Yang Di
Yang Di, also known as Emperor Yang of the Sui Dynasty, was the second and final emperor of the Sui Dynasty, reigning from 604 to 618 CE. He played a significant role in the reunification of China after centuries of division following the Han Dynasty, serving as viceroy of the south for a decade. His ascent to the throne involved the controversial framing and possible assassination of his elder brother. Yang Di is known for his ambitious national projects, including the construction of an alternative capital in Luoyang, extensive road networks, and enhancements to the Grand Canal, all of which aimed to bolster the empire’s infrastructure.
However, these developments came at a high cost, as they relied heavily on forced labor and substantial taxation, which ultimately led to widespread discontent among his subjects. His military campaigns, particularly three failed expeditions against Koguryo, further fueled unrest. As tensions escalated, revolts emerged, culminating in his downfall when he was assassinated by his own troops in 618 CE. Yang Di's reign is often viewed as a cautionary tale, influencing subsequent rulers of the Tang Dynasty to consider the welfare of their subjects more carefully, while also laying the groundwork for the prosperity that followed.
Yang Di
Related civilizations: Sui Dynasty, China
Major role/position: Emperor
Life
Yang Di (YAHNG dee) was the second and last emperor of the Sui Dynasty (581-618 c.e.). He assisted his father-emperor in conquering the south and reunifying China, which had been divided for most of the three hundred years since the end of the Han Dynasty, and was viceroy of the south for ten years, with his headquarters at Yangzhou. In order to gain the crown, he framed (and possibly assassinated) his elder brother and took the throne in 604 c.e.
Yang Di was an active emperor who undertook massive national projects. To supplement his capital in Chang’an, he constructed an alternative capital in Luoyang, built huge granaries, rebuilt the Great Wall, paved roads connecting major cities and ports, and dredged countless rivers to link them with the Grand Canal. However, these projects were achieved through exorbitant corvée—unpaid labor extracted from one to two million laborers a year—and high taxes. He also frequently inspected parts of his empire with crowds of attendants (500,000 at one time) while sending military expeditions to all frontiers for territory expansion. Over time, his subjects found these excesses to be unbearable. Consequently, the response to Yang Di’s three unsuccessful expeditions during 612-614 c.e. to conquer Koguryo was repeated revolts at home. He retreated to Yangzhou, but his garrison force mutinied and hanged him in 618 c.e.
Influence
Historians hold that Yang Di’s tyranny and self-destruction taught the emperors of Tang (618-907 c.e.) to pay more attention to the interests of their subjects and that Yang Di’s national building projects facilitated Tang’s prosperity.
Bibliography
Dillon, Michael, ed. China: A Historical and Cultural Dictionary. Surrey, England: Curzon, 1998.
Wright, Arthur E. The Sui Dynasty. New York: Knopf, 1979.