Three Kingdoms and Six Dynasties · Ruler

Emperor Wen of Sui 隋文帝

Sui Wendi

Attested AD 580 - AD 604

Passages: 63
Chapters: 8
Histories: 4

Overview

The translated histories identify Emperor Wen of Sui as an aristocrat, official, ruler, and statesman. This record brings together 63 passages from 8 chapters across 4 histories, with names, dates, relationships, offices, and events preserved as source-backed claims.

Names

Type	English	Chinese	Pinyin
Personal	Emperor Wen of Sui	隋文帝	Sui Wendi
Title	Duke of Sui	隨國公
Title	Emperor Wen	文帝	Wéndì
Title	Emperor Wen
Title	Emperor Wen	文皇
Regnal	Emperor Wen	文帝
Temple name	Emperor Wen of Sui	隋文帝	Suí Wéndì
Title	Emperor Wen of Sui	隋文帝
Posthumous name	Emperor Wen of Sui	隋文帝	Sui Wendi
Regnal	Emperor Wen of Sui	隋文帝
Title	Founding Emperor	高祖
Temple	Gaozu	高祖	Gaozu
Temple name	Gaozu	高祖
Title	Prince of Sui	隨王
Surname	Yang	楊
Personal	Yang Jian	楊堅	Yang Jian
Personal name	Yang Jian	楊堅
Personal name	Yang Jian	楊堅	Yang Jian
Personal	Yang Jian	楊堅

Identity

Historicity: Historical
Identification: Named
Sex: Male

Sex: male
Explicit · beishi:088:s0241, suishu:043:s0004, suishu:052:s0013, zhoushu:021:s0001
Sex: male
Strongly inferred · chenshu:029:s0183, suishu:079:s0007, zhoushu:008:s0007, zhoushu:009:s0001

Roles

Aristocrat
Official
Ruler
Statesman

Life and dates

Attested activity

Source Date: Text: 二年九月 · Western Year: AD 580
Explicit · zhoushu:009:s0217
Source Date: Text: 受禪 · Western Year: AD 581
Explicit · suishu:052:s0099, suishu:052:s0140
Source Date: Text: 大定元年二月 · Western Year: AD 581
Explicit event contextual date · zhoushu:008:s0131, zhoushu:008:s0134
Source Date: Text: 大象二年七月丁未 · Western Year: AD 580
Explicit event contextual date · zhoushu:008:s0034
Source Date: Text: 大象二年九月壬子 · Western Year: AD 580
Explicit event contextual date · zhoushu:008:s0079
Source Date: Text: 大象二年五月 · Western Year: AD 580
Explicit event contextual date · zhoushu:008:s0007
Source Date: Text: 大象二年十二月甲子 · Western Year: AD 580
Explicit event contextual date · zhoushu:008:s0112
Source Date: Text: 宣帝崩 · Western Year: AD 580
Explicit event contextual date · zhoushu:021:s0058
Source Date: Text: 文皇潛躍之際 / 高祖受禪 · Western Year: AD 581
Explicit event contextual date · suishu:079:s0007, suishu:079:s0047, suishu:079:s0070
Source Date: Text: 為丞相 · Western Year: AD 580
Explicit · suishu:052:s0013
Source Date: Text: 開皇九年 · Western Year: AD 589
Explicit event contextual date · suishu:052:s0147
Source Date: Text: 開皇九年八月朔壬戌 · Western Year: AD 589
Explicit · suishu:043:s0141
Source Date: Text: 開皇十九年 · Western Year: AD 599
Explicit · suishu:052:s0187
Source Date: Text: 隋文帝方引天下名儒碩學之士 · Western Interval: Start: AD 581 · End: AD 604
Explicit · beishi:088:s0241
Source Date: Text: 隋文帝朝 · Western Interval: Start: AD 581 · End: AD 604
Explicit · chenshu:029:s0183
Source Date: Text: 隋開皇二年 · Western Year: AD 582
Explicit · zhoushu:009:s0072
Source Date: Text: 高祖受禪 · Western Year: AD 581
Explicit · suishu:043:s0015

Family

Immediate source-linked family. Drag to pan, scroll or pinch to zoom, and select a person to open their record.

