In the year 523 AD, a rapid uprising pushed the Northern Wei regime to the brink of extinction. The uprising was mainly led by the Xianbei people, who were soldiers from the six towns guarding the northern border before the uprising. However, after the Northern Wei regime moved south, the Xianbei people in the border towns were ignored, and their lives became increasingly difficult. They developed a huge hatred towards the sinicized regime, which gave rise to the outbreak of the Great Rebellion. The turmoil in the late Northern Wei period was still focused on the problems that emerged in ethnic integration. While ethnic integration was certainly the trend of the times, to truly achieve long-term stability and unity of the country, it still needed to go through many pains and twists and turns. History calls for a new era. Political power.
In the year 534 AD, the last emperor of Northern Wei, Emperor Xiaowu of Wei, Yuan Xiu, could not bear the control of the powerful minister Gao Huan. He left Luoyang light and simple, fled west to Chang’an, and joined Yuwen Tai in Guanzhong. Guanzhong became the location of the Wei Dynasty’s official sculpture. Gao Huan was unwilling to abandon the Wei Dynasty’s official sculpture, and established another Yuan Shanjian in Luoyang in the east, known as Emperor Xiaojing of Wei. From then on, Northern Wei was divided into two courts, known as Eastern Wei and Western Wei. Eastern Wei and Western Wei controlled northern China, standing in opposition to the Liang Dynasty in the south, forming a new pattern of Northern and Southern Dynasties. At this time, the war mainly broke out between Gao Huan of the Eastern Wei and Yu Wentai of the Western Wei. Gao Huan and Yu Wentai were both generals who stood out in the Six Towns Uprising, but now they were enemies of each other and wanted to dominate the Central Plains and unify northern China. However, their strength was vastly different, forming a sharp contrast between strength and weakness. The Eastern Wei army originally belonged to the more than 200000 brave and skilled soldiers of the Six Towns of the Northern Wei, while the Western Wei army was just a partial division of the Six Towns Army, with a combined force of only over 30000 people.
Today, a section of the Yellow River flows through Jiaohua, Shanxi. The former boundary river between Eastern Wei and Western Wei. Whenever the river freezes in severe winter, the Western Wei army always chisels open the ice on its own side to prevent the Wei army from using strong troops to cross the river and retreat without fighting. This is usually a strategy adopted by the weak, poking ice chisels at the ice surface to create a defensive posture for the weak. In the early stages of the weak Western Wei, they had to face the repeated conquests of Eastern Wei. Although they did not give the Eastern Wei army too much advantage, they also slowly accompanied their old base.
In 543 AD, Yuwen Tai personally led a large army and 100000 troops led by Gao Huan to engage in a fierce battle on the banks of the Yellow River. In order to prevent the Wei army from crossing the river, Yuwen Tai placed a fire boat filled with fuel in the upper reaches of the Yellow River, attempting to burn down the floating bridge erected on the Yellow River. The Eastern Wei army prepared long iron chains in advance, and when the fire boat was about to arrive, they hooked it and pulled it towards the shore. The floating bridge was intact. The Eastern Wei army crossed the Yellow River and engaged in a great war with the Western Wei army at the foot of Mangshan Mountain. As a result of the war, the Eastern Wei army won a great victory, and Yuwen Tai’s hard-earned 100000 troops lost more than half of them. Supplementing troops was the top priority for the Western Wei. There are not many Xianbei people in the central region, and it is obviously unrealistic to rely solely on them to supplement the army. On the basis of the prefectural military system, Yuwen Tai also absorbed troops from the Han people, recruited Han powerful armed forces, and later further recruited even field farmers to join the army, The proportion of Han people in the Western Wei army gradually increased, and how to make Hu and Han more harmonious is a major issue that the rulers of Western Wei must solve.
Yu Wentai adopted the policy of integration of Hu and Han. Since the Han people in the military system were also given the surname of Xianbei, they and the original Xianbei people had equal status and rights. Yu Wentai also tried to absorb the Han powerful officials to join the ruling group, allowing them to retain their private military uniforms. Yu Wentai was particularly aware of the progressiveness nature of Han culture, so he vigorously advocated Han culture, called on the restoration of the Western Zhou tradition, implemented an advanced system, and received strong support from the Han gentry. In this way, the Western Wei Dynasty solved the national conflicts better, and its strength was growing, and its stamina was full. Unlike the Western Wei Dynasty, the Eastern Wei Dynasty Gaohuan Group adopted a policy of highly Xianbei, and he The military strength of the commander is mainly the Xianbei soldiers, and it is also the Xianbei forces that support the regime. He publicly declared to the Xianbei soldiers that the Han people are your slaves, This undoubtedly intensified ethnic conflicts, and the Xianbei nobility became increasingly corrupt, gradually weakening their national strength.
