List of wars and battles involving China

The following is a list of wars and battles involving China, organized by date.

Ancient China

Year	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 BCE	Rebellion of the Three Guards	The Zhou dynasty defeats the discontented Zhou princes, and their Shang loyalist allies.
c. 961-957 BCE	Zhou–Chu War	The chu defeats the Zhou
771 BCE	Battle of Mount Li	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	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	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	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.
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. Zhang-Conroy alliance formed.
109 BCE	Gojoseon–Han War	The Han dynasty defeats and conquers Gojoseon.
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.
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	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 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 and his own rule.

Eastern Han – middle period (36–184)

Year	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	Event	Brief description
263–271	Jiao Province Campaign	Eastern Wu defeats Western Jin.
270–280	Tufa Shujineng's Rebellion	Western Jin defeats Tufa Shujineng's rebel forces.
272–273	Battle of Xiling	Eastern 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.
296–299	Qi Wannian's Rebellion	Western Jin defeats tribal rebellion in Guanzhong; refugees enter en masse into Sichuan.
301–304	Li Te's Rebellion	The Ba-Di refugee, Li Te, rebels against the Western Jin in Sichuan. His son, Li Xiong, establishes Cheng-Han.
303–304	Zhang Chang's Rebellion	Western 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 Han-Zhao defeats Western Jin. Disaster of Yongjia Han-Zhao captures Luoyang and Emperor Huai of Jin. Gepo Campaign Western Jin defeats Han-Zhao. Battle of Jinyang Western Jin and Dai defeats Han-Zhao. Battle of Xiangguo Han-Zhao defeats Western Jin. Shi Le's invasion of You Province Han-Zhao defeats Western Jin. Fall of Chang'an Han-Zhao captures Chang'an and Emperor Min of Jin, ending the Western Jin dynasty.
305–307	Chen Min's Rebellion	Western Jin defeats Chen Min's rebel forces.
311–315	Du Tao's Uprising	Jin 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
316	Battle of Diancheng	Han-Zhao defeats Liu Kun and captures Bing province.
318–319	Jin Zhun's Rebellion	Jin Zhun massacres the Han-Zhao imperial family; Liu Yao and Shi Le defeats Jin Zhun.
322	Wang Dun's Insurrection	Wang Dun defeats Jin loyalist forces led by Emperor Yuan of Jin.
324	Wang Dun's Insurrection	Jin loyalist forces led by Emperor Ming of Jin defeats Wang Dun
327–329	Su Jun's Rebellion	Jin loyalist forces defeats Su Jun's rebel forces.
328–329	Battle of Luoyang	Later Zhao defeats Han-Zhao. Later Zhao establishes itself as the dominant power in northern China.
333–334	Shi Hu's Civil War	Shi Hu defeats Shi Hong's family members and usurps the throne.
336	Battle of Pingguo	Murong Huang captures Murong Ren, ending the Murong civil war.
338	Conquest of the Duan	Later Zhao and Former Yan conquers the Duan tribe.
338	Battle of Jicheng	Former Yan defeats Later Zhao.
339	Yu Liang's Northern Expedition	Inconclusive; Later Zhao retreats but Eastern Jin suffers heavy losses.
342	Murong Huang's invasion of Goguryeo	Former Yan sacks Hwando and forces Goguryeo into submission.
343–344	Yu Yi's Northern Expedition	Inconclusive; Eastern Jin forces led by Yu Yi withdraws.
344 or 345	Conquest of the Yuwen	Former Yan destroys the Yuwen tribe.
346	Former Yan invasion of Buyeo	Former Yan captures Hyeon and destroys Buyeo.
346–347	Shi Hu's invasions of Former Liang	Former Liang defeats Later Zhao.
346–347	Conquest of Cheng-Han by Jin	Eastern Jin conquers Cheng-Han.
349	Liang Du's Rebellion	Later Zhao defeats Liang Du's rebel forces.
