Northern Qi Dynasty

Countryname

ThenationaltitleofNorthernQiwasoriginally"Qi",whichoriginatedfromGaoYang'stitlename.TheNorthernQibuiltbyGaoYangoriginallybelongedtotheQiland.AfterWeiwasproclaimedtheemperor,heused"Qi"asthenameofthecountry.AndbecausetheNorthernQiDynastyislocatedinthenorth,ithasthesamenameas"SouthernQi"todistinguishitfrom"SouthernQi",soitiscalled"NorthernQi".GaoYangestablishedtheNorthernQiDynastyin550,whichis48yearslaterthantheSouthernQiDynastyfrom479to502,soitiscalledHouqi.BecausethesurnameoftheNorthernQiimperialfamilyishigh,itiscalledGaoQiinordertodistinguishXiaoQi.

History

Gao'sreigningintheWeiDynasty

GaoHuanwasapowerministerintheEasternWeiDynastyduringtheSouthernandNorthernDynastiesandtheactualfounderoftheNorthernQiDynasty.HeplayedadecisiveroleintheestablishmentoftheEasternWeiDynasty..GaoHuanisadeepmanandrichinstrategy.Makegooduseofpeople.Strictlygoverningthearmy,Shilewasputtodeath.AfterdestroyingtheErzhufamilywhocontrolledWeizheng,hesupportedEmperorXiaowuoftheNorthernWeiDynasty,butEmperorXiaowuwasunwillingtodoso.HewantedtorelyonYuwentaiintheLonggangtoeliminateGaoHuan.Theplanfailed.InthethirdyearofYongxi(534)FleetoChang'an.GaoHuanestablishedXiaojingEmperorYuanshaninLuoyangandmovedhiscapitaltoYecheng,whichwasfortheEasternWeiDynasty.Inthefollowingyear,YuwentaikilledEmperorXiaowuandLiwenEmperorYuanbaotorchwasfortheWesternWeiDynasty.TheemperorsofEasternandWesternWeiwereactuallypuppetsmanipulatedbyGaoHuanandYuWentairespectively.

GaoChengistheeldestsonofGaoHuan.AfterGaoHuancapturedYechengin531,heestablishedhimastheeldestson.AfterGaochengarrivedinYecheng,EmperorXiaojingappointedhimasShangShulingandleader,andthegovernorofGyeonggi.PeopleareshockedbyGaoCheng'sdecisiveness.IntheYechengDynasty,theprestigeofSunTengandotherswasdefeated,andtheofficialdomwasimproved.

GaoHuanpassedaway.GaoChengwasappointedbyEmperorXiaojingYuanShanjianasanenvoy,theprimeministertosupervisethemilitaryaffairsofChinaandforeigncountries,recordShangshu,Daxingtai,andinheritthethroneofhisfatherBohai.GaoChengreturnedtoYechengtoquellthe"rebellion"ofYuanShanjianandtheLoyalists,andYuanShanjianwasplacedunderhousearrest.

GaoChengneverpaidattentiontoEmperorXiaojing.InstructedCuiJishutomonitorWeiDi’severymoveandreporttohimatanytime.InApriloftheSeventhYearofWudingintheEasternWeiDynasty(549years),GaoChengreceivedaspecialgift,namedQiWang,Xiangguo,andpaidhomagetotheTempleofUnknownSwordsman.InAugust549,GaoChengonceagaincametoYecheng,invitinghisbuddiestoplottousurpthethrone.Onthe8thdayofAugust,GaoChengandhisconfidantdiscussedthematterofreceivingZensecretly.Inordertopreventtheleakageofsecrets,mostoftheguardsweresentout.HischefLanJingseizedthisopportunityandwaitedfortheopportunitytohackGaoChengtodeath.

EstablishingtheNorthernQiDynasty

GaoYangisthesecondsonofGaoHuanandthesamemotherandbrotherofGaoCheng,anofficialoftheEasternWeiDynasty.Whenhewasyoung,hisappearancewasnotgood,andhewastaciturn.Infact,hewasverywiseandclever.Althoughhewasoccasionallylaughedatorplayedwithbyhisbrothers,histalentswereappreciatedbyhisfather.IntheseventhyearofWudingintheEasternWeiDynasty(549),afterGaoChengwasassassinatedbyLanJing,GaoYangfirmlygraspedpower.YuanShan,EmperorXiaojingoftheEasternWeiDynasty,hadnochoicebuttomakehimtheprimeministerandkingofQi.PlantoreplaceWeiLiguo.InMayofthefollowingyear,GaoyangZenbecametheemperorofWeiDynasty,thetitleofthecountrywasQi,andtheYuanTianbaowaschangedtotheNorthernQiDynastyinhistory.