Researcher Lou Jin from the Institute of History of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences: The foundation of Northern Qi was much better than that of Northern Zhou, but in the end, Northern Zhou destroyed Northern Qi. Through military, land, economic, and political measures, Northern Zhou brought together people living in the Guanzhong area and those who had entered the Guanzhong area from outside, but Northern Qi was never able to solve the problem.
After the fourth year of Gao Huan’s death in 550 AD, his son Gao Yang deposed Emperor Xiaojing of Eastern Wei and proclaimed himself emperor, officially establishing Northern Qi. The dynasties had changed, and Xianbei culture became more severe. Han bureaucrats such as Du Bi were killed, ethnic conflicts intensified, and the national strength of Northern Qi further weakened. This undoubtedly gave his old rival an opportunity to take advantage of. However, can the Yuwen Group seize the opportunity?
Yuwen Tai’s tomb is located in the courtyard of Gongli Township Primary School in Fuping County, Shaanxi Province. Over 1400 years ago, when this tomb was just erected, the rise and fall of the Western Wei regime was facing the most severe test. This history became a compulsory lesson for the students of Gongli Primary School. In order to commemorate the millennium old ancient tomb monument, Yuwen Tai was about to leave the world in 556 AD. Before his death, Yuwen Tai ordered Yuwen Hu to assist his 16-year-old son in completing the imperial business. Yuwen Hu was Yuwen Tai’s nephew, but it was this Yuwen Hu who almost caused the downfall of the Yuwen Group. The newly powerful regime also faced the challenge of extinction. In the face of an unfathomable crisis, less than two months after Yuwen Tai’s death, Yuwen Hu elevated Yuwen Tai’s son Yuwen Jue to the throne of God, replacing Western Wei to establish Northern Zhou. Yuwen Hu appointed the Prime Minister of Northern Zhou, who was authoritarian and tyrannical, This caused dissatisfaction among the new emperor Yuwen Jue and some meritorious officials. Yuwen Hu took tough measures, killed Yuwen Jue, and appointed Yuwen Yu, the eldest son of Yuwen Tai, as emperor. Yuwen Yu was not a submissive person, and gradually felt that his position was threatened. More than two years later, he poisoned Yuwen Yu again, causing turmoil and instability in his heart. What will happen to the next emperor?
Researcher at the Institute of History of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences – Liang Mancang: We can see from the testament of Yuwen Yu before his death that it required Yuwen Hu and all ministers to support and assist Yuwen Yong. Why entrusted such a heavy task to Yuwen Hu? It’s more like adding a rope to Yuwen Hu’s body rather than being a burden.
The new emperor is Yu Wentai, the fourth son of Emperor Wu of Northern Zhou. According to historical records, Yu Wenyong was intelligent and talented. Yu Wentai once said that he was the one who achieved his goals. However, in just 3 to 4 years, Yu Wenhu had already gained great power and killed two emperors and a group of old officials. The political power of Northern Zhou was in turmoil, and Emperor Wu found it difficult to protect himself. How could he achieve his father’s ambition of unifying the north? For the new emperor, Yuwen Hu was also full of vigilance and murderous intentions. Fortunately, Emperor Wu Yuwen Yong, who was naturally calm, was completely different from the previous two emperors. He fully accepted Yuwen Hu’s authoritarianism and ordered the establishment of an ancestral temple in Yuwen Hu’s fiefdom, following the example of Zhou Gong in the Western Zhou Dynasty. Yuwen Hu presided over the sacrifice, but he seemed to have no idea that his elder brother had been killed by Yuwen Hu. He always regarded Yuwen Hu as a close relative and respected elder, an indispensable pillar of the dynasty, never violating Yuwen Hu’s opinions. The language household still served as the commander of various military forces at home and abroad, firmly holding onto Yuwen Hu’s position. Holding military power, in his view, only with military power in hand, he is not afraid of the emperor’s ideas. Emperor Wu’s Chinese scholar Yong never ventured into military affairs, and he is more concerned about the respect for Confucianism and the emphasis on education that Yuwen Hu ignored.
