The Poem Speaks of China's Five Thousand Years. The Sui, Tang, and Five Dynasties Volume

Author: Yang Guo'an et al
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2006-06-01
Features:
A General Overview of the Sui Dynasty
The founder of the Sui Dynasty was Emperor Wen of Sui, Yang Jian. His father, Yang Zhong, had previously assisted Yuwen Tai in establishing the Northern Zhou regime and was enfeoffed as one of the twelve great generals. Later, he was promoted to (a high military rank) and granted the title of Prince of Sui. Yang Jian, known by the childhood name, inherited his father's title and held key government positions such as Grand Marshal and Grand Secretary. His wife, the Princess Dugu, was the daughter of Dugu Xin, a member of the eight (great military commanders) and a Xianbei noble. Dugu Xin's other daughter was the Empress of Emperor Ming of Zhou, making Yang Jian and Emperor Ming of Zhou brother-in-law. Moreover, Yang Jian's daughter became the Empress of Emperor Xuan of Zhou, making him the father-in-law of Emperor Xuan. Thus, Yang Jian was not only a powerful military noble of the Guanlong region but also a member of the imperial family, holding a high political status.
In the late years of the Northern Zhou, political corruption led to widespread disunity. Several Han officials and Xianbei nobles who had adopted Han customs, such as Liu Fang, Zheng Yi, Li Delin, Gao Ying, Yuan Xie, Yuan Zhou, and Yuwen Xin, gathered around Yang Jian, forming a strong political alliance. In the second year of the Daxiang era (580), Emperor Jing of Zhou, only eight years old, was unable to govern. The political group led by Yang Jian seized the opportunity to present him as "entering the palace to assist in governance," taking charge of military and political affairs.
After coming to power, Yang Jian implemented reforms to address corrupt policies and win the support of the people while gradually weakening the Northern Zhou imperial family and eliminating hostile forces. As it became apparent that Yang Jian was about to seize the throne, some powerful figures in the Northern Zhou who commanded large armies rebelled. In June of the second year of the Daxiang era, Yuwen Xing, the nephew of Yuwen Tai and the governor of Xiangzhou, along with his brother Yuwen Qin, the governor of Qingzhou, led a rebellion with hundreds of thousands of troops. Soon after, Sima Xiaonan, the governor of Yunzhou, and Wang Qian, the governor of Yizhou, also rose in support, creating a critical situation.
Yang Jian took decisive action, ordering Wei Xiaokuan, Wang Yi, and Liang Rui to lead three armies to suppress the rebellions. Within less than four months, all resistance was defeated. Subsequently, Yang Jian executed all the Northern Zhou princes, leaving the young Emperor Jing of Zhou completely isolated and helpless. In the first year of the Dading era (581), in February, Yang Jian declared himself emperor, establishing the Sui Dynasty and renaming the first year of Dading as the first year of Kaiguo. He moved the capital to Chang'an. The following year, he constructed Daxing City on Longshouyuan in the southeast of Chang'an, and in the third year, he moved into the new city.
After ascending the throne, Emperor Wen of Sui implemented reforms in politics, military affairs, and the economy. These reforms strengthened central authority, promoted economic development, and laid the foundation for the unification of the empire. The poem《From the Imperial Retinue Back to the Capital》by Li Delin, a key minister of the early Sui Dynasty, though clearly filled with eulogistic praise, still offers a glimpse of the grandeur of the Sui Dynasty's founding.
In terms of official positions, in the first year of Kaiguo (581), Emperor Wen, following the suggestion of Cui Zhongfang of the Neishi Department, abolished the six ministries modeled after the Rites of Zhou established by the Northern Zhou and established the Three Departments and Six Ministries system. The Three Departments were the Shangshu Department, the Menxia Department, and the Neishi Department, with the heads of all three serving as chief ministers. The Menxia and Neishi Departments handled key affairs. The Shangshu Department was responsible for general administration and was thus divided into six ministries: Personnel, Rites, War, General Affairs (Criminal Affairs), Finance, and Works. The heads of these six ministries were called Shangshu and oversaw their respective departments.
This central administrative structure of the Three Departments and Six Ministries system summarized the ruling experience since the Qin and Han dynasties, prevented individual ministers or imperial relatives from monopolizing power, and further strengthened the centralized state system.
In terms of local official positions, in the third year of Kaiguo (583), the Sui court adopted the proposal of the Military Affairs Minister of the Henan Circuit,