World Civilization 1
Assignment 8
The Sui Dynasty, 589-618 Yang Jian, a general for a regime in Northwest China, helped unite
northern China under its rule and then became regent when a young boy inherited its throne.
Seizing the opportunity, in 581 yang deposed the boy monarch and claimed Heavens Mandate
for himself, starting a new dynasty called the Sui. Using skillfull propaganda, carefully
cultivated Buddhist support and a well-planned river and land campaign, he went on to conquer
the south. So by 589, for the first time in centuries, one man ruled all of China.
Yang Jian, who reigned from 581 to 604 as Emperor Wendi (WUNDE) focused on forging and
restoring connections. He devised a nationwide law code and restored the civil service system
begun by Han rulers. He centered his regime at Chang and, earlier the Han capital and built it
into one of the world’s great cities. He also began construction of the Grand Canal, a
momentous waterway connecting the north with the south. By easing transport of troops and
grain, the canal combined the north’s military might with the south’s agricultural prosperity
serving for centuries as a key conduit of Chinese power and wealth.
Yang Jian’s son and heir however, was a disastrous ruler. Yangdi (604-618) is described in
Chinese annals as a despot who reportedly poisoned his father to hasten his own rule, then
alienated his people by imposing harsh taxes and sacrificing millions of laborers lives to erect an
extravagant palace, complete the Grand Canal and rebuild the Great Wall. He also launched
catastrophic wars that ruined the economy and promoted widespread rebellions. Then he fled to
the rural south where he lived in luxuriant debauchery until murdered in 618. That same year the
, Duke of Tang, one of yangdi’s most effective governors and generals, declared himself emperor
and assumed Heaven;s Mandate, ending the Sui dynasty.
The Tang Dynasty, 618-907. The Duke of Tang’s seizure of power ushered in a new regime
called the Tang dynasty. Under its long reign (618-907), China attained new heights in political
stability, economic prosperity, military expansion, cultural sophistication and technological
innovation. The Tang’s most capable leader was the duke’s son Li Shimin (LE SHUR-MIN)
after persuading his father to claim the throne, the 18 year old Li led skillful campaigns against
numerous rebels and northern nomadic invaders. He then ambushed and killed his two older
brothers, forced his father to abdicate and assumed the throne himself at age 26. Bold and
energetic, Li then reigned from 626 to 649 as the Emperor Taizong (TI_ZONG).
Under the Tang dynasty, China expanded into Central Asia, reopening trade routes and cultural
connections. Observe that the Grand Canal, built under the Sui dynasty (589-618) and expanded
under the Tang, enhanced commerce and connections between China’s north and south. Nothing
seemed impossible to Taizong. He forced the northern nomads to become his vassals and allies,
then with their help invaded Central Asia and conquered Turkestan. He even sent an army to
India to arrest a local ruler who had insulted his ambassador. In China he promoted education,
patronized the arts and revitalized the civil service. Although a Confucian, he promoted
religious toleration and devotion among the Buddhist and Daoist masses. Revered as a hero, he
attained a legendary status among the Chinese people.
The Tang dynasty survived the An Lushan revolt but never regained its earlier domination.
Local warlords took advantage of the turmoil to assert their power, while palace eunuchs
guarding the emperor’s concubines increasingly ran the court. Religious strife arose in the mid-
800, as Confucian civil servants, resenting the untaxed wealth of Buddhist monasteries, worked
Assignment 8
The Sui Dynasty, 589-618 Yang Jian, a general for a regime in Northwest China, helped unite
northern China under its rule and then became regent when a young boy inherited its throne.
Seizing the opportunity, in 581 yang deposed the boy monarch and claimed Heavens Mandate
for himself, starting a new dynasty called the Sui. Using skillfull propaganda, carefully
cultivated Buddhist support and a well-planned river and land campaign, he went on to conquer
the south. So by 589, for the first time in centuries, one man ruled all of China.
Yang Jian, who reigned from 581 to 604 as Emperor Wendi (WUNDE) focused on forging and
restoring connections. He devised a nationwide law code and restored the civil service system
begun by Han rulers. He centered his regime at Chang and, earlier the Han capital and built it
into one of the world’s great cities. He also began construction of the Grand Canal, a
momentous waterway connecting the north with the south. By easing transport of troops and
grain, the canal combined the north’s military might with the south’s agricultural prosperity
serving for centuries as a key conduit of Chinese power and wealth.
Yang Jian’s son and heir however, was a disastrous ruler. Yangdi (604-618) is described in
Chinese annals as a despot who reportedly poisoned his father to hasten his own rule, then
alienated his people by imposing harsh taxes and sacrificing millions of laborers lives to erect an
extravagant palace, complete the Grand Canal and rebuild the Great Wall. He also launched
catastrophic wars that ruined the economy and promoted widespread rebellions. Then he fled to
the rural south where he lived in luxuriant debauchery until murdered in 618. That same year the
, Duke of Tang, one of yangdi’s most effective governors and generals, declared himself emperor
and assumed Heaven;s Mandate, ending the Sui dynasty.
The Tang Dynasty, 618-907. The Duke of Tang’s seizure of power ushered in a new regime
called the Tang dynasty. Under its long reign (618-907), China attained new heights in political
stability, economic prosperity, military expansion, cultural sophistication and technological
innovation. The Tang’s most capable leader was the duke’s son Li Shimin (LE SHUR-MIN)
after persuading his father to claim the throne, the 18 year old Li led skillful campaigns against
numerous rebels and northern nomadic invaders. He then ambushed and killed his two older
brothers, forced his father to abdicate and assumed the throne himself at age 26. Bold and
energetic, Li then reigned from 626 to 649 as the Emperor Taizong (TI_ZONG).
Under the Tang dynasty, China expanded into Central Asia, reopening trade routes and cultural
connections. Observe that the Grand Canal, built under the Sui dynasty (589-618) and expanded
under the Tang, enhanced commerce and connections between China’s north and south. Nothing
seemed impossible to Taizong. He forced the northern nomads to become his vassals and allies,
then with their help invaded Central Asia and conquered Turkestan. He even sent an army to
India to arrest a local ruler who had insulted his ambassador. In China he promoted education,
patronized the arts and revitalized the civil service. Although a Confucian, he promoted
religious toleration and devotion among the Buddhist and Daoist masses. Revered as a hero, he
attained a legendary status among the Chinese people.
The Tang dynasty survived the An Lushan revolt but never regained its earlier domination.
Local warlords took advantage of the turmoil to assert their power, while palace eunuchs
guarding the emperor’s concubines increasingly ran the court. Religious strife arose in the mid-
800, as Confucian civil servants, resenting the untaxed wealth of Buddhist monasteries, worked
