The Sui Dynasty(589-618 CE)

By Jamie Hughes

Yang Jian, also called Wen, was an official when Emperor Xuan died in 580 CE. Yang, as his father-in-law, took the power as Emperor regent. He defeated Yuchi Jiong, who also had a claim to the throne. He stopped the Xianbei invasion which conquered the North of China, which led to the unification of North and South China. Emperor Wen’s reign saw the greatest period of prosperity since the Han Dynasty in 205 CE. There was enough food to provide everybody for 50 years.

Emperor Wen of Sui

Emperor Yang of Sui became Emperor after his father, Wen, was allegedly murdered. He started the construction of many expensive structures, like the Grand Canal and lengthening the Great Wall of China. He hired so many workers and made them work so hard, that most of them purposely broke their limbs so they did not have to work.

Emperor Yang of Sui

The main factor leading to the downfall of the Sui Dynasty was the Goguryeo - Sui wars. Yang tried to invade the Korean peninsula at Goguryeo. The battle was massive, including over 3000 warships, up to 1.15 million infantry, 50,000 cavalry, 5000 artillery and much more. It failed and he lost most of his nobility and money.

Goguryeo - Sui Wars

After the war, Emperor Yang took so much money from the poor in taxes that they started a rebellion against him and eventually he was defeated.

The fall

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