Parent of Yang Lihua (楊麗華)
Kinship Term: eldest daughter / 長女 · Parentage: biological · Subject Birth Order: 1 · Subject Role: daughter · Object Role: father
Spouse of Lady Dugu (獨孤氏)
Kinship Term: empress's mother Lady Dugu / 后母獨孤氏 · Union Category: marriage
Spouse of Empress Wenxian (文獻皇后)
Kinship Term: empress / 后 · Union Category: primary-marriage · Subject Role: husband · Object Role: wife · Relationship State: active
Kinship Term: empress / 皇后 · Union Category: primary-marriage · Subject Role: wife · Object Role: husband
Parent of Yang Guang (楊廣)
Kinship Term: father / 父 · Parentage: biological · Subject Role: father · Object Role: son
Kinship Term: son / 子 · Parentage: biological · Subject Role: son · Object Role: father
Parent of Sui Yangdi (隋煬帝)
Kinship Term: father / 父 · Parentage: biological · Subject Role: father · Object Role: son
Child of Yang Zhong (楊忠)
Kinship Term: uncle relation via sworn brotherhood context / 叔 · Parentage: biological
Kinship Term: son / 子 · Parentage: biological · Subject Role: son · Object Role: father
Child of Lü Kutao (苦桃)
Kinship Term: son / 子 · Parentage: biological · Subject Role: son · Object Role: mother

Career and standing

Label: chancellor of state / 相國 · Action: appointed · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 大定元年二月庚申 · Western Year: AD 581
Explicit · zhoushu:008:s0131
Label: commander-in-chief of all military affairs at home and abroad / 都督內外諸軍事 · Action: appointed · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 大象二年七月丁未 · Western Year: AD 580
Explicit · zhoushu:008:s0034
Label: grand chancellor / 大丞相 · Action: appointed · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 大象二年九月壬子 · Western Year: AD 580
Explicit · zhoushu:008:s0079
Label: left grand chancellor / 左大丞相 · Action: appointed · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 大象二年五月 · Western Year: AD 580
Explicit · zhoushu:008:s0007
Label: grand counsellor / 大冢宰 · Action: appointed · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 大象二年十月 · Western Year: AD 580
Explicit · zhoushu:008:s0083
Label: inspector-general of Yang Province / 揚州總管 · Action: held · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 大象二年五月 · Western Year: AD 580
Explicit · zhoushu:008:s0007
Label: Chancellor / 丞相 · Action: held
Explicit · suishu:043:s0012
Title: Prince of Sui / 隨王 · Action: enfeoffed · Fief: twenty commanderies total / 二十郡 · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 大定元年二月庚申 · Western Year: AD 581
Explicit · zhoushu:008:s0131
Title: Prince of Sui / 隨王 · Action: enfeoffed · Fief: ten commanderies / 十郡 · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 大象二年十二月甲子 · Western Year: AD 580
Explicit · zhoushu:008:s0112
Label: nine bestowments / 九錫之禮 · Action: received · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 大定元年二月庚申 · Western Year: AD 581
Explicit · zhoushu:008:s0131
Label: acting yellow battle-axe / 假黃鉞 · Action: received · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 大象二年五月 · Western Year: AD 580
Explicit · zhoushu:008:s0007
Title: Prince of Sui / 隨王 · Action: advanced · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 大象二年十二月甲子 · Western Year: AD 580
Explicit · zhoushu:008:s0112
Date Context: Source Date: Text: 受禪 · Western Year: AD 581
Explicit · suishu:052:s0099, suishu:052:s0140
Date Context: Source Date: Text: 大定元年二月甲子 · Western Year: AD 581
Explicit · zhoushu:008:s0134

Places and affiliations

Label: Sui / 隋 · Relation: served
Strongly inferred · suishu:079:s0007, suishu:079:s0047
Polity: Northern Zhou · Relation: served
Explicit · zhoushu:008:s0007
Polity: Sui · Relation: founded
Explicit · zhoushu:008:s0134, zhoushu:008:s0135
Polity: Sui / 隋 · Relation: ruled
Explicit · beishi:088:s0241
Polity Name: Sui / 隋 · Relation: ruled
Explicit · suishu:043:s0015

