Sui Dynasty: Map & History
The Sui dynasty was a Chinese imperial dynasty that ruled from 581 to 618 AD.
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The Sui dynasty was a Chinese imperial dynasty that ruled from 581 to 618 AD. The re-unification of China proper under the Sui brought the Northern and Southern dynasties era to a close, ending a prolonged period of political division since the War of the Eight Princes. The Sui endeavoured to rebuild the state, re-establishing and reforming many imperial institutions; in so doing, the Sui laid much of the foundation for the subsequent Tang dynasty, which after toppling the Sui would ultimately preside over a new golden age in Chinese history. Often compared to the Qin dynasty (221–206 BC), the Sui likewise unified China after a prolonged period of division, undertook wide-ranging reforms and construction projects to consolidate state power, and collapsed after a brief period.
Modern Countries Once Part of Sui Dynasty
At its mapped extent, Sui Dynasty covered territory in 5 present-day countries. The period shown is when the mapped borders include that country, and the note says how much of it.
- Hong Kong S.A.R.592–625 CE · nearly all
- Macau S.A.R592–625 CE · nearly all
- China587–627 CE · most
- Vietnam602–625 CE · a large part
- North Korea612–616 CE · a small part
States and Provinces
Largest Present-Day Cities in Its Territory
Each opens on the live map inside Sui Dynasty's borders of that time.
Derived by testing mapped cities against this polity's dated territorial polygons, so the list is indicative and follows the borders in the source dataset.
Sui Dynasty in Depth
History
During the late Northern and Southern dynasties period, the Xianbei-led Northern Zhou conquered the Northern Qi in 577, reunifying northern China. By this time, Yang Jian, a Northern Zhou general who would later found the Sui dynasty, became the regent to the Northern Zhou court. Yang Jian's clan, the Yang clan of Hongnong, had Han origins and claimed descent from the Han dynasty general Yang Zhen, but had intermarried with the Xianbei for generations. Yang Jian's daughter was the Empress Dowager, and her stepson, Emperor Jing of Northern Zhou, was a child. After crushing an army in the eastern provinces, Yang Jian usurped the throne from the Northern Zhou rulers, and became Emperor Wen of Sui.
Culture
Although the Sui dynasty was relatively short-lived, in terms of culture, it represents a transition from the preceding ages, and many cultural developments which can be seen to be incipient during the Sui dynasty later were expanded and consolidated during the ensuing Tang dynasty, and later ages. This includes not only the major public works initiated, such as the Great Wall and the Great Canal, but also the political system developed by Sui, which was adopted by Tang with little initial change other than at the top of the political hierarchy. Other cultural developments of the Sui dynasty included religion and literature, particular examples being Buddhism and poetry.
The Sui court pursued a pro-Taoist policy.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Sui dynasty (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Sui Dynasty: Key Facts
| Capital | Chang'an |
|---|---|
| Official language | Chinese |
| Form of government | monarchy |
| Currency | ancient Chinese coinage |
| Founded | 581 CE |
| Dissolved | 618 CE |
Preceded by
- Chen dynasty
- Northern Zhou
- Western Liang dynasty
Succeeded by
Facts from Wikidata Q7405 (CC0).
Sui Dynasty Map Over Time
Dated world maps on which Sui Dynasty appears, with the other states of the time.
Sui Dynasty Timeline
Key historical inflections from foundation to peak territorial expansion
Expansion to peak recorded area of 3,426,819 km² in 614 CE.
Sui Dynasty: Frequently Asked Questions
When did the Sui Dynasty exist?
The Sui Dynasty is dated to 587 CE – 627 CE, in the Early Middle Ages era.
What was the capital of the Sui Dynasty?
The capital of the Sui Dynasty was Daxing (581–605), Luoyang (605–618).
How large was the Sui Dynasty at its peak?
At its peak in 614 AD the Sui Dynasty covered about 3,426,819 km².