Emperor Wendi

Emperor Wendi – Sui Dynasty

Yang Jian, also known as Emperor Wendi (or Wen of Sui), founded the Sui Dynasty. After staging a coup against the Northern Zhou’s royal family, he seized control of the throne. Emperor Wendi of the Sui Dynasty then eventually established his dynasty.

The Sui Dynasty is one of China’s short-lived dynasties, ruling only for 37 years (581-618 C.E). However, one cannot forget its impact on the Chinese culture until today.

Emperor Wendi was a popular Chinese Emperor for unifying China in 589 A.D. Before the Sui Dynasty was founded, China was divided into the Northern (Northern Zhou) and Southern (Southern Chen) Dynasties.

As the new emperor of a new dynasty, he marched with a half a million soldiers to the Southern Dynasty. This resulted in the end of a 350-year division in China since the Han Dynasty.

With China unified once again, it can be said that there are no small achievements. A new kind of governance established by Emperor Wendi made a significant change in Chinese history.

Who is Emperor Wendi of the Sui Dynasty?

Emperor Wendi was an official in the Northern Zhou Dynasty before he became an emperor, with official ranks such as the title of the Duke of Chengji County. He is known for being a hardworking administrator and micromanager. Aside from that, he is also a talented general, championing several wars and conquests.

While he encouraged the practice of Buddhism, there is no doubt that the Confucian way also served him well in his official works and as an emperor. He was burdened with many responsibilities, but he faced them ‘gentlemanly’– like a Confucianist.

Wendi is considered to be one of the most known public leaders in Chinese history. He was a visionary and had integrity who never succumbed to vices. Unlike other Emperors, who have had thousands of concubines, Wendi had only two (after his empress and wife).

The Legacy of Wendi

Centralized Political System

Emperor Wendi established a two-body government replacing the long-existing three-tier system. It created three departments and six ministries for state supervision.

His government bridged the gap between classes and territories. He advocated the union and participation of all social classes and Chinese states from north to south.

It also aimed to eradicate corruption when it comes to wealth, ranking, labor, and privileges. Qualifications were based on merit, and imperial examinations were created.

Infrastructures

Emperor Wendi spearheaded the construction of the Grand Canal, which links Hangzhou to the Luoyang region. Furthermore, he is also known for resuming work on the Great Wall of China. This extended and strengthened the wall to make a barrier against nomadic Central Asians.

Although these improvements have their advantages, they also required tax money and labor from the peasantry.

Economic Situation

The dynasty prospered economically. Wendi’s era was agricultural forward because of the land-equalization system, aimed at distributing lands based on the household size. While some properties were not for sale because of existing landholders, a mandate to farm on these lands was proposed as an alternative.

Taxes were also eased on farmers and merchants. Thus, making the emperor popular among the peasant class because of this system. However, this angered aristocrats who used to own several properties.

Buddhism as Cultural Innovation

Buddhism was a relatively new religion from the west in Emperor Wendi’s time. His government encouraged the practice of the religion by distributing relics of Buddha to Chinese temples, which followed the tradition of the Mauryan India.

Emperor Wendi is famed for his code “Kai Huang Lü”, or “Code to Dynastic China”. This code became the basis for all legal codes of the succeeding dynasties of China. It lasted until 1911 when the Qing Dynasty was overthrown.

Military Campaigns of the Sui Dynasty

Emperor Wendi’s assertion of power was backed with Chinese political thinking. The emperor’s leadership in terms of militarism was considered bloodless (and propagandist) compared to the usual leadership of other emperors.

However, because of Wendi’s vast military background, Sui Dynasty was also remembered for its military campaigns in its neighboring countries like Vietnam. He was also able to defend the Sui Dynasty’s lands from the Great Turkish Horde–the neighboring barbarians trying to steal from the dynasty.

The End of an Era

Emperor Wendi of the Sui Dynasty ruled for 23 years until his death. A lot of historians believe that Wendi died at the hands of his own son, Yang Guang, who eventually inherited the throne. However, some also believe that he died due to an unknown illness.

While the Sui Dynasty is known to have been ruled by four emperors, some sources only considered Emperor Wendi and his son, Emperor Yang, as legitimate Sui Dynasty emperors. The last years of the Sui Dynasty were under a puppet government to prepare for the transition to the Tang Dynasty.