In 605 AD, at the beginning of the accession to the throne of Emperor Yang Guang of the Sui Dynasty, he opened a magnificent project - the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal. This water artery connecting the north and south not only changed the geographical pattern of China, but also became the glory and shackles of Emperor Yang of Sui's life. From the day of construction, the Grand Canal was destined to be closely linked to the fate of Emperor Yang of Sui. It has witnessed the prosperity of empires, but also the fall of dynasties. However, the judgment of history does not seem to be fair to Emperor Yang of Sui. Is the Grand Canal a reflection of his brilliance, or is it evidence of mediocrity? Did this waterway really "bury" an emperor and his dynasty? Let's follow this thousand-year-old road and re-examine the grievances and entanglements between Emperor Yang of Sui and the Grand Canal.
Heroes of troubled times, dominate mountains and rivers
The rise of the Sui Dynasty coincided with a turbulent period in Chinese history. The nearly 300-year-long division between the North and the South has caused this land to suffer from war. In 581 AD, Yang Jian abolished Zhou and established the Sui Dynasty, opening a new era of unification.
Emperor Wen of Sui Emperor Yang Jian was eloquent and strategic, and during his reign, he made great efforts to implement a series of reform measures. He abolished the military system of the Northern Zhou Dynasty and implemented a conscription system; Implement the system of three provinces and six ministries, and improve the central institutions; enacted the "Kaihuang Law" to unify the legal system; The Land Acquisition Decree was promulgated to alleviate the problem of land annexation. These policies laid the foundation for the prosperity of the Sui Dynasty.
In 589 AD, Emperor Wen of Sui marched south and defeated the Chen Dynasty, ending a three-century-long division between the north and the south. China has once again returned to the pattern of great unification. However, the powerful forces in the Jiangnan region are still deeply entrenched, and there are potential contradictions between them and the central government.
It was against this historical background that Yang Guang, as the second son of Emperor Wen of Sui, showed extraordinary talent. As a teenager, he showed great intelligence, mastery of poetry and rhetoric. During his tenure in the local government, Yang Guang made outstanding political achievements and was deeply appreciated by his father.
However, Yang Guang's brother Yang Yong is the first in line to the throne. Yang Yong has a cowardly personality and is not liked by Emperor Wen. Yang Guang gradually gained the trust and reuse of his father through a series of political means. He participated in the suppression of rebellions in the south, presided over the revision of the "Kaihuang Law", and demonstrated outstanding military and political skills.
In 600 AD, Yang Guang was appointed King of Jin and held the power of the court. He actively promoted the improvement of the imperial examination system and selected talents for the country. At the same time, he also presided over the construction of the eastern capital Luoyang, preparing for the future relocation of the capital.
In 604 AD, Emperor Wen of Sui died. With the help of court power, Yang Guang successfully deposed the crown prince Yang Yong and ascended the throne himself. This year, Yang Guang was 36 years old, in the prime of life, ambitious, and vowed to create a prosperous dynasty comparable to the Han and Tang dynasties.
After Yang Guang succeeded to the throne, he continued his father's policy, further implemented the imperial examination system, and selected a large number of talented officials. He also attached great importance to the development of culture and education, the construction of schools, and the encouragement of academic research. These measures laid the foundation for the cultural prosperity of the Sui Dynasty.
In military affairs, Yang Guang also showed great talent. He personally conquered Goguryeo many times, and although he did not achieve decisive victories, he also shocked the surrounding countries. At the same time, he also sent troops to pacify the Turkic forces in the northwest and consolidate the security of the frontier.
However, Yang Guang is most proud of his large-scale project construction. In addition to continuing to build the eastern capital of Luoyang, he also ordered the construction of the Great Wall to strengthen the northern defenses. However, the most ambitious and far-sighted of these projects is the excavation of the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal.
Yang Guang knew very well that in order to truly realize the reunification of the north and the south, it is not enough to rely on force alone. He needed a major transportation artery that could connect the north and the south, not only to strengthen the central government's control over the local government, but also to promote economic and cultural exchanges between the north and the south. So, an ambitious plan was born in his mind.
In 605 AD, the second year of Yang Guang's accession to the throne, he ordered the construction of the Grand Canal to run between the north and the south. The scale and difficulty of this project were unprecedented in the world at that time. It will connect the five major water systems of the Haihe River, the Yellow River, the Huai River, the Yangtze River and the Qiantang River, and open up the main artery of north-south transportation.
