Emperor Yang of Sui China

Emperor Yang of Sui China (560-618), or Yang-ti was the son and heir of Emperor Wen of Sui, and then the second emperor of China's Sui Dynasty.

Related Topics:
560 - 618 - Emperor Wen of Sui - Sui Dynasty

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Yang-ti, ruling from 604 to 617, committed to several large projects during his rule, most notably the completion of the Grand Canal. He also caused the reconstruction of the Great Wall, a project which took the lives of nearly six million workers. These expeditures, along with a series of disastrous campaigns against Korea, left the empire bankrupt and the people in revolt. An uprising forced Yang-ti to flee to South China, where he was eventually assassinated.

Related Topics:
604 - 617 - Grand Canal - Great Wall - Disastrous campaigns - Korea - South China - Assassin

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Yang-ti committed almost eight million people to constructing roads, palaces, the Grand Canal, the Great Wall and ships. The re-designing of Luoyang alone consumed a quarter of that amount, and the building of the Grand Canal took up 2 million men.

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Equally manpower-consuming were the 3 expeditions against Korea, each one using about a million men. Due to tactical errors, though, the huge army was unable to conquer Korea. A million people died in the 3 campaigns.

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Even with many books describing his achievements, Yang-ti is still considered a tyrant in China, and the reason for the Sui Dynasty's relatively short rule.

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Legend claims Yang send a series of messengers to Hua Mulan with the message to come to him as his concubine. She refused and committed suicide, afterwards. The Emperor then held a funeral with honors for her.

Related Topics:
Hua Mulan - Concubine - Suicide - Funeral

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