Works and attributed material

Kind: edict · Role: author · About: posthumous honors for Dugu Xin
Explicit · suishu:079:s0047, suishu:079:s0048, suishu:079:s0049, suishu:079:s0050, suishu:079:s0051, suishu:079:s0052
Kind: sealed-letter · Role: author · Addressee Person Id: Xiao Cong (蕭琮)
Explicit · suishu:079:s0145, suishu:079:s0146, suishu:079:s0147, suishu:079:s0148, suishu:079:s0149, suishu:079:s0150
Kind: edict · Role: author · Other Person Id: Yang Guang (楊廣)
Explicit · suishu:052:s0030, suishu:052:s0031, suishu:052:s0032, suishu:052:s0033
Kind: edict · Role: author · Other Person Id: Han Qihu (韓擒虎)
Explicit · suishu:052:s0035, suishu:052:s0036, suishu:052:s0037
Kind: edict · Role: author · Other Person Id: Yang Xiong (楊雄)
Explicit · suishu:043:s0141, suishu:043:s0142, suishu:043:s0143, suishu:043:s0144, suishu:043:s0145, suishu:043:s0146, suishu:043:s0147

Events and relationships

Kind: political · Role: patron · Action: gathered-renowned-scholars
Explicit · beishi:088:s0241
Kind: political · Role: actor · Action: proclaimed-exalted-title · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 大定元年二月甲子 · Western Year: AD 581
Explicit · zhoushu:008:s0134
Relation: treated-as-nephew-to · Person Id: Sima Xiaonan (司馬消難)
Explicit · zhoushu:021:s0181

References in the histories

Open any source group to read the Chinese and English passage in context.

History of the Northern Dynasties, Chapter 88Volume 88 Biographies 76: Recluses · 1 passage

隋文帝方引天下名儒碩學之士，文詡時游太學，博士房暉遠等莫不推伏之。 Emperor Wen of Sui was then gathering renowned Confucian scholars and eminent learned men from throughout the realm; Wenxu was studying at the Imperial Academy, and Erudites such as Fang Huiyuan all deferred to him.

Book of Chen, Chapter 29Volume 29: Zong Yuanrao; Sima Shen; Mao Xi; Cai Zheng · 1 passage

隋文帝聞其敏贍，召見顧問，言輒會旨，然累年不調，久之，除太常丞。 Emperor Wen of Sui heard of his quick mind, summoned him for consultation, and his words always hit the mark—yet for years he received no post; after long delay he was made aide in the directorate of ceremonial affairs.

Book of Sui, Chapter 43Volume 43 Biographies 8: He Jian Wanghong, Yang Chugang, Yang Zichong, Guang De, Wang Xiong · 18 passages

河間王弘，字辟惡，高祖從祖弟也。 Yang Hong, Prince of Hejian, courtesy name Bie'e, was a cousin of Emperor Wen on the paternal line.

元孫死，齊為周所並，弘始入關，與高祖相得。 After Yuansun died and Qi was overrun by Zhou, Hong finally entered Guanzhong, where he and the future Emperor Wen became close.

高祖哀之，為買田宅。 Moved by his plight, Emperor Wen bought him land and a house.

高祖為丞相，常置左右，委以心腹。 While still serving as chancellor, Yang Jian kept Hong close at hand and treated him as one of his most trusted inner circle.

高祖詣周趙王宅，將及於難，弘時立於戶外，以衛高祖。 On the occasion when Yang Jian visited the residence of Zhao, Prince of Zhou, and nearly came to harm, Hong stood guard outside the door to protect him.

及上受禪，拜大將軍，進爵郡公。 When Yang Jian ascended the throne, Hong was made Grand General and promoted to Duke of a Commandery.

楊處綱，高祖族父也。 Yang Chugang was an elder kinsman of Emperor Wen on the Yang clan side.

高祖受禪，贈其父鐘葵為柱國、尚書令、義城縣公，以處綱襲焉。 When Yang Jian took the throne, he posthumously honored Chugang's father Zhongkui as Pillar of State, Director of the Department of State Affairs, and Duke of Yicheng County, and Chugang inherited the title.

楊子崇，高祖族弟也。 Yang Zichong was a younger clansman-cousin of Emperor Wen.

觀德王雄，初名惠，高祖族子也。 Guande Prince Xiong, originally named Hui, was a clansman-son of Emperor Wen.

