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SUI DYNASTY
The Sui Dynasty (581-618) was founded by one of two emperors: Yang Chien,
an official of the Northern Zhou, who and gave himself the title of Wen
Ti, as the Son of Heaven. Wen Ti succeeded in unifying China during this
era. After his demise, Wen Ti's son Emperor Yang Kuang (Yang Ti) took
the throne with the help of his mother who was able to garner support
from the gentry and military generals. The polar opposite of his father,
Emperor Yang Ti was portrayed as usurping the imperial power, and was
criticized for the lavish spending, coercing and forcing his people to
manual labor, and amount of money he spent and his cruelty to the
people. Yet most of the policies he followed were simply continuations
of his father's policies.
Several reforms took place during this period including the reforming of
centralized government with the recruitment of public servants of all
races and classes; the establishment of a uniform legal code (Kaihuang?)
that set formal statutes on land, tax, rewards and punishments, and an
enforcement to ban all weapons, except for the military. The
promulgation of this code became a model for future dynasties.
Additionally, the Sui Dynasty accomplishments were numerous. Through
forced labor of both men and women, the Grand Canal was extended north
from Hangzhou across the Yangzi to Yangzhou and then northwest to the
region of Louyang. The building of granaries around the capitals, the
fortification of the Great Wall along the northern borders, the
reconstruction of the two capitals near the Yellow River, and building
of another capital in Yangchow. Confucianism also began to regain
popularity, as the nobles gained importance.
Yang Ti was preoccupied with expansion beyond the borders of China,
including the desire to take over Koguyro (now North Korea). However,
after several military campaigns to overthrow Koguyro failed, there was
much discontent by his trusted servants and constricted labor alike,
that Yang Ti was eventually murdered, which in effect, ended the Sui
Dynasty.
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