Visiting the Three Elders is an ancient traditional ritual in China. According to the Book of Rites and the records of Prince Wen, the Three Elders and Five Watches were established, and the seats of the group elders were established. As early as the Qin and Han dynasties, the country had three elders and one person, and the emperor respected him, consulted him on his experience in governing the country, and spread the concept of respecting the elderly to the world.
Researcher at the Institute of History, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences – Lou Jin: To establish the Three Elders is to establish another person with high moral character, as a rural elder, as a symbol of the elderly, to ask the emperor to inquire about national politics, and to show him respect for the virtuous and virtuous officials. Through such actions, it shows that the emperor is willing to humbly accept the guidance of the elders towards the wise people of the world.
In the year 563 AD, Emperor Wu of Northern Zhou, who had just ascended to the throne for the third year, held a grand ceremony to honor the three elders. The one who was honored as the three elders was Yuan Lao Yu Jin, a hero of the four dynasties of Western Wei and Northern Zhou. This ceremony was held in Taixue, where the emperor waited patiently for the three elders to enter. After the three elders entered, the emperor personally greeted them and the three elders bowed and ascended to the throne. When the attendants removed the utensils, the emperor began the process of visiting and governing the country. The emperor stood facing north, and the three elders also stood behind the seat. The emperor asked for advice on governing the country, and the three elders answered. The ceremony was grand and warm, allowing the entire Taixue to be bathed in the spring breeze of Confucianism. This is a rare sight seen in Chang’an after the Six Towns Uprising.
Researcher at the Institute of History of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences – Lou Jin: Yu Jin is not only a noble family of the Northern Wei Dynasty, but also a person capable of fighting. He is a politician, and many of the national policies of the Northern Zhou Dynasty and the Western Wei Dynasty were created by Yu Jin. At the same time, he has one of the most important characteristics. Although he has made outstanding contributions, he knows how to be humble, can aggrieve himself, and can aggrieve himself. This is called understanding the principles of propriety. The position was originally established according to the Confucian Book of Rites, and of course, there must be someone who understands propriety to pay the bill.
Emperor Wu of Zhou established Confucianism as the foundation of traditional Chinese culture, and he attached great importance to the construction of ritual systems. He argued that it could prevent people from being arrogant in the upper echelons, not overflowing in their early years, and maintaining prosperity and stability. He stipulated that when children of nobles entered school, they should first give gifts to their teachers, and after completing their studies, they should hold a ceremony to commemorate Confucius. He also praised filial piety to promote Confucian morality and change social norms. He heard that Shen Chong of Later Liang studied Confucianism and wrote a letter personally, inviting him to give lectures in Chang’an. In the year 564 AD, when Yuwen Hu’s mother returned to Northern Zhou from the territory of Northern Qi, Emperor Wu of Zhou spared no effort in the etiquette of filial piety among the younger generation. This not only greatly respected Yuwen Hu’s mother, but also greatly reduced her vigilance.
Researcher Lou Jin from the Institute of History of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences: The core is to promote benevolent governance, which is something that we Han literati and even a large number of Hu people who have already been influenced by Han culture sincerely accept. Therefore, through these measures and attempts, he expresses his policy stance and direction to the people and the public.
The war between Northern Zhou and Northern Qi continued, and while Emperor Wu of Zhou’s prestige continued to rise, Yuwen Hu also wanted to enhance his prestige through military victories. In 564 AD, Yuwen Hu contacted the northern Turks to launch a large-scale attack on Northern Qi, which was fully supported by Emperor Wu of Zhou. However, due to unclear orders, the Zhou army suffered a heavy defeat by the Qi army near Mangshan in Luoyang, and had to flee back to Guanzhong. The two sides once again stopped fighting and negotiated peace. This battle not only dealt a heavy blow to the military strength of Northern Zhou, but also consumed a large amount of financial and material resources accumulated by Northern Zhou over the past decade, which made Emperor Wu of Zhou extremely distressed. However, for the person most responsible, Yuwen Hu Zhou, Emperor Wu once again chose to endure and did not say a word of blame to Yuwen Hu.
Researcher at the Institute of History of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences – Liang Mancang: On the one hand, Yuwen Hu has great military talent. When the Western Wei Dynasty was just established, after Yuwen Tai’s death, Yuwen Hu still played a certain role in maintaining the stability of the regime at that time. He was not a politician, but in his position as a politician, the contradiction was very prominent.
