The Chen Dynasty 557-589), also known as the Southern Chen Dynasty, is the fourth and last of the Southern dynasties in China, eventually destroyed by the Sui Dynasty.When the dynasty is founded by Emperor Wu, it is exceedingly weak, possessing only a small portion of the territory once held by its predecessor Liang Dynasty—and that portion had been devastated by wars that had doomed Liang.

However, Emperor Wu's successors Emperor Wen and Emperor Xuan are capable rulers, and the state gradually solidifies and strengthens, becoming roughly equal in power to rivals Northern Zhou and Northern Qi.

After Northern Zhou destroys Northern Qi in 577, Chen is cornered.

To make matters worse, its final emperor Chen Shubao is an incompetent and indulgent ruler, and Chen is eventually destroyed by Northern Zhou's successor state Sui.During the short-lived dynasty, the Chams to the south resume raids against the region of Jiaozhi, perceiving the dynasty to be weak.

The raids end with the conquest of the Southern Chen by the Sui.