Sui Dynasty — Transient Empire with Inaugurator of Prosperity

What is Sui Dynasty?

Sui Dynasty (581 — 618) was a short but important dynasty, which put an end to the chaotic and separate Northern and Southern Dynasties (420 — 589), and set an advanced political structure that influenced the next millennium of the ancient history of China.

In the 37 years of the Sui Dynasty, 2 emperors had reigned the empire.

Facts about the Sui Dynasty

• There were two emperors in the Sui Dynasty.

• The first emperor Yang Jian was one of the most extraordinary sovereigns, the second Yang Guang was one of the most controversial ones in the history of China.  

• The second emperor Yang Guang established many huge projects, such as the building of the big city Luo Yang and the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal, while having initiated many large-scale wars. 

Emperor Yang Guang was an excellent poet too. 

• The Imperial Examination System was invented in the Sui Dynasty, which allowed talented people to get involved in politics. Ability triumphed family origin again.  

But this system also weakened strong clans that had obtained power in the Three Kingdoms, Jin, Northern and Southern Dynasties (220 — 589).

• Many big granaries were established in big cities, to adjust the prices of food and deal with famine.

This then became an important system that all dynasties implemented. 

Brief History of the Rise and Fall of the Sui Dynasty

Establishment of the Sui Dynasty by Emperor Yang Jian and Queen Dugu

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An eight-year-old king ascended to the throne of a big kingdom named Northern Zhou. His powerful regent named Yang Jian, one year later, forced this young king to abdicate the throne and renamed the new kingdom Sui. 

In the next 8 years, the Sui Empire defeated the Turkic Khaganate in the north, and the Kingdom Chen in the south.

Finally, in the year 589, the unified Sui Dynasty was established, which put an end to the chaotic, separate Three Kingdoms, Jin, Northern and Southern Dynasties (220 — 589).

Yang Jian, respected as Emperor Wen of Sui, together with his beloved Queen Dugu, implemented a series of innovative, advanced political and economic systems that brought their people wealth and peace. 

Innovations and Large Scale Constructions of Emperor Yang of Sui

Yang Guang was the second son of Emperor Yang Jian and Queen Dugu. He drew the most powerful officials to his side and deceived his smart parents.

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Through years of conspiracies, Yang Guang was nominated as the legit heir of the Sui Dynasty, while his big brother, the former crown prince, was dethroned and then forced to suicide. 

After Yang Guang, one of the most controversial monarchs in the history of China ascended to the throne, he started his radical governance and became the sovereign with outstanding achievements and destructions

Many big construction projects were implemented, including the 2700 km long Grand Canal, big city Luoyang, large-scale royal road, and lengthening of the Great Wall. In the meantime, many big wars were initiated, as well as some reforms. 

Ending of the Sui Dynasty

Consequently, Emperor Yang Guang’s excessive consumption of resources and radical reforms resulted in many uprisings and rebellions nationwide, though some of his ideologies were quite advanced. 

In the year 618, this controversial emperor was assassinated in chaos and poorly buried, and the Sui Dynasty was officially ended. 

Among the large numbers of uprising armies, one of them was led by Emperor Yang Guang’s cousin Li Yuan. 

This army defeated other forces and established a new, unified empire, the Tang Dynasty.

Political Structure and Social Systems of the Sui Dynasty

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Population:

Over 50 million 

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Political System: Three Departments and Six Ministries 

Three Departments were independent of each other and all would report to the emperor: 

• Department of Imperial Secretariats: Draft and Publish Decrees

• Department of Chancellors: Review of Decrees by Imperial Censors

• Department of Imperial Affairs: Supreme State Administration that Executive Decrees

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Subordinate to the Department of Imperial Affairs is the Six Ministries:

• Ministry of Personnel: Appointment, Assessment, and Removal of Officers 

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• Ministry of Revenue: Household Registration, Finance, and Tax

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• Ministry of Rites: Ceremony and Education

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• Ministry of National Defense: Military Affairs 

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• Ministry of Justice: Law, Judiciary and Punishment

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• Ministry of Constructions: Design and Implementation of National Constructions

 Official Selection System: 

Imperial Examination, which allows talented men to enter the ruling class based on their talents, instead of class origin. 

Tax:

Peasants who got farmlands from the nation should pay certain amounts of products as taxes; men from 21 to 50 should do labor service 20 days each year. 

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Military Service: 

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Soldiers and their families were given farmland too. They didn't need to pay any type of taxes, but they should provide weapons and food for themselves. 

They cultivated their land when they were free, and fought on the battlefield when there was war. During peace periods, they still needed to perform a month's military service each year. 

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Land System:

People were given certain amounts of farmlands, based on their social status when they turned 18 years old.

They could cultivate the land while paying a certain amount of taxes and labor services. Then they should give the lands back after they were 58 years old. 

Scientific Achievements and Artifacts of the Sui Dynasty

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• Construction of the Grand Canal, the most ancient and longest artificial canal in the world. It improved the capacity of transportation and better connected the north and south of China.

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• Appearing of integral block printing.

• The earliest case of diabetes and related symptoms was described and documented.

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• Construction of the earliest stone arch bridge in the world, the Zhao Zhou Qiao.