The imperial court was extremely dissatisfied with Yuwen Hu, and his military failure also greatly undermined his prestige in the army. However, Emperor Wu of Zhou continued to uphold Yuwen Hu, and the ruling class no longer had power conflicts. A peaceful atmosphere enveloped Chang’an City and the imperial palace inside the city. Emperor Wu of Zhou continued to vigorously promote etiquette, gathered in groups to personally teach etiquette, established a system of suburban hills and altars, and established a gatekeeper. With 72 people, Emperor Wu of Zhou increasingly demonstrated the charm of an outstanding politician, and the entire dynasty was bathed in a peaceful and ceremonial atmosphere. However, behind the peace, a deadly struggle concerning the future of the Northern Zhou Dynasty is quietly approaching.
On March 18, 572 AD, before Yuwen Hu entered the capital from a vassal state to pay his respects to Empress Dowager Ji Nu, Emperor Wu first met Yuwen Hu at the Wen’an Hall and told him that the Empress Dowager was old but liked to drink alcohol and had abnormal emotions after drinking. Although I repeatedly advised her, it was ineffective. I hoped that my brother could advise the Empress Dowager during the pilgrimage, and he also took out the “Wine Edict” written by King Cheng of Zhou, which he personally transcribed. When he saw the Empress Dowager, he read it to him. The two brothers walked to the Hanren Hall to pay their respects to the Empress Dowager, and Yuwen Hu immediately sat next to the Empress Dowager, carefully reading the Wine Edict. The Empress Dowager was… Yuwen Yong’s biological mother, Yuwen Hu, every time she paid her respects to the Empress Dowager, the Empress Dowager’s royal family asked him to sit down and let Yuwen Yong stand aside. Yuwen Hu was therefore unprepared, and at that moment, Yuwen Yong, standing behind him, raised the jade pendant in his hand, This should be the first time that this elegant emperor has turned a cold shoulder to his political opponents, but with a sharp sword, he achieved a fatal blow. After 12 years of patience, training, and waiting, Emperor Wu of Northern Zhou truly stepped onto the political stage of Chinese history, opening a new chapter in Chinese history compared to Northern Zhou.
Researcher Lou Jin from the Institute of History of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences: It can be said that during the long period of Yuwen Hu’s rule, it is not normal for someone who is not the emperor to hold the power of the emperor, but rather someone who is not the emperor to do so. The whole country knows that there may also be criticism, which is an important reason for bringing a lot of criticism to Yuwen Hu. Because the country’s political system is abnormal and the pattern and system are not normal, the key to pacifying the entire situation is to kill one person. Killing one person does not affect large-scale military mobilization or the earth shaking changes in the national political situation.
However, in the first year of the reign of Emperor Wu of Northern Zhou, a serious locust plague occurred. Coupled with years of military campaigns and corv é e labor, the people fled, the land became barren, and the peaceful political situation of the people remained calm, allowing them to rest and maintain the stability of the world. Emperor Wu of Zhou was well aware of this truth, and the first edict he issued during his personal campaign was that, except for the proper adjustment of funds, there should be no unauthorized requisition. Water conservancy is the lifeblood of agriculture. As a famous water conservancy project in ancient China, the Longshou Canal located in Dali County, Shaanxi Province, still plays an important role today. The Longshou Canal was built during the Western Han Dynasty, but the locals are more willing to bear the credit on Emperor Wu of Northern Zhou. This is because during the Northern Zhou Dynasty, the Longshou Canal was neglected for a long time and had little effect. It was Emperor Wu of Northern Zhou who reopened and expanded the Longshou Canal. While diverting water for irrigation, it also brought the fertile water and sand in the Luo River to farmland, turning the barren land into fertile soil. The yield of grain per mu increased exponentially. In fact, it was not only the Longshou Canal, but also the Wudi of Northern Zhou that expanded the Longshou Canal. The emperor also built large-scale water conservancy projects in multiple areas such as Puzhou, but opening canals requires a large amount of manpower, which is the foundation of agricultural production. In order to introduce a large amount of labor into the field of agricultural production, Emperor Wu of Zhou implemented measures to release slaves and miscellaneous households.
From 565 AD to 578 AD, five edicts were issued to release slaves. Hundreds of thousands of slaves and miscellaneous households were liberated, and slaves became free people. This increased the enthusiasm for labor production and increased social labor force. It can be said that it was a political and economic revolution. Emperor Wu of Northern Zhou took a series of measures against agriculture, gradually lifting the Guanzhong area out of poverty and making it a major granary of Northern Zhou. Compared to the water conservancy projects in the Kaiqu area of Northern Zhou, the scale of the construction of Buddha statues and temples in Northern Qi was even larger. The Giant Buddha of Mount Mengshan, formerly known as the West Mountain Giant Buddha of Jinyang, was located at the northern peak of Mount Mengshan in Taiyuan, Shanxi.