Yang Guang's decision is destined to leave a strong mark in Chinese history. However, he may not realize that the Grand Canal would not only change the geography of China, but would also profoundly affect the fate of himself and the Sui Dynasty as a whole.
Dig a canal to connect the north and south
In 605 AD, Emperor Yang Guang of the Sui Dynasty issued an earth-shattering edict: to dig the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal. This main water artery, which runs from north to south, will become one of the most magnificent water conservancy projects in China's history.
The planning of the Grand Canal can be described as magnificent. It stretches from Zhuojun (present-day Beijing) in the north to Yuhang (present-day Hangzhou) in the south, with a total length of about 2,700 kilometers. Along the way, the five major river systems of the Hai River, the Yellow River, the Huai River, the Yangtze River and the Qiantang River are connected, connecting the richest regions in China.
Yang Guang invested huge manpower and material resources in this project. According to the Book of Sui, only one section of the Jiqu was opened, and more than one million laborers were mobilized. Strong men from all over the country were requisitioned to the construction site, digging rivers day and night.
The project is huge and full of difficulties. In some places, the terrain is high and steep, and it is necessary to excavate mountains; In some places, it is a low-lying swamp that needs to be filled with earth to build an embankment. Workers use the most primitive tools – shovels, shovels, baskets – to transform the land little by little.
Yang Guang personally supervised the construction and inspected the construction site many times. He cheered on the workers and commended the places where the construction progress was fast. At the same time, he also severely punished those who were lazy and slack off in order to set an example.
The construction of the Grand Canal did not happen overnight. It is carried out in several phases, each with a specific goal. The Tongji Canal connects the Yellow River and the Haihe River, the Yongji Canal connects the Yellow River and the Huai River, and the Hangou Canal connects the Huai River and the Yangtze River.
The purpose of this project was much more than just making it easier for the emperor to play. Yang Guang has a broader strategic consideration. From a political point of view, the Grand Canal could strengthen the central government's control over the local government and consolidate the newly unified state.
From an economic point of view, the Grand Canal will connect the north and south, which can promote the circulation of goods and prosper the market economy. Grain from the north can be continuously transported to the south, and silk and tea from the south can also go north, driving the development of cities along the route.
From a military point of view, the Grand Canal could be used as a water transportation route to provide logistical support for the conquest of Goguryeo. Yang Guang made many northern expeditions to Goguryeo, and the military value of the Grand Canal is self-evident.
However, such a huge project inevitably brought a huge drain on people. Strong men from all over the country were requisitioned and transferred to the construction site, delaying the agricultural time. Many people have even lost their lives while working in harsh conditions.
The people are full of complaints, and there is a saying that "if one person does not turn around, six people will become dry bones". This resentment laid the groundwork for future peasant uprisings.
Despite this, the construction of the Grand Canal is still in full swing. Yang Guang did not seem to care about the opposition of the people, and he immersed himself in the grand project that was about to be completed, imagining a bright future for the empire.
In 610 AD, the Grand Canal was finally opened. Yang Guang took a dragon boat, set off from Luoyang, and went south along the canal to Jiangdu (now Yangzhou). This southern tour is not only an acceptance of the Grand Canal, but also an excellent opportunity to show the world the national strength of the Sui Dynasty.
What he saw along the way made Yang Guang ecstatic. Patches of willows are planted on both sides of the canal, and they are full of greenery. Merchant ships come and go, and the town is bustling and lively. This is exactly what he dreamed of.
However, what Yang Guang didn't see was that under this prosperous appearance, the people's grievances were on the verge of exploding. The excavation of the Grand Canal, although it brought short-lived prosperity to the Sui Dynasty, also hastened the demise of the dynasty.
In 618 AD, the Sui Dynasty fell. Yang Guang was hanged by his subordinates in Jiangdu, ending his short and legendary life. The Grand Canal bears witness to his splendor and his fall.
The judgment of history is often cruel. Later generations had an almost one-sided negative evaluation of Yang Guang, calling him "the king of the dead country". However, the great project of the Grand Canal has played a huge role in later generations and has become an important symbol of ancient Chinese civilization.
The pros and cons are intertwined, and dynasties rise and fall
The opening of the Grand Canal, like a double-edged sword, brought prosperity to the Sui Dynasty and hastened its demise. This water artery, which runs through the north and south, has become the epitome of the political career of Emperor Yang Guang of the Sui Dynasty.
