The Sui Dynasty
581–618 (37 years)
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The Sui Dynasty 581-618 was followed
by the Tang Dynasty and preceded by
the Southern and Northern Dynasties in
China. It ended nearly four centuries of
division between rival regimes.
Usurpation vs. Legitimacy
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Usurpation 篡夺: illegal
seizure and occupation
of a throne; wrongful or
illegal encroachment,
infringement, or
seizure.
Yang Jian usurped the
throne from his
daughter’s young son
and proclaimed himself
emperor (89)
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Political Legitimacy
合法性/正统性,
Acceptance of authority
Sources of legitimacy:
Government by consent
(John Locke)
Beneficial
Consequences
Public reason and
democratic approval
Consequentialism
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1. the theory that human actions derive their moral
worth solely from their outcomes or consequences.
2. the theory that ethical decisions should be made
on the basis of the expected outcome or
consequences of the action.
Deng Xiaoping: It doesn’t matter whether it is a while
or black cat. As long as it catches rats, it is a good
cat.
What’s so problematic about consequentialism?
Intension/motive & means by which to reach one’s
goals…
Emperor Wen of Sui (Ebrey 89-90)
Yang Jian (541-604)
隋文帝杨坚
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founder and first emperor of
China's Sui Dynasty. Three
means/strategies to unify the
country (after 300 years of
division):
military/cultural/diplomatic
He used patronage of
Buddhism to build links to
prominent families in the
Southern Dynasties.
He had Yang Guang (his
son 569-617) marry a
princess from one of the
Southern royal houses.
The Universal Appeal
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As Cakraꞌvartin king
(89), (in Indian
philosophy, politics,
etc.) an ideal, universal,
enlightened ruler, under
whom the world exists
in justice and peace.
http://dictionary.referen
ce.com/browse/Cakrav
artin?s=t
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The (Western) Roman
Catholic Church stressed on
universality for broader
appeal;
The Eastern (Orthodox)
Roman Empire (the Great
Schism or the East-West
Schism in 1045 AD)
emphasizes on authenticity;
Judea (Judaea or Iudaea) as
the birthplace of Christianity
Yang Jian’s Four Main Initiatives
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Yang Jian undertook four main initiatives in developing his new
dynastic order.
1. He promulgated a new legal code--The Kaihuang era开皇之
治 & the Kaihuang (Legal) Code, in 500 articles, providing a
coherent body of law and administration throughout the empire;
this paved the way for the Reign of Zhenguan 贞观之治 in the
Tang Dynasty 627-649.
2. He adopted the so-called “well-field” system of land tenure, in
which land was apportioned by the state every few years to
prevent the accumulation of great estates in the hands of
powerful families (“local snakes”) that might challenge imperial
power.
Yang Jian’s Four Main Initiatives
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3. Establishment of agricultural colonies for border
defense—soldiers supported themselves by farming
rather than depending on the state (Cao Cao had
something similar: farmer-soldier concept);
4. Intervention of agricultural economy:
Establishment of public granaries to store grains for
time of famine or food shortage, and for transporting
grains from southeast to northeast to keep prices
rising from too far—this echoes what Emperor Wu of
Han did in the Han Dynasty
The Kaihuang Era (581 AD)
开皇之治
Emperor Wen of Sui
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1. Simplified the government--“ten sheep nine shepherds”— “十
羊九牧”: rid the nine rank system (220 AD) 九品中正制;
replaced with three branches/six departments system or three
departments/six-minister system;
2. Established the imperial (civil service) examination;
3. Fubing system 府兵制 (farmer/soldier)
4. During his reign, he began the construction of the Grand
Canal (Ebrey et al 306/377).
Impressive ship building
Yang Jian was famous for having the fewest number of
concubines for an adult Chinese emperor in Chinese history.
The Jing - hang Grand Canal
京杭大运河
1,776 km (1,103 miles)
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南粮北调
Dispatch/Supply food to the
north from the south
Starting at Beijing, it passes
through Tianjin and the
provinces of Hebei,
Shandong, Jiangsu and
Zhejiang to the city of
Hangzhou. The oldest parts
of the canal date back to the
5th century BC, although the
various sections were finally
combined during the Sui
Dynasty (581–618 AD).
Emperor Yangdi of Sui
dynasty (605)
Nine-rank system (Ebrey 89)
& Imperial Examinations
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Nine-rank system
The nine rank system controller
system, was a civil service
nomination system during the
Three Kingdoms and the
Southern and Northern
Dynasties in China.
Theoretically, local government
authorities were given the task
of selecting talented
candidates, then categorizing
them into nine grades
depending on their abilities. In
practice, however, only the rich
and powerful would be
selected.
