557

Asia

• The Northern Zhou Dynasty begins in northern China
  China
  China is a cultural region, an ancient civilization, and, depending on perspective, a national or multinational entity extending over a large area in East Asia....
  
  ; its first ruler is Northern Zhou Xiao Min Di.
• The Liang Dynasty
  Liang Dynasty
  Liang Dynasty , also known as Southern Liang Dynasty , was the third of Southern dynasties in China, followed by the Chen Dynasty...
  
   ends and the Chen Dynasty
  Chen Dynasty
  Chen Dynasty was the fourth and the last of the Southern dynasties in China, eventually destroyed by the Sui Dynasty....
  
   begins in southern China; its first ruler is Chen Wu Di.

Deaths

• Saint Cyriacus the Anchorite
• Emperor Gong of Western Wei
  Emperor Gong of Western Wei
  Emperor Gong of Western Wei , personal name né Yuan Kuo , later changed to Tuoba Kuo , was the last emperor of the Chinese/Xianbei state Western Wei -- a branch successor state to Northern Wei. He was made emperor in 554 after his older brother Emperor Fei was deposed by the paramount general...
  
  , last Emperor of Western Wei
  Western Wei
  The Western Wèi Dynasty followed the disintegration of the Northern Wei, and ruled northern China from 535 to 556.After the Northern Wei emperor Yuan Xiu was killed by the Xianbei general Yuwen Tai, Yuan Baoju was installed as emperor of Western Wei while Yuwen Tai would remain as the virtual ruler...
  
  
• Emperor Xiaomin of Northern Zhou
  Emperor Xiaomin of Northern Zhou
  Emperor Xiaomin of Northern Zhou , personal name Yuwen Jue , nickname Tuoluoni , was an emperor of the Chinese/Xianbei dynasty Northern Zhou Emperor Xiaomin of Northern Zhou ((北)周孝閔帝) (542-557), personal name Yuwen Jue (宇文覺), nickname Tuoluoni (陀羅尼), was an emperor of the Chinese/Xianbei dynasty...