Sui Dynasty

Sui Dynasty

Buddha statues in Maiji Mountain, carved in Sui Dynasty
Buddha statues in Maiji 
Mountain, carved in the Sui Dynasty

Started from 581 and ended in 618, the Sui Dynasty lasted for only 38 years and had only three emperors. With a tyrannical second emperor - Emperor Yang, this dynasty was often compared to the Qin Dynasty (221 BC - 206 BC). However, the whole nation was reunified and certain economic and political advances were achieved in the period.
 

Establishment

At the end of the Northern and Southern Dynasties (386 - 589), the whole nation had undergone a long period of division. People who had endured sufferings of war were longing for the unification but neither the Northern Dynasties nor Southern Dynasties realized this goal.

In Northern Zhou (557 - 581), Yang Jian, who was born to the noble class and was the Chengxiang (Prime Minister) of the last emperor, monopolized the political and military power and suppressed the separatist forces as well as some other royal forces. In 581, Yang Jian replaced Northern Zhou with Sui and proclaimed himself Emperor Wen. Thus Sui was founded, with Chang'an (currently Xi'an) the capital and Luoyang the auxiliary capital. In 589, the Sui Court defeated the last of the Southern Dynasties, Chen, and unified the whole nation.
 

Economical and Political Prosperity

Coins inscribed with characters "Wu Zhu", Sui Dynasty
Sui Coins inscribed with characters 
"Wu Zhu",

As a result of the reunification, the society became stable and peaceful which encouraged economical and political development.

At the beginning, the agricultural acreage increased greatly which promoted the crop yield. The skills industry made some new advances with the shipbuilding technology reaching a new high level. Meanwhile, the commerce in Luoyang was fairly prosperous and in order to develop the national economy, a series of policies, such as Juntian (equal division of fields) System and Zutiao (tax moderation) System, were carried out. This equally distributed the farmland and moderated the tax rates while increasing the fiscal revenue.

In order to enhance the communication between southern and northern areas, Emperor Yang ordered his people to dredge a grand canal running from north and south. Centering on Luoyang, the Grand Canal was more than 2.5 miles long and functioned as the main artery in the Nation's transportation. The Grand Canal played an important role in economical and cultural exchange between southern and northern areas. 
 

Relics of Great Wall of Sui Dynasty, Yanchi County, Ningxia
Relics of Great Wall of Sui Dynasty, 
Yanchi County, Ningxia

There were also many changes in political life. A new political system - Three Departments and Six Ministries was established - the first in Chinese history. Under this system, the royal power was enhanced and the work division in the court became detailed. Since this period, the method of selecting talent was thoroughly overhauled. The traditional Jiupin Zhongzheng (nine ranks of officials) Hierarchical System was replaced by the Imperial Examination System, which connected studying, the taking of examinations and attaining an official position. It had a profound influence on the selection of talent in Chinese history.
 

Decline and Ruin

The decline of the Sui Dynasty started from the second monarch, Emperor Yang, who was a typical tyrant. His reputation was that of a son who lacked respect for his parents, committed patricide and usurped the throne.

Emperor Yang led a luxurious and corrupt life. Upon gaining the throne, he employed two million laborers to build the second capital city of Luoyang and was even reputed to have cruised along the river in a large dragon ship, with thousands of ships following in attendance.
 

Pottery of Chicken, burial objects of Sui Dynasty
Pottery of Chicken, 
Sui burial objects

Craving greatness and success, Emperor Yang also waged war against Gaoli (currently Korea). Both burdensome military service and heavy corvee labor forced peasants to leave their farmland. Later, famine was common and caused by the resulting desolation leaving all the countryside in extreme misery.

In 611, peasants from Mt. Changbaishan in Shandong began a rebellion. Before long, rebels from all over the country formed into several powerful groups. Among them, the main military force was called the Wagang Army which was led by Zhai Rang and Li Mi. The force captured the granary of the Sui Court and issued the food to the peasants.

As a result, the Sui regime became rather unstable and in 618, when Emperor Yang was strangled by one of his subordinates, it completely collapsed.
 

Emperors

Order
Name
Notes
Reign Time (years)
1 Sui Wendi
(Yang Jian)
He was father-in-law of the last emperor of Northern Zhou; After the emperor died, he seized the throne for himself and established the Sui Dynasty 581 - 604
2 Sui Yangdi
(Yang Guang)
The second son of Sui Wendi; known as a tyrant who led the dynasty to decline 604 - 617
3 Sui Gongdi
(Yang You)
The last emperor of Sui Dynasty who yielded the throne to Li Yuan (later Emperor Gaozu of the Tang Dynasty (618 - 907) 617 - 618
- Last updated on Sep. 11, 2023 -
Questions & Answers on Sui Dynasty
Asked by Lorrie from UNITED KINGDOM | Sep. 09, 2023 13:04Reply
Where was the Sui dynasty's capital city?
Answers (1)
Answered by Emily | Sep. 11, 2023 19:56
00Reply


The two cities used to be the capital city of the Sui Dynasty were Daxing (now Xi'an) and Luoyang.
Asked by Isaiah from CALIFORNIA | May. 02, 2023 10:08Reply
What did the Sui Dynasty Achieve during their rein
Answers (1)
Answered by Andrew | May. 05, 2023 01:35
00Reply


1. Sui Dynasty unified China again after 300 years' division.

2. A new political system of three departments and six ministries was established in the Sui Dynasty.

3. Civil service and exam system was highly improved so that more common people can be selected as officers.

4. The world's most advanced calendar at that time was also created.

Asked by Brielle from CANADA | Mar. 08, 2019 11:09Reply
What are the political strengths and weaknesses of the Sui Dynasty?
I cannot find any information on that. ):
Answers (1)
Answered by Ben from GERMANY | Mar. 11, 2019 01:10
00Reply


The main political strengths included the political system of three provinces and six ministries which empower to ordinary officials, and the imperial examination system which benefited a lot to the ordinary people and help to choose the real talented people for the country. However, the weakness is also because of these two kinds of systems. On the one hand, they are not so mature and there are some problems appearing in the implementation. On the other hand, they just hurt the benefits of the aristocracy so that the politics in Sui Dynasty was not very stable.
Asked by Kaydance from AMERICA | Dec. 12, 2016 15:27Reply
What influences did the Sui Dynasty have on Chinese culture?
Answers (1)
Answered by Tommy from GERMANY | Dec. 13, 2016 21:21
39Reply


According to my knowledge, the major feature of the Sui culture is fusion.
Before that times, literature and painting in the central plain were usually moderate and ease. But since Sui Dynasty, you can find features of northern nomadic tribes like wildness and boldness in literal works and paintings. Nomadic musical instruments were also popularized in central plain since Sui.
Asked by Ruby from AMERICA | Dec. 08, 2016 17:51Reply
What did the Sui Dynasty have to do with the Great Wall of China?
Some websites and some people told me that they reconstructed it, but I was looking for some more specific details like when did they reconstruct it? Who was ruling when the Great Wall was being constructed and stuff like that.
If anybody could give me some answers to my questions that would be so helpful.
Thx Everybody
Plz give some answers ASAP!
Thx again
Answers (2)
Answered by Sharon from SINGAPORE | Dec. 08, 2016 20:10
44Reply


Sui Dynasty not only reconstructed the remaining sections, but also built new sections. 6 major constructions were implemented during the reigns of Wendi and Yangdi.
Answered by Cindy from USA | Sep. 20, 2017 13:18
20Reply


The Great Wall was built during the Qin dynasty to protect from the Xiongnu tribes
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