Emperor Wen of Sui has been misunderstood for 2,000 years, but he is actually the greatest emperor in Chinese history

Everyone in the world knows that the Sui Dynasty was short-lived, but they don't know that Emperor Wen of Sui Yang Jian is a generation of Ming monarchs. Speaking of the Sui Dynasty, everyone often thinks of the extravagance of Emperor Yang Guang of the Sui Dynasty, but ignores the exploits of Emperor Wen of the Sui Dynasty. You must know that it was Emperor Wen of Sui who put an end to the nearly 300-year division of China and established the powerful Sui Dynasty. During his reign, he worked hard to create many far-reaching institutions. It is a pity that he was deaf in his later years and passed the country to his unfilial son Yang Guang, so that the Sui Dynasty quickly collapsed. However, savoring the life of Emperor Wen of Sui, we can't help but ask: what amazing things did he do? Why can he be called the greatest emperor in Chinese history? Why have his exploits been lost in the long river of history?

In 581 AD, Yang Jian was enthroned by Emperor Xuan of Zhou and established the Sui Dynasty

This year, China has experienced nearly 300 years of division and turmoil. Since the outbreak of the Eight Kings Rebellion in the last years of the Western Jin Dynasty, the Central Plains has fallen into a long-term war. The Hu people in the north went south, and the Han regime was defeated and retreated, forming a situation of confrontation between the north and the south.

At the beginning of Emperor Wen of Sui's accession to the throne, the north had been unified, but the south was still divided. The Chen dynasty occupied a vast area south of the Yangtze River and divided one side. Emperor Wen of Sui knew that in order to truly end the divisive situation, it was necessary to unify the south. However, the road to the south was not without its challenges.

Emperor Wen of Sui first sent envoys to the Chen Dynasty, ostensibly for peace talks, but in fact secretly observed the reality of the Chen Dynasty. The envoys reported that the Chen Dynasty was extravagant and corrupt, and the military and government were lax. When Emperor Wen of Sui learned of this situation, he thought that the time was ripe and began to prepare for the great cause of unification in the south.

In 588 AD, Emperor Wen of Sui ordered the general Yang Su to lead his army south. Yang Su adopted the strategy of attacking the east and attacking the west, feinting to attack Jiangling, but in fact, he directly took Jiangning (now Nanjing). Chen Chao was caught off guard and retreated. The Sui army was overwhelmed, and soon invaded Jiankang (present-day Nanjing) and captured the queen of Chen. At this point, the situation of division between the north and the south, which lasted for nearly 300 years, finally came to an end, and China once again returned to the situation of reunification.

After the unification of the Six Dynasties, Emperor Wen of Sui faced the first task of how to govern the newly unified country. He took a series of measures to lay the foundation for the prosperity of the Sui Dynasty.

First of all, Emperor Wen of Sui implemented a policy of ethnic integration. He understood that in order to achieve long-term peace and stability, it was necessary to eliminate the gap between the North and the South and promote the integration of all ethnic groups. To this end, he vigorously promoted the "Tui En Order" to encourage intermarriage between the north and the south. At the same time, he also reused southern talents in the imperial court, such as the famous literary scholar Yan Zhitui, in order to dispel the doubts of southerners.

Second, Emperor Wen of Sui implemented a series of economic policies to restore the post-war economy. He ordered tax breaks to encourage agricultural production. At the same time, he organized large-scale migration to move the population from the north to the south, reclaimed wasteland, and increased food production. These measures quickly took effect, and the economy of the Sui Dynasty quickly recovered and developed.

In terms of culture, Emperor Wen of Sui also made significant contributions. He attaches great importance to cultural and educational undertakings, establishes Guozixue, and cultivates talents. At the same time, he also ordered the compilation of the "Righteousness of the Five Classics", unified academic standards, and left a valuable cultural heritage for future generations.

These measures of Emperor Wen of Sui made the newly unified Sui Dynasty soon enter a period of prosperity and stability. According to historical records, at that time, "the household registration was prosperous, the warehouse was prosperous, the customs were pure, and the courtesy was prosperous", showing a thriving scene.

However, the unification of the Six Dynasties and the creation of a prosperous era were only the beginning of Emperor Wen of Sui's exploits. In the years that followed, he also implemented a series of far-reaching reform measures that injected new vitality into the development of Chinese history. These reforms not only consolidated the rule of the Sui Dynasty, but also left a valuable institutional legacy for later generations, the most famous of which was the establishment of the imperial examination system.

