Sui Yangdi

Author: Li Yingming
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-10-01
Features: Among the hundreds of emperors in China's history, Emperor Yang of Sui is no less remarkable than Qin Shi Huang, Han Wudi, Tang Taizong, or Song Taizu. He enjoys extremely high fame. He was born with a fierce ambition yet also a tragic aura. He achieved great military victories in unifying China, embarked on ambitious projects like excavating the Grand Canal, and created the "Bridge of the World" during his reign. However, his relentless military campaigns depleted the treasury, his obsession with women led to endless debauchery, his tyrannical and rude behavior caused widespread resentment. In his short life, he accomplished great deeds and committed many evils—how can his be summed up in a single character? The glorious Sui Dynasty collapsed within two generations. Was it the fault of the foolish and arrogant Emperor Yang? Was it due to his three tours of the Jiangnan region? A ruler's words can bring peace or chaos, prosperity or destruction. His decision to open the river, control the channels, tour Jiangnan, and launch three invasions against Goguryeo cost the people dearly. How could the Sui Dynasty not collapse? Yet how could he not lay the foundation and provide lessons for the prosperity of the Tang Dynasty? Reading the history of the Sui Dynasty fulfills a ruler's ambition for the world; reflecting on Emperor Yang's gains and losses brings clarity to a century of life.
In the late 6th century, China had been divided along the Yangtze River since the Jin Dynasty, with the northern and southern dynasties facing the brink of collapse. As a key minister of the Northern Zhou, Yang Jian seized the opportunity to support the young emperor, issued a false edict, and usurped the throne, founding the Great Sui Empire and changing the era to Kaihuang. Eight years later, he launched an expedition against the Chen Dynasty, pacified the south, and reunified the nine provinces of China, turning a new page in history. Against this backdrop of great turmoil, this book portrays the passionate yet tragic life of Yang Guang. At the age of thirteen, he was enfeoffed as Prince of Jin and sent to govern Bingzhou. Later, at his father's command, he repelled the Turks and pacified the northern frontier. At twenty, as the commander-in-chief, he led a half-million land and naval forces across the Yangtze, suppressing the Chen Dynasty and earning great merit for unifying China. During his ten-year tenure as governor of Yangzhou, he gained a strong reputation, further earning the favor and trust of his father and mother, fueling his desire to usurp the throne. Through cunning schemes and, he eventually convinced Emperor Wen to his eldest son, Yang Yu, and appoint him as crown prince. When Emperor Wen grew critically ill, Yang Guang allied with several key ministers and generals to suppress a palace coup aimed at replacing him, thus ascending the throne and changing the era to Daye.