Unfinished Integration of China Proper 楷書The Sui dynasty witnessed the reign of only two emperors; Wendi and his son Yangdi. However, during their brief rule of thir

The Sui dynasty witnessed the reign of only two emperors; Wendi and his son Yangdi. However, during their brief rule of thirty-seven years, they set in motion a political, and administrative integration that reached its zenith during the reign of the Tang dynasty.

Though considered one of the short-lived dynasties of Chinese history, the dynasty unified China’s landmass after four centuries of fragmentation since the northern and southern dynasties were going their different ways.

For regional integration, the rulers established uniform institutions of government across the territory. They created a corps of abled and pragmatic administrators who were appointed through a public service examination system based on Confucian Classics. The penal code and administrative laws were made fairer and lenient than in former empires. The administrators also conducted censuses and simplified taxation regimes throughout the territory.

Public infrastructure was at the centre of regional integration which was geographically determined. The dynasty established a second capital at Luoyang along with the existing capital of Chang'an in the west. 

A vast canal system was created to facilitate domestic trade and the flow of people & culture throughout the landmass. Known as the “Grand Canal,” it was created to meet certain political, economic, and military ends that were necessary for unifying the Chinese landmass.

The canal is 1,776 km long and links the western capital of Chang’an (present-day Xi'an) with the eastern capital of Luoyang. Two rivers, Yellow and Yangtze, were connected through this canal system. 

The canal was instrumental in transporting grains that were cultivated alongside these rivers. The Grand Canal was excavated in 605 CE and its construction was completed in 611 CE.  The Grand Canal was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2014 AD and is still being used for the transportation of goods and people. 

However, the Sui dynasty collapsed in 618 CE as Yangdi was murdered by one of his entourage because of certain political beef and his successor Gongdi failed to counter Li Yuan who eventually overthrew the Sui dynasty and established his own Tang dynasty.

Sui Dynasty 581 CE - 618 CE

0 Comments