349	Chu Pou's Northern Expedition	Later 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.
352	Yin Hao's Northern Expeditions	Former Qin defeats Eastern Jin forces led by Yin Hao.
353	Yin Hao's Northern Expeditions	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 Former Qin defeats Eastern Jin. Battle of Yi River Jin defeats Yao Xiang's forces and reclaims Luoyang. Battle of Fangtou Former Yan and Former Qin defeats Eastern Jin.
354	Battle of Lukou	Former Yan defeats Anguo Kingdom.
355	Battle of Guanggu	Former Yan conquers Duan Qi.
357	Former Qin–Zhang Ping War	Former Qin defeats Zhang Ping's forces.
359	Xie Wan's Northern Expedition	Former Yan defeats Eastern Jin forces led by Xie Wan.
361	Battle of Yewang	Former Yan defeats Lü Hu's rebel forces.
364–365	Battle of Luoyang	Former Yan captures Luoyang from the Eastern Jin.
365; 367–368	Rebellion of the Five Dukes	Former Qin defeats anti-Fu Jian forces.
369–371	Yuan Zhen's Rebellion	Eastern Jin defeats Yuan Zhen's rebel forces.
369–370	Conquest of Former Yan by Former Qin	Former Qin conquers Former Yan.
371	Conquest of Chouchi by Former Qin	Former Qin conquers Chouchi
373	Former Qin invasion of Sichuan	Former Qin conquers Sichuan from the Eastern Jin.
376	Conquest of Former Liang by Former Qin	Former Qin conquers Former Liang.
376	Conquest of Dai by Former Qin	Former Qin conquers Dai
378	Siege of Xiangyang	Former Qin conquers Xiangyang from the Eastern Jin.
383	Lü Guang's Expedition to Qiuci	Former Qin forces led by Lü Guang conquers Qiuci.
383	Battle of Fei River	The Eastern Jin defeats Former Qin, leading to the gradual collapse of Former Qin.
384–385	Battle of Ye	Later Yan defeats Former Qin.
384–385	Battle of Chang'an	Western Yan defeats Former Qin; Fu Jian is captured and killed by Later Qin.
387	Liang Province revolts	Later Liang defeats rebel forces.
389	Battle of Dajie	Later Qin defeats Former Qin.
390	Battle of Xingcheng	Later Qin defeats Di and Qiang rebel forces.
391	Northern Wei's campaign against Liu Weichen	Northern Wei conquers Liu Weichen's territory.
392	Conquest of Zhai Wei by Later Yan	Later Yan conquers Zhai Wei.
393	Conquest of Western Yan by Later Yan	Later Yan conquers Western Yan.
394	Battle of Feiqiao	Later Qin decisively defeats Former Qin.
395	Battle of Canhe Slope	Northern Wei defeats Later Yan.
397	Lü Guang's invasion of Western Qin	Western Qin defeats Later Liang; Southern Liang and Northern Liang breakaways.
397	Battle of Baisi	Northern Wei defeats Later Yan, driving them out of the Central Plains.
399–411	Rebellion of Sun En and Lu Xun	Jin dynasty defeats Sun En and Lu Xun's rebel forces.
400–407	Goguryeo–Later Yan War	Goguryeo conquers the Liaodong Peninsula from Later Yan.
400–401	Yao Shuode's Western Expeditions	Later Qin conquers Western Qin and receives the submissions of Later Liang, Southern Liang, Northern Liang and Western Liang.
402	Battle of Chaibi	Northern Wei defeats Later Qin.
404	Campaign against Huan Xuan	Liu Yu's coalition defeats Huan Xuan and restores the Eastern Jin dynasty.Includes the following battles: Battle of Fuzhoushan Liu Yu's coalition defeats Huan Chu.
409–417	Liu Yu's Northern Expeditions	Liu Yu reclaims territories in northern China for the Eastern Jin.Includes the following campaigns: Conquest of Southern Yan by Jin Jin conquers Southern Yan. Conquest of Later Qin by Jin Jin conquers Later Qin.
412	Battle of Jiangling	Liu Yu's forces defeats Liu Yi's forces in the Eastern Jin.
412–413	Conquest of Western Shu by Jin	Eastern Jin conquers Western Shu.
418	Battle of Guanzhong	Helian Xia captures the Guanzhong region from the Eastern Jin.
422	Battle of Henan	A battle between Liu Song and Northern Wei.
426	Xie Hui's Rebellion	Xie Hui was captured and executed.
426	Western Qin-Northern Liang war	Northern Liang and Helian Xia defeats Western Qin.
