Introduction
The Sui Dynasty (581-618 AD) was shortlived, but its accomplishments
were many. Yang Jian, the Chinese-Tuoba general who established the dynasty,
was given the title Wendi, the 'Cultivated Emperor'. He began administrative
reform, modeling much of it on the earlier Han institutions; the civil
service was strengtherned at the expense of aristocratic privilege; and
land reform was undertaken. All of this, along with revisions of the law
code, was to serve as the basis for the institutions of the Tang Dynasty
that followed fast on the heels of the Sui's colapse.
The Sui went into rapid decline under the rule of Wendi's son, Yangdi.
His massive public works in restoring strategically important sections
of the great Wall and establishing the Grand Canal (which did much to
achieve the economic cohesion of China) were clearly aimed at strengthening
the empire. However, a prolonged and costly campaign against a kingdom
in Southern Manchuria and Northern Korea ended in defeat and this put
an enormous burden on the national coffers and fanned the flames of revolt.
The Sui Dynasty fell in 617 to domestic rebels led by Li Yuan.