Jiaozi were traditionally thought to have been invented during China’s Eastern Han dynasty.
The Eastern Han dynasty lasted from AD 25 to 220. In the best-known origin story, the physician Zhang Zhongjing created ear-shaped dumplings during this period to help people suffering from frostbite. He is said to have filled dough wrappers with lamb and medicinal ingredients, boiled them, and served them with broth.
The wording “traditionally thought” matters because the story is folklore, not conclusive historical proof. Dumpling-like foods have a much longer and more complicated history, and surviving records suggest that jiaozi developed gradually. Archaeological discoveries and later written references show that related dumplings were eaten in China across several dynastic periods.
The Eastern Han is therefore the standard answer for the legendary invention story, while the Tang, Ming, and Qing dynasties are better associated with later developments, regional traditions, or documented popularity. The dynasty should not be confused with the Western Han, which ended in AD 9.