426–427	Battle of Tongwan	Northern Wei captures Helian Xia's capital city, Tongwan
430; 450–452	Yuanjia Northern Expeditions	A series of three northern expeditions against Northern Wei by the Liu Song dynasty during the reign of Emperor Wen of Song. All three ended in Northern Wei victory.
429	Northern Wei's war against Rouran	Northern Wei defeats the Rouran Khaganate.
432	Northern Wei-Northern Yan War	Northern Wei defeats Northern Yan.
433	Battle of Hanzhong	Northern Wei defeats Liu Song.
439	Conquest of Northern Liang by Northern Wei	Northern Wei conquers Northern Liang, ending the Sixteen Kingdoms period.
449	Battle of Yongzhou
450	Battle of Shaancheng
454	Conquest of Liu Yixuan by Liu Song	Liu Yixuan was defeated.
459	Battle of Guangling
466	Liu Zixun's rebellion
466	Battle of Pengcheng
467	Battle of Qingzhou
474	Battle of Jiankang
479–500	Qi-Wei war
479	Battle of Shouyang
488	Wei-Baekje war
494	Battle of Huaihan
495	Battle of Hanzhong
497	Battle of Nanyang
503	Battle of Zhongli and Yiyang
506	Battle of Hefei
507	Battle of Zhongli	Liang dynasty defeats Northern Wei.
515	Battle of Shaanshi
523–531	Rebellion of the Six Garrisons	The Six Garrisons of the Northern Wei rebel, leading to unrest in other parts of the empire and intrusions from the Liang dynasty.
528	Battle of Fukou	Northern Wei forces under Erzhu Rong defeats the rebel, Ge Rong.
528–529	Chen Qingzhi's Northern Expedition	Liang forces under Chen Qingzhi briefly recovers Luoyang from the Northern Wei, but ultimately defeated by Erzhu Rong.
530–531	Rebellion of the Erzhu clan	The Erzhu clan defeats and executes Emperor Xiaozhuang of Northern Wei for assassinating Erzhu Rong.
531	Battle of Guang'a	Gao Huan defeats the Erzhu clan.
532	Battle of Hanling	Gao Huan decisively defeats the Erzhu clan.
534–535	Division of the Northern Wei	Northern Wei split into Eastern Wei under Gao Huan and Western Wei under Yuwen Tai.
537	Battle of Xiaoguan	Western Wei defeats Eastern Wei.
537	Battle of Shayuan	Western Wei defeats Eastern Wei.
538	Battle of Heqiao	Eastern Wei defeats Western Wei.
541–550	Liang–Vạn Xuân War	Lý Bôn rebels against the Liang dynasty and founds the Early Lý dynasty.
543	Battle of Mount Mang	Eastern Wei defeats Western Wei.
546	Battle of Yubi	Western Wei defeats Eastern Wei, and Gao Huan soon dies of illness.
547–548	Hou Jing's rebellion against Eastern Wei	Hou Jing leads a rebellion against Eastern Wei before fleeing to the Liang dynasty.
548–552	Hou Jing's rebellion against Liang	Hou Jing leads a massive rebellion against Liang dynasty.
548–549	Battle of Yingchuan	Eastern Wei defeats Western Wei.
554	Battle of Jiangling	Western Wei captures Emperor Yuan of the Liang dynasty and installs the Western Liang puppet state.
556	Northern Qi invasion of Liang	Liang forces under Chen Baxian defeat the Northern Qi.
563	Battle of Jinyang	Northern Qi defeats Northern Zhou and the First Turkic Khaganate.
564	Battle of Mount Mang	Northern Qi defeats Northern Zhou.
567–568	Battle of Dunkou	Northern Zhou and Western Liang defeats the Chen dynasty.
569–571	Battle of Yiyang and Fenbei	Northern Qi defeats Northern Zhou.
570–578	Taijian Northern Expeditions	A series of expeditions by the Chen dynasty against the Northern Qi and Northern Zhou to recapture territory between the Huai and Yangzi rivers that ultimately ends in failure.
575	Battle of Heyin	Northern Zhou invades Northern Qi but soon withdraws.
576–577	Conquest of Northern Qi by Northern Zhou	Northern Zhou conquers Northern Qi, reunifying northern China.
580	Rebellion of the Three Stewards	Northern Zhou forces under Yang Jian defeat Yuchi Jiong, Wang Jian and Sima Xiaonan.
588–589	Conquest of Chen by Sui	The Sui dynasty conquers the Chen dynasty, unifying China and ending the Northern and Southern dynasties period.