The Sui Dynasty is most notable for bringing China together under a single rule. However, it only lasted from 581 to 618 A.D. and was replaced by the Tang Empire. The Sui Dynasty was only led by two emperors, and these were Emperor Wen and his son, Emperor Yang.
A Brief History of the Sui Dynasty
The division of China happened after the great Han Dynasty fell in 220 A.D. Several regions wanted to gain control over the land, hence, the constant wars.
In the early 500s, the country was ruled by two primary kingdoms known as the Northern and Southern Empires. As time passed, an individual named Yang Jian took the Northern Empire in 581. He established the Sui Dynasty then became the ruler, Emperor Wen.
After taking control over Northern China, the Sui emperor brought together a grand army before invading Southern China. After eight years, Emperor Wen took over the area and was able to bring China under the Sui Dynasty’s rule.
The empire didn’t last long and began to decline under Emperor Yang’s rule. He was considered a tyrant and forced peasants to work on extremely huge projects. These included the Grand Canal and the restoration of the Great Wall.
Millions of peasants died under Emperor Yang’s rule, so they rebelled and went against him in 618. From there, the Sui Dynasty was overthrown and replaced by the Tang Dynasty.
The Zhaozhou Bridge of the Sui Empire
The Zhaozhou Bridge located across the Jiao River was created during the Sui Dynasty. Today, it’s called the Anji Bridge and is considered the oldest surviving stone bridge in the world.
The bridge was built from 595 to 605, and its design was credited to a craftsman named Li Chun. It’s situated in the southern section of the Hebei Province and is claimed as one of the Four Treasures of Hebei.