高祖為丞相，雍州牧畢王賢謀作難，雄時為別駕，知其謀，以告高祖。 While Yang Jian served as chancellor, Bi Wang Xian, Governor of Yong Province, plotted rebellion. Xiong, then serving as assistant administrator, discovered the plot and reported it to Yang Jian.

高祖受禪，除左衛將軍，兼宗正卿。 When Yang Jian took the throne, Xiong was appointed Left Guard General and concurrently Director of the Imperial Clan Court.

高祖深然其言。 Emperor Wen found his answer entirely convincing.

高祖惡其得眾，陰忌之，不欲其典兵馬。 Emperor Wen resented his popularity and secretly distrusted him; he did not want Xiong in command of military forces.

仁壽初，高祖曰：「清漳之名，未允聲望。」 Early in the Renshou era Emperor Wen said, "The title Prince of Qingzhang does not match his standing."

高祖受禪，拜給事黃門侍郎，進爵為子。 When Yang Jian took the throne, Da was made Attendant Gentleman of the Yellow Gate and promoted to viscount.

獻皇后及高祖山陵制度，達並參豫焉。 Da played a part in planning the tomb arrangements for Empress Xian and Emperor Wen alike.

史臣曰：高祖始遷周鼎，眾心未附，利建同姓，維城宗社，是以河間、觀德，咸啟山河。 The historiographer writes: When Emperor Wen first seized the Mandate, loyalties were still unsettled. He enfeoffed men of the Yang clan to buttress the throne—thus the princes of Hejian and Guande were both granted domains spanning mountains and rivers.

Book of Sui, Chapter 52Volume 52 Biographies 17: Han Qinhu, He Ruobi · 10 passages

高祖作相，遷和州刺史。 When Yang Jian held the post of Chancellor, Qinhu was transferred to Inspector of Hezhou.

開皇初，高祖潛有吞併江南之志，以擒虎有文武才用，夙著聲名，於是拜為廬州總管，委以平陳之任，甚為敵人所憚。 Early in the Kaihuang reign the emperor quietly set his sights on bringing the south under control. Qinhu was already famed for combining literary and military gifts, so he was made Area Commander of Luzhou and charged with conquering Chen—a commission that struck deep fear into the enemy.

晉王廣上狀，高祖聞而大悅，宴賜群臣。 Prince Jin Guang reported the news upstream. The emperor was delighted and held a feast to reward his ministers.

高祖得政，從韋孝寬平尉迥，每戰有功，授大將軍，封昌樂公，邑千戶。 When Yang Jian took control of the government, Sengshou followed Wei Xiaokuan against Yu Chi and distinguished himself in every engagement. He was made Grand General and enfeoffed as Duke of Changle with a fief of one thousand households.

高祖為丞相，從韋孝寬破尉迥於相州，加上開府，甘棠縣侯，邑八百戶。 While Yang Jian was still Chancellor, Hong followed Wei Xiaokuan in the defeat of Yu Chi at Xiangzhou, was granted the additional title of Opening the Mansion, and was enfeoffed as Marquis of Gantang county with eight hundred households.

高祖受禪，進爵為公。 When Yang Jian took the throne, Hong was promoted to duke.

高祖為丞相，尉迥作亂鄴城，恐弼為變，遣長孫平馳驛代之。 While Yang Jian was still Chancellor, Yu Chi rebelled at Yecheng. Fearing Bi might turn traitor, he sent Changsun Ping by fast relay to relieve him of command.

高祖受禪，陰有並江南之志，訪可任者。 After Yang Jian took the throne he quietly set his mind on unifying the south and asked whom he could trust with the task.

高祖曰：「公得之矣。」 The emperor said, "You have named the right man."

高祖爰應千齡，將一函夏。 The Founding Emperor answered the summons of the age and set out to reunite the realm.

Book of Sui, Chapter 79Volume 79 Biographies 44: Imperial Affines · 9 passages

昔文皇潛躍之際，獻後便相推轂，煬帝大橫方兆，蕭妃密勿經綸，是以恩禮綢繆，始終不易。 When Emperor Wen was still struggling toward power, Empress Xian already shared in steering the realm; when Emperor Yang's reign was taking shape, Lady Xiao joined him in the closest counsel. Favor and ceremony therefore ran deep and held steady to the end.

