War of the Wei succession Caused by the death of Marquess Wu of Wei 354–353 BCE Battle of Guiling The Qi state defeats the Wei state. 342 BCE Battle of Maling The Qi state defeats the Wei state. 341 BCE Battle of Guailing 293 BCE Battle of Yique The Qin state defeats the Wei and Han states. 269 BCE Battle of Yanyu 265 BCE Zhao–Xiongnu War The Zhao state defeats the Xiongnu 260 BCE Battle of Changping The Qin state defeats the Zhao state. 259–257 BCE Battle of Handan The allied forces of Zhao, Wei and Chu defeats the Qin. 230–221 BCE Qin's wars of unification The Qin state conquers the six other major states in China and unifies the country under the Qin dynasty.

Imperial China

Qin dynasty (221–206 BCE)

Year(s) Event Brief description 215 BCE Qin's campaign against the Xiongnu Qin forces defeat the Xiongnu in the Ordos Desert. 214 BCE Qin campaign against the Yue tribes Qin forces defeat and conquer the Yue tribes living in southern China and northern Vietnam. 209 BCE Dazexiang uprising Chen Sheng and Wu Guang lead a rebellion against the Qin dynasty. 207 BCE Battle of Julu A rebel coalition army led by Xiang Yu defeats Qin forces.

Han dynasty (206 BCE – 220 CE)

Chu-Han Contention (206–202 BCE)

Year(s) Event Brief description 206–202 BCE Chu-Han Contention Han defeats Chu and its allies and unifies China. 205 BCE Battle of Pengcheng Western Chu defeats Han. 205 BCE Battle of Xinyang 205 BCE Battle of Jingxing Han defeats the Zhao state. 204 BCE Battle of Wei River Han defeats Western Chu and the Qi state. 202 BCE Battle of Gaixia Han defeats Western Chu and unifies China under the Han dynasty.

Western Han (206 BCE – 9 CE)

Year(s) Event Brief description 2nd century BCE Southward expansion of the Han dynasty The Han dynasty expands its boundaries into southern China and northern Vietnam. 200 BCE Battle of Baideng The Xiongnu defeat Han forces. 180 BCE Lü Clan Disturbance Caused by the death of Empress Lü of the Han dynasty 154 BCE Rebellion of the Seven States The Han central government suppresses a revolt led by seven princes. 138 and 111 BCE Han campaigns against Minyue The Han dynasty conquers the Minyue region (around present-day southeastern China). 133 BCE – 89 CE Han–Xiongnu War Overall victory for Han forces over the Xiongnu. 133 BCE Battle of Mayi Inconclusive battle between the Xiongnu and Han forces. 119 BCE Battle of Mobei Han forces defeat the Xiongnu and reach as far north as Lake Baikal. 111 BCE Han–Nanyue War The Han dynasty conquers the Nanyue kingdom, leading to the First Chinese domination of Vietnam. 109 BCE Han campaigns against Dian The Han dynasty conquers the Dian region (around present-day Yunnan). Zhang-Conroy alliance formed. 109 BCE Gojoseon–Han War The Han dynasty defeats and conquers Gojoseon (in the northern Korean peninsula). 104 BCE War of the Heavenly Horses The Han dynasty defeats Alexandria Eschate. This is one of the only wars between Chinese and Greek cultures. 3000 prized horses were brought back to China for breeding. This was part of the broader westward expansion of the Han dynasty, which saw the establishment of the Protectorate of the Western Regions and the opening up of the Silk Road. 104 –102 BCEChinese–Parthian WarEmperor Wu of Han forced Mithridates II of Parthia to start commercial relations and the sale of Persian horses, but Parthians maintained their sphere of influence on Fergana Valley. 67 BCE Battle of Jushi Han forces defeat the Xiongnu 36 BCE Battle of Zhizhi Han forces defeat the Xiongnu and kill Zhizhi Chanyu, the Xiongnu leader.

Xin dynasty (9–23 CE) and early Eastern Han (25–36 CE)

Year(s) Event Brief description 17–23 CE Red Eyebrows and Lulin Rebellions Revolts against Xin dynasty emperor Wang Mang to restore the Han dynasty; both rebel armies had their own candidates, however. 23 CE Battle of Kunyang Liu Xiu overthrows the Xin dynasty and restores the Han dynasty (as 'Eastern Han') under the Gengshi Emperor. 23–27 CE Second Red Eyebrows Rebellion Caused by the death of Wang Mang. The Red Eyebrows rebelled against the Gengshi Emperor, the Lulin rebel candidate to succeed Wang Mang. 23–36 CE Han civil war Liu Xiu campaigns against pretenders and regional warlords who opposed the rule of the Gengshi Emperor (23–25) and his own rule (since 25).

Eastern Han – middle period (36–184)

Year(s) Event Brief description 73 Battle of Yiwulu Han forces defeat the Xiongnu. 89 Battle of Ikh Bayan Han forces defeat the Xiongnu. 40–43 Han suppression of the Trung sisters' rebellion Han forces strikes down the Trung sisters' rebellion, led to the Second Chinese domination of Vietnam. 177 Han-Xianbei conflict Han forces defeated by Xianbei state.