WhenGaoYangassumedthethroneintheearlydays,hewasmorecautiousandruledbylaw.Althoughhewashonoredandhonored,hisrelativeswerenottolerant,andhispoliticswereclearandhehadtodohisbest.Mostmilitaryleadersmakedecisionsontheirown.Whenevertheyfaceabattle,theyactasarrowsandhavemeritineverything.Atthistime,theagriculture,saltandironindustry,andporcelainmanufacturingintheNorthernQiDynastywerequitedeveloped,andtheyweretherichestamongthethreecountriesthatwerebuilttogetherwiththeChenandtheWesternWeiDynasty.

DuringGaoYang'sreign,therelationshipbetweentheNorthernQiandNorthernZhouDynastywasrelativelystable,soitwasabletoconcentrateitsmilitaryandfinancialresourcestoexpandnorthandsouth.AfterthethreeyearsofTianbao(552),hewentoutoftheprefectureyearafteryear,andhefoughtoffandcapturedalotofpeople.InthefouryearsofTianbao(553years),theKhitanwasdefeatedandcapturedmorethan100,000peopleandmillionsofmiscellaneousanimals.DefeatedtheshanhuinthefiveyearsofTianbao(554).TianbaodefeatedRouranforfivetosixconsecutiveyearsandbuilttheGreatWallformorethan900milesfromYouzhoutoHengzhou.ThecaptureofalargenumberofpeopleandlivestockwillcontributetothestrengtheningofthenationalstrengthoftheNorthernQiDynasty.AfterLiangZhengdangintheSouthernDynastiesandHouJing'srebellion,thecountrydeclinedsharply.InthethirdyearofTianbao(552years),thesoldiersoftheNorthernQiDynastyarrivedattheYangtzeRiverinthesouth.Afterthat,twosoldierscametobuildKangcheng,andtheywerebothrepelledbyChenBafirst,buttheirterritoryhadexpandedtoHuainan,andtheChendynastywasfinallyboundedbytheYangtzeRiver.

Butinthelaterperiodofhisreign,GaoYanglivedinadesolatelife,caressedaboutlife,ignoredstateaffairsallday,andindulgedhimselfindrinkinganddrinking.HebuiltthethreepalacesinthecapitalcityYe,whichwasveryluxuriousandused100,000civilians.Extremelyextravagant.InthelaterperiodofGaoYang'sreign,theoppressionofthepeoplewasevenheavier.Thecorruptionofgovernmentandthedeclineofnationalpowerhaveweakenedthearmy.TheNorthernQigenerationreactedtotheSinicizationpolicysinceEmperorWeiXiaowen,andXianbeibecamedominant,whichhasalottodowithGaoYang.However,althoughhewasfaintandtortured,hewasstillabletoemployHanpeople,suchasYangYanastheZaifu,"ItreallydependsonYantomaintaintherescue."Therefore,thereisasayingthat"themasterisfaintedatthetop,andpoliticsisatthebottom".Fortunately,theministersandotherspresideovertheaffairsofthestate,sothatthecountrywillnotbesubjugated.Tenyearsofnaturalprotection(559years),heeventuallydrankexcessivelyanddiedviolentlyattheageof34.Thenameofthetempleistheancestor,theposthumousposthumousemperorproclaimedtheemperor.

Thechangeofemperor'sthrone

TheabandonedemperorGaoYinoftheNorthernQiDynasty,theeldestsonofEmperorWenxuanoftheNorthernQiDynasty,andhisbiologicalmotherwasEmpressLi.BeforethedeathofEmperorWenXuan,heentrustedhissixthbrotherGaoYantotakecareofhim.Finallyin560,GaoYanlaunchedacoup,andGaoYinwasdeposedasKingofJinan.Hewaskilledthefollowingyearattheageofseventeen.

EmperorXiaozhaooftheNorthernQiDynastywasahighperformer,withadeepandsmartpersonality.GaoHuan'ssixsons,motherLouZhaojun.EmperorWenXuanhasthesamemotherandbrother.GaoYanisgoodatpoliticalskillsandisgoodatunderstandingthedetailsofthings;hebegantoparticipateinthegovernmentduringthenaturalprotectionperiod,andhispoliticalexperiencehasgraduallymaturedandenriched.Hehasalwaysbeenfavoredbyhisbrother,andwhenEmperorWenxuanwasdying,heorderedGaoyantotakecareofthenewmonarchGaoYin.WhentheEmperorFeicametothethrone,hetookchargeofthegovernment.In560,GaoYanlaunchedacoupd'etat,abolishedandkilledGaoYinascendedtothethroneoftheemperor,andchangedtheYuanHuangjian.DuringGaoyan’sreign,theemperorpaidattentiontopoliticalaffairs,activelyseekingandappointingtalentstoservethecourt,caringaboutpeople’slivelihood,despisingpunishes,anddispatchingambassadorstovisittheprovinces,observingcustoms,askingpeopleabouttheirhardships,andtesting.Seekgainsandlosses.AndhepersonallyconqueredKumoXifromthenorth,wentoutoftheGreatWall,rushedtothecaptives,dividedthetroopstofight,andwonalotofbullsandhorses.Theyearafterhetookthethrone,GaoYandiedofaseriousillness.InordertosavethelifeofhissonGaoHundredyears,hepassedthethronetohisninthbrotherChangguangWangGaozhan.