○高祖外家呂氏 ○ The Lü Clan, Maternal Kin of Gaozu

高祖外家呂氏，其族蓋微，平齊之後，求訪不知所在。 Gaozu's mother's people, the Lü, were of humble origin; after the conquest of Qi, officials searched for them but could not find where they were.

道貴略無戚容，但連呼高祖名，雲：「種末定不可偷，大似苦桃姊。」 Daogui showed no sign of family feeling at all. He only kept shouting Gaozu's personal name, saying, "The seed isn't set yet—you can't steal it. You're just like Big Sister Kutao."

及齊亡，高祖為定州總管，獻皇后遣人尋羅，得之，相見悲不自勝，侍御者皆泣。 When Qi fell, Gaozu was governor-general of Dingzhou and Empress Xian sent men to find Luo. When they met, grief overwhelmed them and everyone present wept.

及高祖為丞相，拜儀同，常置左右。 When Gaozu became chancellor, Luo was made Master of Uniformity and kept constantly at his side.

既受禪，下詔追贈羅父信官爵曰：「褒德累行，往代通規，追遠慎終，前王盛典。 After Gaozu took the throne, he issued an edict posthumously honoring Luo's father Xin: "To reward accumulated virtue is the constant practice of antiquity; to honor the dead and finish well is the great rite of the ancient kings.

高祖受禪，拜上開府、右領左右將軍。 When Gaozu took the throne, Tuo was made Senior Opener of the Mansion and general of the Right Retinue.

高祖受禪，恩禮彌厚，遣使賜金五百兩，銀千兩，布帛萬匹，馬五百匹。 When Gaozu took the throne, favor and ceremony grew still richer. Envoys were sent with five hundred taels of gold, a thousand taels of silver, ten thousand bolts of cloth and silk, and five hundred horses.

Book of Zhou, Chapter 8Volume 8 Annals 8: Emperor Jing · 7 passages

柱國、漢王贊為上柱國、右大丞相，上柱國、揚州總管、隨國公楊堅為假黃鉞、左大丞相，柱國、秦王贄為上柱國。 Pillar-of-State Yuwen Zan, Prince of Han, was made superior pillar-of-state and right grand chancellor; Superior Pillar-of-State Yang Jian, Duke of Sui and inspector-general of Yang Province, received acting yellow battle-axe and was made left grand chancellor; and Pillar-of-State Yuwen Bi, Prince of Qin, was made superior pillar-of-state.

丁未，隨公楊堅為都督內外諸軍事。 On dingwei day Yang Jian, Duke of Sui, was made commander-in-chief of all military affairs at home and abroad.

壬子，丞相去左右之號，隨公楊堅為大丞相。 On renzi day the titles of left and right were removed from grand chancellor; Yang Jian, Duke of Sui, was made grand chancellor.

大丞相、隨國公楊堅加大冢宰，五府總於天官。 Grand Chancellor Yang Jian, Duke of Sui, was additionally made grand counsellor; the five offices were all placed under the Celestial Office.

甲子，大丞相、隨國公楊堅進爵為王，以十郡為國。 On jiazi day Grand Chancellor Yang Jian, Duke of Sui, was advanced in rank to prince, with ten commanderies as his state.

二月庚申，大丞相、隨王楊堅為相國，總百揆，更封十郡，通前二十郡，劍履上殿，入朝不趨，贊拜不名，備九錫之禮，加璽、鉞、遠遊冠，相國印綠綟綬，位在諸王上。 Second month, on gengshen day, Grand Chancellor Yang Jian, Prince of Sui, was made chancellor of state and directed all affairs; ten more commanderies were enfeoffed, twenty in all together with the former; he was granted entry to the hall with sword and shoes, no need to hasten when entering court, no naming when assisting at obeisance, and the full rites of the nine bestowments; he received the seal, battle-axe, and cap of distant travel; the chancellor's seal with green-black sash; and his rank was placed above all princes.

甲子，隨王楊堅稱尊號，帝遜于別宮。 On jiazi day Yang Jian, Prince of Sui, proclaimed his exalted title; Emperor Jing abdicated to a separate palace.

