CHIN 50 Lecture Notes - Lecture 8: Yang Guifei, Sui Dynasty, Mount Wutai
Document Summary
Yang jian, founder of the sui dynasty, ruled as emperor wen (r. 581-604) Previously served as military general in the northern zhou. Capital of the sui established at chang"an (near modern xi"an) Unified north and south in 589 (by defeating the last southern dynasty, chen) Killed like 50 princes to maintain his throne. Supported buddhism and built a lot of monasteries. First was a prince, successful military leader. Dad died, and he took over in 604. Came to throne in a coup, killing 2 brothers, and forcing his father to hand over the power. First chinese legal code to survive in full; influence on japanese, korean, Big goose pagoda and small goose pagoda. Earliest extant wooden tang buildings- nanchan temple. Visited by ennin, japanese buddhist priest in the 9th century. De facto ruler of the tang empire from 660. Declared herself emperor of zhou in 690. Patron of buddhism, even claimed to be the maitra.