Emperor Wen of Sui Emperor Yang Jian not only unified the six dynasties, but also laid the foundation for the development of Chinese history for a thousand years through a series of reforms and innovations. The three most famous reforms were the establishment of the imperial examination system, the implementation of the equalization system, and the establishment of the five-province six-ministry system. These systems not only played an important role in the Sui Dynasty, but also had a profound impact on later generations.

The establishment of the imperial examination system can be described as one of the greatest contributions of Emperor Wen of Sui. Prior to this, China's official selection relied mainly on the recommendation of wealthy families, which not only limited the selection of talents, but also easily bred corruption. Emperor Wen of Sui realized the seriousness of the problem and was determined to change the situation.

In 587 AD, Emperor Wen of Sui ordered the selection of talents throughout the country. He asked all localities to recommend "filial piety" and "show talent", and set up examinations in the capital, including Jingyi, Cifu, etc. The implementation of this system has broken the monopoly of the family and provided a way for the children of the poor to rise.

There is a widely circulated story about a poor student named Wang Tong. Wang Tong's family is poor, but he is diligent and studious. After the implementation of the imperial examination system, he was able to take the examination, and was finally selected as a talent by virtue of his talent and learning, and entered the court as an official. This story vividly illustrates the opportunities that the imperial examination system brings to students from poor backgrounds.

The implementation of the imperial examination system has not only changed the way of talent selection, but also promoted the popularization of education. Schools have been set up in various places to cultivate talents. This system was refined in later generations and continued until the end of the Qing Dynasty, which had a profound impact on Chinese politics and culture.

The Juntian system was another important reform implemented by Emperor Wen of Sui

The core of this system is the distribution of land according to the number of people, with the aim of solving the problem of land annexation and stabilizing agricultural production.

Emperor Wen of Sui decreed that each adult male could receive a certain amount of land, called "Yongye Tian". These lands can be passed down from generation to generation. In addition to this, there is also the "koufentian", which is distributed according to the number of people in the family, but cannot be hereditary. The implementation of this system has alleviated the problem of land annexation to a certain extent and safeguarded the interests of ordinary peasants.

There is a circulating story about a farmer named Li Da. Li Da was originally a tenant farmer and lived in poverty. After the implementation of the Juntian system, he obtained a piece of Yongye Field and a part of the mouth field. With his own land, Li Da's life was guaranteed, and his family conditions gradually improved. The story, while perhaps interpreted, reflects the practical benefits that the equalization system brought to ordinary farmers.

The implementation of the equalization system not only stabilized agricultural production, but also increased the state's tax revenue. This system was further refined in the Tang Dynasty and became an important part of the ancient Chinese land system.

The Five Provinces and Six Ministries system was a central government agency established by Emperor Wen of Sui, which was a major reform of the previous political system. The five provinces are Zhongshu Province, Menxia Province, Shangshu Province, Secretary Province and Inner History Province, and the six departments are officials, households, rites, soldiers, criminals, and workers.

The establishment of this system has enabled the central government to rationally distribute its powers. For example, the Zhongshu Province was responsible for drafting the edicts, the Menxia Province was responsible for auditing, and the Shangshu Province was responsible for enforcing them. This division of labor not only ensures the scientific nature of decision-making, but also prevents excessive concentration of power.

There is a typical case of the operation of the five-province six-ministry system. Once, Emperor Wen of Sui wanted to appoint an official. The Zhongshu Province drafted the Edict of Appointment and sent it to the Menxia Province for review. Finding that the official had a record of misconduct, the ministry returned the edict and suggested that it be reconsidered. Emperor Wen of Sui took this suggestion and replaced him with another person. This case shows how the five-province six-ministry system can serve as a check and balance in practice.

The five-province six-ministry system was further improved during the Tang Dynasty and evolved into the three-province six-ministry system, which became an important part of China's ancient political system and continued until the Qing Dynasty.

These reforms and innovations not only played an important role in the Sui Dynasty, but also had a profound impact on later generations. Together, they formed the foundation of China's ancient political, economic, and cultural systems, and laid the foundation for the development of Chinese history for thousands of years. However, Emperor Wen of Sui's reforms did not stop there. Under his rule, the Sui Dynasty also implemented a series of policies that benefited the people, further consolidating its rule and promoting social development.

On the basis of unifying the six dynasties and implementing major reforms, Emperor Wen of Sui Yang Jian made further efforts to govern the country and implemented a series of policies to benefit the people. These policies have mainly focused on three aspects: cracking down on local tyrants, building water conservancy projects, and popularizing new agricultural tools, which have effectively promoted social and economic development and improved the living standards of the people.