Abolished in Sui Dynasty
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The Imperial Civil
examinations determined
who among the
population would be
permitted to enter the
state's bureaucracy. The
Imperial Examination
System in China lasted for
1300 years, from its
founding during the Sui
Dynasty in 605 to its
abolition near the end of
the Qing Dynasty in 1905.
Guozijian 国子监
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The Guozijian (simplified Chinese: 国子监;
traditional Chinese: 國子監; pinyin: guózǐjiàn),
or Kuo Tzu Chien, the "School of the Sons of
State,” sometimes called the "Imperial
Academy", "Imperial College", "Imperial
School" , "Imperial University" or "Imperial
Central University", was the national central
institute of learning in Chinese dynasties after
the Sui. It was the highest institute of learning
in China's traditional educational system.
From Guozijian to
the Imperial Capital Academy
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Formerly it was called the Taixue, while Taixue for
Gongsheng (tribute students) from the populace was
still part of Guozijian, along with Guozixue for noble
students. The central schools of taixue were
established as far back as 3 CE, when a standard
nationwide school system was established and
funded during the reign of Emperor Ping of Han 汉平
帝. When disbanded during the 1898 reform of the
Qing Dynasty, the Guozijian was replaced by the
Imperial Capital Academy 京 师大学堂, later known
as Peking University, now Beijing University.
Thirteen Classics
Steles Engraved with the "Thirteen
Classics" Xiꞌan
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Shijing (詩經) The Book of
Poetry
Shujing (書經) The Book of
Documents
Zhouli (周禮) The Rites of
Zhou
Yili (儀禮) The Ceremonies
and Rites
Liji (禮記) The Record of
Rites
Yijing (易經) The Book of
Changes (which influenced
The Art of War and other
works)
Thirteen Classics
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Zuo Zhuan (左傳) The commentary of Zuo
Gongyang Zhuan (公羊傳) The commentary of
Gongyang
Guliang Zhuan (穀梁傳) The commentary of
Guliang
Lunyu (論語) The Analects
Erya (爾雅) Luxuriant and Refined Words
Xiaojing (孝經) The Classic of Filial Piety
Mengzi (孟子) The Mencius
Steles 石碑
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an upright stone slab or pillar bearing an
inscription or design and serving as a
monument, marker, or the like.
The Stele Forest, or Xi'an Beilin Museum
(碑林; pinyin: Bēilín)
Founded in 1306
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One of the main halls
of the Guozijian in
downtown Beijing
Beijing Guozijian
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The paifang or
archway in Beijing's
Guozijian street,
where the imperial
college is located.
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牌坊【páifāng】
memorial archway (or
gateway).
Limitations
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Since the Ming Dynasty, the exams have
become rigid, ossified, and formularized.
Content and form
Eight-legged essay, comparable to the fiveparagraph essay
Form takes over substance
八股文【bāgǔwén】 eight -part essay;
stereotyped writing.
Termination of the Imperial
Examinations (1905)
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In August 1905, Yuan Shikai 袁世凯 et al
proposed the imperial examinations be
terminated.
It is too slow a move to train talents needed;
It is useless;
Priority be given to popular education
Yuan Shikai
Declared himself as Emperor
1 January 1916 – 22 March 1916
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Yuan Shikai made
his name by training
the new army and
controlling tax in
Korean Peninsula
After the 1911
Revolution, became
President of the
Republic of China
Emperor Yang of Sui
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(隋煬帝, 569 - April 11, 618),
personal name Yang
Guang (楊廣), alternative
name Ying (英), nickname
Amo (阿摩), known as
Emperor Ming (明帝) during
the brief reign of his
grandson Yang Tong), was
the second son of Emperor
Wen of Sui, and the second
emperor of China's Sui
Dynasty.
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Patricide (killing one’s
father)
Fratricide (killing one’s
brothers)
Filicide (killing one’s own
children) (in this case, Yang
Guang killed his brother’s
sons (his nephews);
Nepotism refers to Pope’s
promotion of his nephews;
Military expeditions to Korea
The Grand Canal
隋炀帝 杨广
(569 －618)
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Portrait painting of
Emperor Yang of
Sui, commissioned in
643 by Taizong,
painted by Yan Liben
(600-673)
Yang Guang’s Achievements
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“修通运河”、
“西巡张掖”、
“开创科举”、
“开发西域”、
“东征高丽”
The downside: Heavily
burdened his subjects;
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Construction of the
Grand Canal;
Westbound Inspection of
Zhangye: the silk road;
Pioneered the Imperial
Examinations;
Opening up the west by
conquering Khitans;
3 Eastern expeditions
(607/612/613) to fight
Korea