In 551 AD, it was built during the Gaoyang period of Emperor Wenxuan of Northern Qi and took 24 years to complete. According to the “Book of Northern Qi”, the Western Mountain of Jinyang was carved into a large Buddha statue, and thousands of pots of oil were used overnight to illuminate the palace. The so-called palace refers to the ancient Jinyang Palace. It is not difficult to imagine that the light emitted by the torches provided at that time to ensure nighttime construction could even illuminate the ancient city of Jinyang 20 miles away. The Buddhist statues during the Northern Qi period displayed a high level of artistic excellence. The Qingzhou Museum in Shandong Province houses a large number of Buddhist statues unearthed from Longxing Temple. Archaeologists have determined from the themes and carving techniques that the vast majority of these Buddha statues were completed during the Northern and Southern Dynasties period, with the most stone statues in the Northern Qi period. Compared with the statues from the previous Northern Wei period, the Northern Qi statues exhibit a completely different artistic aesthetic taste. All the costumes of the statues are light and slim, showcasing a healthy and beautiful figure. The art style introduced from India in the early days has once again become mainstream. The high level of art in these statues and the skillful craftsmanship of the craftsmen are breathtaking.
Qu Zhiren, Honorary Director of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in the United States: When the Northern Wei Dynasty was in Pingcheng, they received a large number of craftsmen from the Western Regions. Later, these craftsmen also moved their capital to Luoyang with Emperor Xiaowen, because they created many wonderful sculptures together with the best craftsmen from the Central Plains and the Western Regions. However, later on, this thing separated from the Northern Wei Dynasty, and the craftsmen also went to the Eastern Wei Dynasty, which later became the Northern Qi. Therefore, the craftsmanship of the Northern Qi could not be better.
The Buddha statues of Northern Qi left behind a large number of precious artistic treasures for future generations, but they were also constantly eroding the strong economic foundation of Northern Qi at that time. The Northern Qi regime generally worshipped Buddhism, and temples were everywhere. Temples were both religious venues and economic organizations, occupying a large amount of land and labor. They neither paid rent to the government nor bore the burden of national corv é e. This means that with a large population of monks and nuns, the financial income of the court became smaller. By the time of Northern Qi’s reign, there were more than 40000 Buddhist temples and over 4 million monks and nuns in the country, and the total population of Northern Qi was less than 20 million, equivalent to less than every five people. To raise a monk or nun, the burden on the people is even heavier.
In fact, not only Northern Qi, but also Buddhism flourished in Northern Zhou before the reign of Emperor Wu of Northern Zhou. However, it was obvious that Emperor Wu of Northern Zhou, who was eager to develop the economy, could not tolerate this situation to continue to spread. A large-scale anti Buddhist movement was about to unfold, and Emperor Wu of Northern Zhou’s anti Buddhist campaign was a sensitive and dangerous measure. Although Buddhism had already seriously affected the national economy at that time, the influence of Buddhist thought was far-reaching. The anti Buddhist movement would not only face heavy obstacles, but also easily lead to turmoil throughout the country.
Yungang Grottoes, Datong City, Shanxi Province
The lesson from the past is not far away. In 446 AD, Emperor Taiwu of Northern Wei, with the support of Han Chinese officials such as Cui Hao, carried out the extermination of Buddhism. Not only did he destroy all Buddhist temples, but he also killed many monks and nuns, causing turmoil in the country. Although Emperor Wu of Northern Zhou was determined to control Buddhism, he was not willing to repeat the mistakes of Emperor Taiwu of Northern Wei and took step-by-step measures to advance.
Researcher at the Institute of History, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences – Liu Chi: During the Northern Wei Dynasty, Emperor Taiwu mainly focused on political factors, while during the Northern Zhou Dynasty, Emperor Wu focused more on economic factors. Due to their different starting points, their measures and initial steps were also different. In the Northern Zhou Dynasty, it was very clear that there was a stage of debate, and it was indeed an opportunity for everyone to speak. I really think there is a big difference between the Northern Wei period and the Northern Zhou period.