Cracking down on local tyrants was an important policy pursued by Emperor Wen of Sui. The long-term separatist situation has led to the expansion of local powerful forces, which have encroached on land and enslaved peasants, seriously affecting social stability and economic development. Emperor Wen of Sui realized the seriousness of the problem and was determined to take action.

In 583 AD, Emperor Wen of Sui ordered a nationwide inventory of the land occupied by Haoqiang. This action is known as "bracketing". In this operation, an official named Gao Ying stood out. Gao Ying was sent to Shandong to investigate and deal with Haoqiang. When he arrived, he found that a local tyrant named Wang Sheng had encroached on a large amount of land and oppressed the people. Gao Ying was not afraid of power, conducted an in-depth investigation, and finally found out that Wang Sheng had encroached on nearly 10,000 acres of land. At Gao Ying's suggestion, Emperor Wen of Sui ordered the confiscation of Wang Sheng's lands and exiled him to the frontier. This incident caused a huge repercussion at the time, and it was a powerful deterrent to other powerful people.

This policy of Emperor Wen of Sui not only dealt a blow to Haoqiang, but also brought a large amount of land back into the hands of the state and peasants. According to historical records, in Shandong alone, hundreds of thousands of acres of land have been recovered. The land was redistributed to the landless peasants, greatly improving the living conditions of the peasants.

The construction of water conservancy projects was another important policy implemented by Emperor Wen of Sui to benefit the people

China has been a large agricultural country since ancient times, and water conservancy is crucial to agricultural production. Emperor Wen of Sui was well aware of this, so he vigorously promoted water conservancy construction.

One of the most famous water conservancy projects is the Longshou Canal in Shaanxi. This channel diverts water from the Jing River to irrigate the Guanzhong Plain. Construction began in 584 A.D. and took three years to complete. It is said that when the project began, it encountered great difficulties. The terrain is complex and the progress of the project is slow. Emperor Wen of Sui personally inspected the construction site and encouraged the workers to overcome difficulties. Inspired by him, the workers came together to complete the monumental project.

After the completion of the Longshou Canal, the irrigation conditions in the Guanzhong area were greatly improved. According to historical records, after the canal was opened to water, the irrigable area of the Guanzhong Plain increased by hundreds of thousands of mu. Agricultural output has increased substantially, and the living standards of the local people have improved significantly. There is a widely circulated story that on the day the channel was opened, the people along the way welcomed and praised the virtue and politics of Emperor Wen of Sui.

In addition to the Longshou Canal, Emperor Wen of Sui also built a large number of water conservancy projects throughout the country. For example, in the Jiangnan area, many dikes have been built to effectively prevent and control floods; In the north, aqueducts have been dug to improve irrigation conditions in arid areas. The construction of these water conservancy projects has provided a strong guarantee for agricultural production and promoted social and economic development.

The promotion of new agricultural tools is the third important policy of benefiting the people implemented by Emperor Wen of Sui. He is well aware of the importance of agricultural tools to improve agricultural production efficiency, so he vigorously promotes new agricultural tools.

Among them, the most representative is the promotion of Quyuan plow. Compared with the traditional straight plough, the curved plough has stronger resistance and can plough the land more deeply. Emperor Wen of Sui ordered the promotion of the Quyuan plough throughout the country. It is said that in order to let the peasants understand the advantages of the Quyuan plow, Emperor Wen of Sui also organized a "ploughing competition". In the competition, the farmers who used the curved plough were significantly more efficient than those who used the traditional plow, and this result was an eye-opener for the farmers present.

In addition to Quyuan plows, Emperor Wen of Sui also promoted other new agricultural tools, such as iron agricultural tools, waterwheels, etc. The use of these new agricultural tools has greatly improved the efficiency of agricultural production. According to historical records, after the promotion of new agricultural tools, agricultural production in some areas has nearly doubled.

These policies for the benefit of the people implemented by Emperor Wen of Sui greatly promoted social and economic development and improved the living standards of the people. However, Emperor Wen of Sui's statecraft did not stop there. While he made great achievements in domestic affairs, he also performed well in diplomacy and military, which further consolidated the rule of the Sui Dynasty and laid the foundation for the prosperity of the Sui Dynasty.

While Emperor Wen of Sui and Yang Jian made great achievements in domestic affairs, he also attached great importance to diplomatic and military work. Through a series of diplomatic strategies and military actions, he not only consolidated the unification of the Sui Dynasty, but also expanded the territory and influence of the Sui Dynasty. Among the most notable achievements were the pacification of the southern separatist forces, the recovery of the Loop, and foreign policy toward neighboring countries.

