*Origins of Sui Dynasty (581-589-618)

Northern Wei, 386-534

*“Sinicization” Policies, 493

Capital moved to from Pingcheng (Datong) to Luoyang

*“Six Garrisons”

Multiethnic armies

Särbi, Han Chinese, Xiongnu, Türks, Koreans, and Jie

Revolts in 523 due to drought

Huaishuo garrison

Produced E. Wei, N. Qi leaders

Wuchuan garrison

Produced W. Wei, N. Zhou, Sui, and Tang leadership

Period of Division: Major Political Trends

Problem of Ideology

Failure of Mandate of Heaven

Political instability

Legalistic controls over government administration decline

Personalistic politics flourishes

Climatic or cultural causes?

Local government

Prefects take on civil and military duties

Recruitment of officials

“Impartial” Judge

9 rank system

Patronage

*Yang Jian (China’s Unifier)

Typical of Northern Zhou aristocrats

Mixed background

Chinese in paternal line

Intermarriage with Särbi and other elites

Mixed education

Chinese literacy

Pastoral nomadic martial pursuits

Hunting

Polo

Northern Zhou (557-581) general

Close to Yuwen Hu (Emperor Wu r. 561-78)
Served in campaign to unify north China

Defeated N. Qi in 577

Father-in-law of Yuwen Bin (Emperor Xuandi, r. 578-79)

Regent, 580

*“Virtuous Succession”

Emperor Wendi of Sui Dynasty (r. 581/589-605)

58 kinsmen of N. Zhou rulers killed

Sui Reforms

1) A new capital

Daxingcheng (Chang’an)

2) Local government

Reduced number of prefectures
Separation of civil and military officials

3) Recruitment of officials

“Impartial” Judges

Examinations

Sui Conquest of Chen

Sui Reforms

4) Ideological reforms

Synthesis of Confucian, Buddhist, religious Daoist thought, and Turkic

Example of Sui Wendi’s titles

“August Emperor, Son of Heaven”

“Bodhisattva Son of Heaven”

“Heaven-anointed, Boundless Qaghan of the Great Sui”

State supported Buddhist and Daoist temples

*Sui Emperor Yang (r. 605-17)

Yang Guang

Ambitious projects

*Grand Canal, 605-10

1 million men working 20 days each in 605

Traditional: parties

Revisionist: Facilitates transport of supplies to capital

Construction of 2nd capital at Luoyang

2 million men/month, 605-606

Traditional: Extravagance

Revisionist: Easier to supply during shortages in Chang’an region (“cradle of dynasties”)

Invasions of Koguryô

598 (Sui Emperor Wen), 612, 613, 614

Rebellions and civil war, 613-18

Flees capital in 616

Murdered in Yangzhou in 617