Book of Zhou, Chapter 9Volume 9 Biographies 1: Empresses · 4 passages

隋文帝詔有司備禮册，祔葬於孝陵。 Sui Emperor Wen Yang Jian ordered the officials to prepare rites of investiture and had her buried at Xiaoling.

宣帝楊皇后名麗華，隋文帝長女。 Empress Yang, consort of Emperor Xuan Yuwen Yun, named Lihua, was the eldest daughter of Sui Emperor Wen Yang Jian.

隋文帝旣不能譴責，內甚愧之。 Sui Emperor Wen Yang Jian could not bring himself to reprimand her; inwardly he felt deeply ashamed toward her.

二年九月，隋文帝以后父擁眾奔陳，廢后為庶人。 Ninth month of the second year, because the empress's father rallied troops and fled to Chen, Sui Emperor Wen Yang Jian deposed the empress to commoner status.

Book of Zhou, Chapter 21Volume 21 Biographies 13: Wei Chijiong; Wang Qian; Sima Xiaonan · 13 passages

宣帝崩，隋文帝輔政，以迥望位夙重，懼為異圖，乃令迥子魏安公惇齎詔書以會葬徵迥。 After Emperor Xuan's death Yang Jian, later Emperor Wen of Sui, took power as regent; fearing that Yuchi Jiong, long eminent in rank and reputation, might plot against him, he sent Jiong's son Dun, Duke of Wei'an, with an edict summoning Jiong to the capital for the funeral.

迥以隋文帝當權，將圖篡奪，遂謀舉兵，留惇而不受代。 Seeing that Yang Jian held power and meant to seize the throne, Yuchi Jiong plotted rebellion, kept Dun with him, and refused to yield his post.

隋文帝又使候正破六汗裒詣迥喻旨，密與總管府長史晉昶等書，令為之備。 Yang Jian also sent Houzheng Poliuhan Pu to explain the court's wishes to Yuchi Jiong, and secretly wrote to chief administrator Jin Chang and others at the governor-general's office telling them to stand ready.

乃集文武士庶，登城北樓而令之曰：「楊堅以凡庸之才，藉後父之勢，挾幼主而令天下，威福自己，賞罰無章，不臣之跡，暴於行路。 He then gathered officials and commoners on the north city tower and declared: "Yang Jian is a man of ordinary gifts who rides the empress's father's power, controls the boy emperor, and rules as he pleases—reward and punishment are lawless, and his treason is plain for all on the road to see.

隋文帝於是徵兵討迥，即以韋孝寬為元帥。 Yang Jian then raised armies against Yuchi Jiong and made Wei Xiaokuan supreme commander.

隋文帝又遣高熲馳驛督戰。 Yang Jian also sent Gao Jiong by relay horse to take command of the fighting.

時隋文帝秉政，謙令司錄賀若昂奉表詣闕。 At that time, with Yang Jian directing the government, Qian ordered chief clerk He Ruo'ang to present a memorial at court.

隋文即以睿為行軍元帥，便發利、鳳、文、秦、成諸州兵討之。 Yang Jian immediately made Liang Rui campaign commander-in-chief and dispatched troops from Li, Feng, Wen, Qin, Cheng, and other provinces against him.

惎、虔以成都降，隋文以其首謀，斬之。 Ji and Qian surrendered Chengdu; Yang Jian, judging them the chief plotters, had them beheaded.

隋文帝輔政，消難旣聞蜀公迥不受代，遂欲與迥合勢，亦舉兵應之。 When Yang Jian directed the government, Xiaonan, hearing that Duke of Shu Jiong refused to be replaced, intended to join forces with him and also raised troops in response.

隋文帝命襄州總管王誼為元帥，發荊襄兵以討之。 Yang Jian ordered Wang Yi, inspector-general of Xiang, as commander-in-chief and dispatched Jing-Xiang troops to suppress him.

隋文每以叔禮事之。 Yang Jian always treated him with the courtesy due an uncle.

高言於隋文曰：「滎陽公性多變詐，今以新寵自隨，必不顧妻子，願防慮之。」 Lady Gao said to Yang Jian: "The Duke of Xingyang is changeable and deceitful; now that new favorites accompany him, he will surely abandon wife and children—I beg you to guard against this."