The pacification of the southern separatist forces was an important step for Emperor Wen of Sui to consolidate the unification situation. Although the Sui Dynasty formally unified the whole country after its establishment, there were still separatist forces in some areas in the south. One of the most problematic was the slang regime in present-day Guangxi.

In 591 AD, Emperor Wen of Sui sent his general Yang Su to lead an army south to conquer the leader of the slang bureaucracy, Lady Xian. The campaign was not without its challenges. Relying on the complex mountainous terrain, the slang army adopted guerrilla tactics, which caused a lot of trouble to the Sui army. It is said that on one occasion, the Sui army was ambushed in the mountains and suffered heavy losses. Faced with this situation, Yang Su adopted an ingenious strategy. He sent people to disguise themselves as merchants to find out about the slang army. In this way, Yang Su mastered the deployment of the slang army, and finally won in a battle.

After this victory, Madame Xian voluntarily surrendered to the Sui Dynasty. Emperor Wen of Sui adopted a policy of Huairou, not only did not punish Mrs. Xian, but instead named her "Mrs. Ningyue Guotai" and let her continue to govern the local area. This move won the support of the local people and effectively stabilized the situation in the south.

The reconquest of the Hetao region was another major military achievement of Emperor Wen of Sui

The Hetao region has fallen into the hands of the Turks since the Northern Wei Dynasty and has become an important base for the Turkic invasion of the Central Plains. Emperor Wen of Sui was well aware of the importance of recovering the Hetao, but the direct military risk was too great. As a result, he adopted a series of clever strategies.

First, Emperor Wen of Sui took advantage of the internal contradictions in the Turks to support the Turkic Khan's younger brother, Apo Khan. This led to fierce fighting within the Turks, which greatly weakened the power of the Turks. Second, Emperor Wen of Sui adopted a strategy of "taking merchants as the between", sending a large number of merchants into the Turks, not only to seek intelligence, but also to influence the Turkic economy through trade.

In 597 AD, Emperor Wen of Sui decided that the time was ripe and sent his general Yang Zhou to lead his army north to recover the Hetao. The operation went surprisingly well. Due to the internal chaos of the Turks, and the effective tactics of the early Sui Dynasty, the Turkic army withdrew from the Hetao region with little effective resistance. The Sui army easily regained this important strategic location.

This success not only expanded the territory of the Sui Dynasty, but also effectively contained the southward threat of the Turks. It is said that there was a poet in Biansai at that time, after seeing the Sui army recovering the Hetao, he excitedly wrote the poem "Hu Ma did not dare to do, Han Ma neighed", vividly depicting the scene at that time.

In terms of foreign policy towards neighboring countries, Emperor Wen of Sui also showed superb wisdom. He adopted the strategy of "Huairou Yuanren" to expand the influence of the Sui Dynasty through peaceful diplomacy.

Take, for example, diplomacy towards Goguryeo. Goguryeo has always been a powerful neighbor to the north of China, and its relationship with it has been tricky. Emperor Wen of Sui resorted to a series of clever diplomatic means. First of all, he sent envoys to Goguryeo several times to express friendship. Second, he invited Goguryeo to send students to study in the Sui Dynasty to enhance the relationship between the two countries through cultural exchanges.

There is an interesting story that once an envoy sent by Goguryeo brought a large number of precious gifts and wanted to show off his national power. Emperor Wen of Sui quietly accepted the gift, and then took the envoy on a tour of the treasury of the Sui Dynasty. When the envoy saw the mountains of treasures in the treasury of the Sui Dynasty, he couldn't help but marvel. This move not only demonstrated the national strength of the Sui Dynasty, but also did not lose etiquette, and left a deep impression on the Goguryeo envoys.

These diplomatic moves by Emperor Wen of Sui enabled Goguryeo to maintain a friendly attitude in the early Sui Dynasty and effectively stabilized the northern frontier. Similar foreign policies were applied to other neighboring countries, such as Baekje and Silla, which greatly increased the influence of the Sui Dynasty in East Asia.

Through these domestic and foreign measures, Emperor Wen of Sui effectively consolidated the unification of the Sui Dynasty and laid a solid foundation for the prosperity and development of the Sui Dynasty. However, as a powerful monarch, Emperor Wen of Sui's exploits did not stop there. He has also made outstanding contributions to cultural construction, which have had a profound impact on the development of Chinese culture.