In 567 AD, two national discussions were held under the personal arrangement of Emperor Wu of Northern Zhou. A Buddhist monk named Wei Yuansong, who returned to secular life, wrote two treatises on Buddhism and Taoism. In the aforementioned martial arts area, he advocated Taoism and requested the abolition of Buddhism. Buddhist monks wrote articles to counterattack the situation, but the situation became more and more serious. In response, Emperor Wu of Zhou did not make a hasty decision. Instead, he convened various civil and military officials, Taoists, and monks to debate with each other and see which one was better or worse. At the second discussion, as many as 2000 people attended, Emperor Wu of Zhou specially asked the famous Confucian scholar Shen Zhong to explain Buddhism and Taoism from a Confucian perspective, which was welcomed by the Confucian students. Since then, Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism have debated with each other, becoming a norm in the Northern Zhou Dynasty. In 574 AD, Emperor Wu of Northern Zhou once again held a grand discussion and ultimately determined the position of Confucianism as the first of the three religions. Taoism comes second, followed by Buddhism.
Buddhists were unwilling to be ranked last and fiercely criticized. Five months later, Emperor Wu of Zhou issued an edict to completely ban the spread of Buddhism and Taoism. However, unlike Emperor Taiwu of Northern Wei, this movement only forced the entire country’s monks and nuns to return to secular life, but did not kill them. In order to alleviate the conflict in prisons, Emperor Wu of Zhou ordered the establishment of a channel temple one month after issuing the decree to eradicate Buddhism, selecting the most famous 120 monks from Shamon as scholars to study how Buddhism and Taoism communicate. In this way, the anti Buddhist movement of Northern Zhou did not cause turmoil in the country. On the contrary, the country’s strength rapidly increased. At that time, the entire dynasty had a total of 3 million monks who returned to secular life, adding a large amount of labor and soldiers to the dynasty, abolishing 40000 temples, and returning a large amount of land to the hands of the country. Of course, this can greatly enhance the power of the country. The purpose of Emperor Wu of Northern Zhou’s extermination of Buddhism can be traced back to a detail in the “Guanghongming Collection”. In the first year of Jiande, Zhou conquered Qi and the Five Emperors went to Ye City, Calling monks from the Northern Qi Dynasty to restore the temple to the extreme, expressing the intention of abolishing the religion. At that time, monk Huiyuan strongly opposed it and threatened it with hell, saying that Your Majesty is now free with the power of the king, destroying the Three Treasures, which is evil to see people. The Abhidharma is not simple, noble, or despicable, and Your Majesty is not afraid. Emperor Wu of Zhou said that as long as the people are blessed, I am willing to endure the hardships of the earth prison.
The ancient Chinese chess game, although marked with the Chu River and Han Realm, and featuring generals and horses, has dissipated the killing spirit of the Chu Han War and has now become a popular entertainment activity for people of all ages. Its founder was Emperor Wu of Northern Zhou, Yu Wenyong. At that time, the chess game was a seven player game, closer to practical combat techniques.
Liang Mancang, a researcher at the Institute of History of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences: When inventing this kind of entertainment, it was meant to combine education with entertainment. What education is it about? Education teaches people that the world is not yet peaceful, and there is still war. Therefore, we must not forget war. This is an educational purpose. Furthermore, it reminds everyone that the world is not yet unified, just like the Seven Kingdoms. Qi, Chu, Yan, Han, Zhao, Wei, and Qin have not yet unified and are still divided. Therefore, we must eliminate them one by one, and then unify them.
After Yuwen Hu’s death, Emperor Wu of Northern Zhou was able to strengthen military construction. He often held various forms of military activities, sometimes gathering generals at all levels to hand over the methods of war, and sometimes personally leading the six armies to practice martial arts in the outskirts of the city.
Researcher at the Institute of History of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences – Lou Jin: During the reign of Emperor Wu of Zhou, the most prominent feature was the large-scale military training, followed by the control of military officers. He often approached all intermediate and above military officers and personally received them. For the third time, he referred to all soldiers in the imperial army as “guards”, which means that in name only our royal guards, security forces, and many other policies, such as preferential treatment and compensation for military personnel, were important measures for him to further control and strengthen the military. Of course, the one that can directly output combat effectiveness is the comprehensive cooperation of all these factors.
The sun rises in the west and the rain falls in the east, forming a sharp contrast to the Northern Zhou Dynasty. However, the Northern Qi Dynasty is declining day by day. When Emperor Wu of Northern Zhou ascended to the throne, Emperor Wu Cheng of Northern Qi, Gao Zhan, ascended to the throne. Gao Zhan ignored court politics, valued treacherous officials, indulged in alcohol all day long, and lived a promiscuous life. After his son, the Empress Dowager of Qi, ascended to the throne, becoming even more incompetent, renovating palaces and courtyards, and enslaving the people. The Northern Qi Dynasty has been implementing anti China policies, and by the time the Empress Dowager of Qi, a group of Han literati were executed, their families were exiled, their wives and daughters were sent as female slaves, and their.