End of the Han dynasty (184–220)

Three Kingdoms period (220–280)

Jin dynasty (265–420), the Southern Dynasties (420–587), the Sixteen Kingdoms (304–439) and the Northern Dynasties (386–581)

Year(s) Event Brief description263–271Jiao Province CampaignEastern Wu defeats Western Jin.270–280Tufa Shujineng's RebellionWestern Jin defeats Tufa Shujineng's rebel forces.272–273Battle of XilingEastern Wu defeats Western Jin. 279–280 Conquest of Wu by Jin The Western Jin conquers Eastern Wu and unifies China under its control. 291–306 War of the Eight Princes A power struggle following the ascension of the developmentally disabled Emperor Hui of Jin. Eight princes, and other figures such as Jia Nanfeng vied for control over the Western Jin court.296–299Qi Wannian's RebellionWestern Jin defeats tribal rebellion in Guanzhong; refugees enter en masse into Sichuan.301–304Li Te's RebellionThe Ba-Di refugee, Li Te, rebels against the Western Jin in Sichuan. His son, Li Xiong, establishes Cheng-Han. 303–304Zhang Chang's RebellionWestern Jin defeats Zhang Chang's rebel forces. 304–316 Upheaval of the Five Barbarians "Five Barbarians" and Chinese rebels overthrow the Western Jin in northern China. The Western Jin is reestablished as the Eastern Jin dynasty in southern China. Included the following battles:

Battle of Ningping (311) Han-Zhao defeats Western Jin. Disaster of Yongjia (311) Han-Zhao captures Luoyang and Emperor Huai of Jin. Gepo Campaign (312) Western Jin defeats Han-Zhao. Battle of Jinyang (312) Western Jin and Dai defeats Han-Zhao. Battle of Xiangguo (312) Han-Zhao defeats Western Jin. Shi Le's invasion of You Province (314) Han-Zhao defeats Western Jin. Fall of Chang'an (316) Han-Zhao captures Chang'an and Emperor Min of Jin, ending the Western Jin dynasty. 305–307 Chen Min's RebellionWestern Jin defeats Chen Min's rebel forces. 311–315 Du Tao's UprisingJin dynasty defeats Du Tao's rebel forces. 313–321 Zu Ti's Northern Expedition Jin forces led by Zu Ti fights Later Zhao to a stalemate; Jin territorial gains reversed after Zu Ti's death. Included the following battles:

Battle of Junyi (319)316Battle of DianchengHan-Zhao defeats Liu Kun and captures Bing province.318–319Jin Zhun's RebellionJin Zhun massacres the Han-Zhao imperial family; Liu Yao and Shi Le defeats Jin Zhun.322Wang Dun's Insurrection (1)Wang Dun defeats Jin loyalist forces led by Emperor Yuan of Jin.324Wang Dun's Insurrection (2)Jin loyalist forces led by Emperor Ming of Jin defeats Wang Dun 327–329 Su Jun's RebellionJin loyalist forces defeats Su Jun's rebel forces. 328–329 Battle of Luoyang (328–329)Later Zhao defeats Han-Zhao. Later Zhao establishes itself as the dominant power in northern China.333–334Shi Hu's Civil WarShi Hu defeats Shi Hong's family members and usurps the throne.336Battle of PingguoMurong Huang captures Murong Ren, ending the Murong civil war.338Conquest of the DuanLater Zhao and Former Yan conquers the Duan tribe. 338 Battle of JichengFormer Yan defeats Later Zhao.339Yu Liang's Northern ExpeditionInconclusive; Later Zhao retreats but Eastern Jin suffers heavy losses.342Murong Huang's invasion of GoguryeoFormer Yan sacks Hwando and forces Goguryeo into submission.343–344Yu Yi's Northern ExpeditionInconclusive; Eastern Jin forces led by Yu Yi withdraws.344 or 345Conquest of the YuwenFormer Yan destroys the Yuwen tribe.346Former Yan invasion of BuyeoFormer Yan captures Hyeon and destroys Buyeo.346–347Shi Hu's invasions of Former LiangFormer Liang defeats Later Zhao. 346–347 Conquest of Cheng-Han by Jin Eastern Jin conquers Cheng-Han.349Liang Du's RebellionLater Zhao defeats Liang Du's rebel forces.349Chu Pou's Northern ExpeditionLater Zhao defeats Eastern Jin forces led by Chu Pou. 350–351 Battle of Xiangguo Former Yan and Later Zhao defeats Ran Wei, but last ruler of Zhao soon assassinated. 352 Battle of Liantai Former Yan decisively defeats Ran Wei; Yan gains foothold in the Central Plains. 352Yin Hao's Northern Expeditions (1)Former Qin defeats Eastern Jin forces led by Yin Hao.353Yin Hao's Northern Expeditions (2)Yao Xiang rebels and defeats Eastern Jin forces led by Yin Hao. 354–369 Huan Wen's Northern Expeditions Eastern Jin forces led by Huan Wen fails to recover northern China. Includes the following battles:

Battle of Bailu Plains (354) Former Qin defeats Eastern Jin. Battle of Yi River (356) Jin defeats Yao Xiang's forces and reclaims Luoyang.