Emperor Wen of Sui, Yang Jian, made great achievements in politics, economy, and military affairs, but also attached great importance to cultural construction. Through a series of measures, he vigorously promoted the development of education, reformed the imperial examination system, and sorted out classic documents, laying a solid foundation for the development of Sui Dynasty and even the entire Chinese culture.

In terms of educational development, Emperor Wen of Sui took a number of measures. First, he rebuilt Guozijian, the highest institution of learning in ancient China. The reconstruction of Guozijian not only provided a place for the cultivation of high-level talents, but also demonstrated the importance that the Sui Dynasty attached to education. It is said that at that time, there was a scholar named Wang Tong, after learning the news of the reconstruction of Guozijian, despite his old age, he rushed all the way from Shandong to Chang'an to apply for a job. Emperor Wen of Sui personally received Wang Tong and appointed him as Dr. Guozi.

In addition to Guozijian, Emperor Wen of Sui also set up state and county schools throughout the country. These schools not only provide ordinary people with educational opportunities, but also provide channels for selecting talents. There is an interesting story that in a county school in the Jiangnan area, there was a student named Li Mi who often went to school hungry because of his poor family. When the school teacher found out, he left him a meal every day. Li Mi was grateful, studied hard, and eventually became an excellent official.

In terms of the reform of the imperial examination system, Emperor Wen of Sui made major innovations. He abolished the nine-rank Zhongzheng system during the Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties, and established an examination-based system for selecting officials. This reform has greatly improved the fairness and efficiency of the election of officials.

There is a widely circulated story that Emperor Wen of Sui personally participated in the reading of the papers in order to investigate the effects of this new system. In the process of grading, he found an answer sheet with beautiful writing and unique insights. Emperor Wen of Sui was greatly appreciative and immediately asked about the candidate's background. When he learned that this candidate was a young man from a poor background, Emperor Wen of Sui was even more ecstatic and announced the appointment of him as an official on the spot. This story, while perhaps exaggerated, vividly illustrates the upward mobility provided by the new imperial examination system for the children of the poor.

In terms of sorting out classic documents, Emperor Wen of Sui also made important contributions. He ordered scholars to compile the Book of Sui, the first official history in Chinese history. The compilation of the Book of Sui not only systematically recorded the history of the Sui Dynasty, but also left valuable historical materials for future generations.

In addition to the Book of Sui, Emperor Wen of Sui also organized manpower to sort out a large number of ancient books. It is said that the Imperial Palace Library had a collection of hundreds of thousands of volumes. In order to protect these precious texts, Emperor Wen of Sui specially ordered the construction of a large-scale library building. The library not only has special fire and moisture protection facilities, but also has full-time scribes and restorers.

Emperor Wen of Sui's emphasis on cultural construction is also reflected in his support for various art forms. He often summoned scholars and scholars to discuss poetry with them. Once, a poet named Xue Daoheng recited a poem describing spring in the palace: "The east fan spring grass, the river is murmuring." Emperor Wen of Sui was greatly appreciative after hearing this, and gave Xue Daoheng a high-grade silk horse as a reward on the spot.

In terms of music, Emperor Wen of Sui also made important contributions. He ordered the musicians to organize the folk music of various places and weave it into the court music. This not only enriched the content of court music, but also provided an opportunity for the inheritance and development of folk music. It is said that once Emperor Wen of Sui was listening to a newly composed piece of music when he was moved by one of the beautiful melodies. He inquired about the origin of this melody and learned that it was a folk song from the Western Regions. Emperor Wen of Sui immediately ordered this folk song to be compiled into court music and named it "Hu Ji Eighteen Beats".

Emperor Wen of Sui was also quite accomplished in calligraphy. He himself is an excellent calligrapher, and his calligraphy works are praised by later generations as "the dragon jumps over the heavenly gate, and the tiger lies in the phoenix pavilion". In order to promote the art of calligraphy, Emperor Wen of Sui often held calligraphy competitions and personally participated in the judging. Once, in a calligraphy competition, a little-known young calligrapher won the championship with a unique style. Emperor Wen of Sui not only rewarded him, but also hung his works in the palace as a sign of encouragement.

Emperor Wen of Sui's attention to and contribution to cultural construction laid a solid foundation for the development of Sui Dynasty and even the entire Chinese culture. These achievements in cultural construction, together with his political, economic, and military achievements, constituted a complete system of Emperor Wen of Sui's governance, which provided a strong impetus for the prosperity and development of the Sui Dynasty.