After the opening of the canal, economic and cultural exchanges between the north and the south have become more and more frequent. Grain from the north was continuously transported to the south, relieving the grain pressure in the Jiangnan region. Silk, tea and other specialties from the south also went north smoothly, enriching the lives of the people in the north.
Towns along the canal grew rapidly. Yangzhou, Hangzhou, Suzhou and other places became bustling commercial centers, and the population increased dramatically. Merchants gathered, all industries prospered, and a prosperous scene.
Cultural exchanges have also been strengthened. The Confucian culture in the north and the Wuyue culture in the south blended and collided along the canal, producing new cultural sparks. Literati and artists traveled along the canals, leaving behind countless masterpieces.
However, beneath the surface of this prosperity, there is a deep crisis. The construction of the Grand Canal consumed huge manpower and material resources and brought a heavy burden to the people. The people are full of complaints, and there is a saying that "one foot of Sui embankment, one person, one life".
Yang Guang does not seem to be aware of the discontent among the people. He was immersed in the prosperity brought by the Grand Canal, making frequent tours of the south. On each southern tour, a large number of people had to be recruited to prepare luxurious palaces and ships for the emperor.
This extravagance and waste has further increased the burden on the people. Resentment accumulated, and large-scale uprisings finally broke out in various places. The most famous of these was the Wagang Army Uprising, in which leaders Zhai Rang, Li Mi and others gathered large numbers of peasants to fight against the rule of the Sui Dynasty.
At the same time, the Grand Canal also strengthened the central government's control over the local level. The Sui court could quickly mobilize troops through the canal to suppress uprisings in various places. However, this control also goes both ways. Rebels can also use the canal to quickly expand their influence.
During Yang Guang's reign, he conquered Goguryeo many times. The Grand Canal facilitated the logistics of these military operations. However, the frequent use of foreign troops has also further increased the burden on the people and caused more discontent.
In 618 AD, the Sui Dynasty fell. Yang Guang was hanged by his subordinates in Jiangdu, ending his short and legendary life. The Grand Canal bears witness to his splendor and his fall.
The fall of the Sui Dynasty did not mean that the value of the Grand Canal disappeared. On the contrary, this water artery played a huge role in the later Tang Dynasty, Song Dynasty and even the Ming and Qing dynasties.
During the Tang Dynasty, the Grand Canal became the main channel for "Cao Yun". Every year, a large amount of grain from the south of the Yangtze River is transported to the north through the canal, ensuring the grain supply of the capital Chang'an and Luoyang. This also laid the economic foundation for the prosperity of the Tang Dynasty.
During the Song Dynasty, commerce along the canal flourished. The famous city port company was established in Yangzhou, which became an important hub for overseas trade. The canal not only connects the north and the south, but also becomes an important channel for communication between China and the world.
During the Ming and Qing dynasties, the importance of the canal reached its peak. It was not only the main passage of Cao Yun, but also became the imperial road for the emperor's southern tour. Emperor Qianlong made many southern tours, all along the Grand Canal.
However, the construction and maintenance of the Grand Canal also placed a heavy burden on successive dynasties. Every time there was a flood, the imperial court had to invest a lot of manpower and material resources in dredging and repairing. Such huge expenses have sometimes even become the trigger for financial crises.
Looking back on history, we cannot simply say that the Grand Canal "buried" Emperor Yang of the Sui Dynasty and the Sui Dynasty. It is not only the embodiment of Emperor Yang of Sui's eloquence, but also reflects his extravagance and glitz. It not only promoted the economic and cultural development of ancient China, but also accelerated the demise of the Sui Dynasty.
The story of the Grand Canal is like a mirror, reflecting the law of the rise and fall of ancient Chinese dynasties. It tells us that there are two sides to any great project. The key is whether the ruler can balance the interests of all parties and truly benefit the people.
Today, the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal has become a World Heritage Site and continues to play an important role. It is not only a waterway, but also an important symbol of Chinese civilization. Whenever we look back on this period of history, we can't help but be impressed by the wisdom and courage of the ancients.
Thousand-year-old road, civilization bloodline
After the fall of the Sui Dynasty, the Grand Canal did not disappear with it. It is like a river that never dries up, nourishing Chinese civilization and witnessing the rise and fall of one dynasty after another.
After the establishment of the Tang Dynasty, the rulers quickly realized the importance of the Grand Canal. Taizong Li Shimin ordered a complete renovation of the canal, dredging the silted section and reinforcing the embankment. This project revitalized the Grand Canal and became an important support for the prosperity of the Tang Dynasty.