Maid with braided hair and riding maid, Shanxi Museum
(Tour guide: Next, I will introduce a very important cultural relic to you. Let’s gather here. We can see that the second item from the right of the exhibition cabinet is a braided hair riding maid.)
The Bianfa Cavalry showcases the attire of the Xianbei people of Northern Qi. This attire, which was abolished by Emperor Xiaowen of Northern Wei, was popular in Northern Qi for a while. However, in contrast, it was the hatred of the Han people and the unprecedented intensity of ethnic conflicts. The once strong national strength of Northern Qi, under the erosion of various social problems, went to decline. In winter, the river froze again and a large number of soldiers continued to go ice chiseling. However, the ice chiselers had changed from Northern Zhou soldiers to Northern Qi soldiers, and the relationship between strength and weakness had changed. Northern Qi was forced to start using ice chiseling as a defense. However, when the balance of national strength reversed, the surging Yellow River water could not stop the pace of the Zhou army. In July 575 AD, Emperor Wu of Northern Zhou issued an edict to attack Qi, commanding a massive army of 170000 soldiers to point directly at Luoyang in Northern Qi. Before departure, Emperor Wu of Northern Zhou ordered to enter the Qi territory, prohibit the logging of trees, seedlings, and crops, and those who violated the law would engage in military activities.
Researcher at the Institute of History, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences – Liang Mancang: Why did he attack Qi? Did he destroy the Arctic? No, he wanted to include Northern Qi in his unified territory because its economy was very developed at that time. He didn’t want to destroy it, he wanted to unify the north by accepting Northern Qi, strengthen his country, and ultimately unify the whole country.
This campaign received a positive response from the soldiers of Northern Zhou, but the war against Qi still encountered setbacks. After several months of fierce fighting, Luoyang was not captured. At this critical moment, Emperor Wu of Northern Zhou fell ill again, and the army had to withdraw. Although the first campaign against Qi was not successful, Emperor Wu of Northern Zhou experienced military baptism for the first time in the war and won more respect from the soldiers. He loved his soldiers like a son, shared weal and woe with the generals, and led the way. Every time he went on a campaign, he always personally went to the battlefield, was decisive, and able to handle major events. All of these added points to the military for Emperor Wu of Northern Zhou. Through this military campaign, The action further clarified the reality of Northern Qi, which strengthened Emperor Wu of Zhou’s determination to annihilate Qi. In October 576 AD, Emperor Wu of Zhou issued a second imperial edict to punish Qi. However, this time, the generals were unwilling to carry out the expedition. After all, last year, many soldiers returned without success, and they believed that this military expedition was likely an impulsive act of the emperor. However, the foresight of politicians is not something that ordinary people can easily speculate on.
Researcher at the Institute of History of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences – Liang Mancang: Northern Qi was not well managed and its military strength was scattered. He had already noticed this from the first launch. During the second expedition against Northern Qi, Emperor Wu of Northern Zhou intended to attack Pingyang, but this was a very dangerous move. Why? When you hit in the middle, both sides will come over, and at the same time, the pincer attack makes it impossible for you to focus on each other, so many people think that this strategy is not feasible. This difference may seem military on the surface, but in reality, besides the military level, there is also a layer of sharp vision from politicians.
In February 577 AD, the ruler of Northern Qi was finally captured while fleeing, and Northern Qi was destroyed. This was another unification of northern China after 43 years of Northern Wei’s division. When the army of Northern Zhou invaded the capital city of Northern Qi, Ye City, all officials of Northern Qi were anxious about their political future. Only one person remained calm. He was Xiong Ansheng, a famous Confucian scholar of Northern Qi. He instructed his family to clean up the courtyard and prepare to welcome the distinguished guests. The family felt very strange that no distinguished guests would come to visit during the downfall of the country. Xiong Ansheng smiled and said, Emperor Zhou valued Confucianism and would definitely come to see me. Before he could finish speaking, Emperor Wu of Zhou had already entered Xiong Ansheng’s gate. Xiong Ansheng received the most favorable treatment from Emperor Wu, and was given 300 pieces of silk, 300 stones of rice, and a residence. Moreover, Emperor Wu ordered Xiong Ansheng to be given a carriage of four horses to accompany him into the court, Participate in cultural construction.
Researcher at the Institute of History, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences – Liu Chi: After occupying an enemy country, winning the hearts of its people is a big problem that any ruler faces. The rule of Confucianism in China has always been based on a ruling ideology since the so-called monopoly on Confucianism, and this even applies to ethnic minorities. As a representative of Confucianism, Xiong Ansheng received high treatment, which means that Emperor Wu gave intellectuals a peace of mind pill. I want to use yours, and it is beneficial for you to follow me.
After unifying the north, Emperor Wu of Northern Zhou increased his efforts to promote Confucianism, control Buddhism, release productive forces, improve people’s livelihoods, and resolve ethnic conflicts. The division between the Hu and Han dynasties under the Northern Qi regime was completely changed, especially the oppressed Han people who were full of gratitude and support for the Northern Zhou regime. Under Emperor Wu’s orders, millions of monks and nuns returned to secular life, countless private slaves and servants, and miscellaneous households became normal people, entering a new life. They were grateful for the new policy, becoming the new productive forces of the country, increasing national income, and enhancing the strength of the army. More people were united, and the entire dynasty was unprecedentedly united, with an unprecedented increase in national strength. It was not until this time that Emperor Wu of Zhou began to realize his greatest potential. His dream is to surpass his father’s dream, not only to unify the north, but also to be pacified by the Turks and pacified by the Jiangnan region, Establish a strong China that unifies the north and south.
If we calculate from the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty, China has been divided for 361 years and the long night is long, and the world can never see the dawn of light. Now, this historical responsibility obviously falls on Emperor Wu of Northern Zhou. Emperor Wu of Northern Zhou only needs to complete the last step, and his achievements in history will be on par with Qin and Han. However, there are always too many regrets in the world. In 578 AD, Emperor Wu of Northern Zhou led his army to launch a northern expedition against the Turks. Unexpectedly, halfway through, his body suddenly felt unwell, and he was forced to return to the capital. However, this has become the end of his political career. That year, Emperor Wu of Northern Zhou was only 36 years old. At this moment, this ambitious young emperor could only silently wait for the arrival of death. Emperor Wu of Northern Zhou had already gained the strength to unify the world, but the heavens did not give him enough time. Even on his deathbed, Emperor Wu of Northern Zhou was still staring at a military map that covered the entire China.
On this land, the later Emperor Wen of Sui, Yang Jian, followed the strategic policy of Northern Zhou Wu Di’s Northern Pacification of the Turks and his sword pointing towards the Jiangnan region. Ten years after the death of Emperor Wu of Northern Zhou, he completed the great cause of unification. Similarly, on this land, no one has known where Emperor Wu of Northern Zhou was buried for thousands of years. According to the Book of Zhou, Yu Wenyong’s posthumous edict stated that for funeral expenses, frugality and propriety must be used, and the tomb should not be buried. Since ancient times, the tomb of Emperor Wu is called Xiaoling. Due to the long interval and the lack of any markings on the ground, the specific location of the tomb has been a mystery for eternity, until… It was only discovered by chance in 1993 that Yu Wenyong’s life was dedicated to politics, making him one of the few politicians in history. His life was also dedicated to the unification of China as a whole. Only when the north and south are unified can his ideals be realized and his political mission be considered complete, Emperor Wu of Northern Zhou left this great mission and glory to later generations, while leaving deep regrets for himself. His life was full of wisdom, courage, and sorrow.
90 seconds in history: Yanzhi Well
Chasing after the beloved concubine who is beautiful and beautiful, singing palace style poems with white skin like snow. Chen Shubao, the monarch of the Chen Dynasty, had long forgotten about being surrounded by the lingering smoke of gunpowder, the figures of his ancestors, the beautiful women on the side, and the gradually refined and mature Jiangnan culture. Chen Houzhu, along with his beloved concubine and a group of literati, played with the wind and moon all day long, playing in the palace. The southeast was charming, and the natural landscape became a humanistic landscape, adding a touch of gentleness and charm to the long river trench. The Xuanwu Lake, which used to train sailors, has long lost its strength and bravery. However, wherever the tiger crouched on the dragon’s plate, the rolling Yangtze River could not stop the iron hooves of the Sui army. When the Sui army rushed into the palace gate, Chen Shubao did not have a formal attire to guard the main hall. Instead, he hastily hid in a rouge well with his beloved concubine, leaving behind an everlasting laughing stock. A rouge well eventually submerged all the rise and fall of a dynasty.