Every spring, a large number of boats set off from the south of the Yangtze River and went north loaded with grain. The ships made their way along the canal, passing through Yangzhou, Huai'an, Jining and other places, and finally arrived in Chang'an and Luoyang. The establishment of the Caoyun system ensured the food supply of the political center of the Tang Dynasty and laid the economic foundation for the "rule of Zhenguan".
Cities along the canal rose rapidly. Yangzhou has become "the richest place in the world", with a large number of businessmen, and the prosperity even exceeds that of Chang'an. The poet Li Bai once wrote: "Fireworks go down to Yangzhou in March", vividly depicting the prosperous scene of this famous canal city.
During the Song Dynasty, the importance of the Grand Canal was further enhanced. During the Northern Song Dynasty, Kaifeng became an important hub of the canal. A large number of southern materials arrived in Bianjing through the canal, supporting the prosperous scene of "Bianjing's prosperity".
After the Southern Song Dynasty established the capital of Lin'an (now Hangzhou), the southern section of the canal became more prominent. Hangzhou became the new political and economic center, and the canal brought endless wealth to the city. When Marco Polo visited Hangzhou, he praised it as "the most beautiful and luxurious city in the world".
The rulers of the Yuan Dynasty, although from the northern steppes, attached equal importance to the Grand Canal. Kublai Khan ordered the construction of the Tonghui River to extend the northern end of the Grand Canal to Dadu (present-day Beijing). This move allowed the Mongolia rulers to better control the Central Plains and laid the foundation for Beijing to become the capital of future generations.
During the Ming Dynasty, the Grand Canal ushered in a new glory. After Zhu Yuanzhang built the capital of Nanjing, in order to ensure military and civilian food, he vigorously renovated the canal. After Zhu Di moved the capital to Beijing, the canal became more prominent and became a lifeline connecting the north and the south.
Every year, tens of thousands of boats ply the canal. These ships not only carried grain, but also silk, tea, porcelain, and other materials. The canal became the main artery of the empire's economy, driving the development of the commodity economy.
The Qing Dynasty emperors regarded the Grand Canal as an imperial road. Kangxi and Qianlong toured the south many times, all along the canal. Qianlong made six southern tours, each time taking a gorgeous dragon boat from Beijing to the south of the Yangtze River along the canal. These southern tours not only demonstrated the national power of the Qing Dynasty, but also promoted economic development along the canal.
However, as times have changed, so has the Grand Canal faced new challenges. At the end of the Ming Dynasty and the beginning of the Qing Dynasty, the Yellow River flooded, and the embankment was broken and diverted many times, which seriously affected the navigation of the canal. The Qing government had to invest a lot of manpower and material resources to dredge rivers and build dikes.
By the mid-to-late Qing Dynasty, with the rise of maritime transport, the importance of the canal declined. Some sections of the river began to silt up and became difficult to navigate. But even so, the canal is still an important transportation route and plays an irreplaceable role.
After the Opium War, Western powers invaded, and China was forced to open its treaty ports. The new maritime trade gradually replaced the traditional canal transport. The Grand Canal fell into decline for a time, and some sections of the river even broke off.
However, this thousand-year-old road did not die there. In modern times, with the development of the country, people have rediscovered the value of the Grand Canal. After the founding of the People's Republic of China, the government organized large-scale dredging and renovation projects on several occasions, so that some sections of the river were reopened to navigation.
In 2014, the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal was included in the World Cultural Heritage List. This is not only an affirmation of this great project, but also a recognition of Chinese civilization. Nowadays, many cities along the canal are actively developing the canal culture, attracting a large number of tourists to sightsee.
Looking back at the history of the Grand Canal, we see not only a waterway, but also a microcosm of Chinese civilization. It has witnessed the rise and fall of emperors and generals, and recorded the ups and downs of ordinary people. It is the crystallization of ancient Chinese science and technology, and it is also a symbol of the wisdom of the Chinese nation.
Today, when we walk along the banks of the canal and look at the rippling blue waves, we can still hear the sound of the oars and trumpets thousands of years ago. This ancient waterway still flows silently, connecting ancient civilization with modern life.
The story of the Grand Canal continues. It is no longer the imperial road, but a cultural treasure belonging to every Chinese. In this waterway, which carries countless memories, we see the past as well as the future. The Grand Canal, the bloodline of civilization that has flowed for more than 2,000 years, will continue to nourish the land of China and witness new glory.