TheEmperorWuchengoftheNorthernQiDynasty,GaoZhan(537-568),hadasoftpersonality.ItisGaoHuan'sninthsonandmotherLouZhaojun.EmperorXiaozhaoplayedthesamemotherandbrother.Hewasalsolovedbyhisfatherwhenhewasyoung.AfterthefoundingoftheNorthernQiDynasty,hewasnamedtheKingofChangguangbyEmperorWenxuan.AfterEmperorXiaozhaoGaoyansucceededtothethrone,hewasveryfondofhim,andhispowerwasinthehandsoftheopposition.SoonGaoYanbecameseriouslyill.Whenhewasdying,inordertopreventhissonGaoBainianfromgettingahighfate,hepersuadedhimnottofollowsuitbykillinghisnephewandsucceedinghim.Hedecidedtopasshisyoungerbrother,butGaoBainianwasstillkilled.In561,GaoZhansucceededtothethroneandchangedYuanTainingtobecomeEmperorWucheng.EmperorWuChengwasfaintandincompetent,indulgedinbeauty,anddidnotthinkaboutnationalaffairs,andtheNorthernQiDynastywasindanger.In565,hewaslocatedinthehighlatitudesoftheprince.Sincehebecametheemperor,hefinallydiedbecauseofexcessivedrinking.Hewasthirty-twoyearsold.TheposthumousnameisEmperorWucheng,andthetemplenameisShizu.

Favoringthetraitor

NorthernQiwastheXianbeiregimeinthelateNorthernDynasties.TheemperorsoftheNorthernQiDynastyweremostlyfaint,licentiousandshameless.Onthecontrary,thecourthasseenalargenumberoftreacherousvillains,suchasMutipo,Heshikai,andGaoAnakhang,whohavethepowertomaketroublesandacceleratethecorruptionofthegovernment.ThenumberofofficialsintheNorthernQiDynastyisaveryprominentphenomenoninhistory.RegardlessofwhetherEmperorWuChengwasdealingwithmajornationalaffairsintheforeigndynastyorbanquetingintheinnercourt,hecouldn'tdowithouthim.Heeitherentersthepalaceatatimeanddoesnotgohomeforafewmonths,orentersthepalaceseveraltimesaday,orisimmediatelypardonedafterheisreleased.Thefavorhereceivesisincreasingdaybyday.Hisactionsandwordsareverycontemptuous,onlytoplease.EmperorWuchengwasabletodothings,andtherewasnocourtesybetweentheemperorandhissubjects.HeoncepersuadedEmperorWuChengtosay:"Sinceancienttimes,emperorshaveallturnedintoashes,Yao,Shun,andJieZhou,whatarethedifferences?YourMajesty,youshouldtakeadvantageofyouryouthandstrength,andhavefun,livehappilyfortensofthousandsofyears,andstateaffairscangiveorders.Theministerhandlesit,youdon’thavetoworkonityourself.”Afterhearingthis,EmperorWuchengagreedverymuch,entrustingtheministerstohandleallthepoliticalaffairs,andheonlywenttothedynastythreeorfourdaysago,andeventhedynastywasjustafewwords,nottomention.Whateveryousay,wewillstopinawhile.

HeShikaipowerwaspouredintothefield,nepotism,coupledwiththeincreasinglyexposedadulterywiththeQueenMotherHu,arousedtheindignationofPrinceLangyaWangGaoYan,andtriedeverymeanstogetridofHeShikai.OnJuly30thinthesecondyearofWuping(571),HeShikaienteredthepalaceearlyasusual.Ontheway,hewasstillthinkingabouthowLangyaKingGaoYanandothersopposedhimandhowtogetridofLangyaKing.

LangyaKingGaoyanandotherswereready.TheprincefirstannouncedastatementtoimpeachandShikai,listalargenumberofcrimes,andrequesttheLordGaoweitodealwithit.Then,FengZicongclippedthetabletomanyotherofficialdocumentsandpresentedittothepostmaster.Thelord,whohadalwaysignoredthepoliticalaffairs,didnotevenlookatit,andwithastrokeofhispen,heapprovedtodoso.Afterthat,theleadinggeneral,Kudivlian,ambushed50soldiersoutsidethegateofthesacredbeast.ThemomentHeTukaijuststeppedintothedoor,heswarmedup,capturedhimandbeheadedimmediately.Afterthemasterheardaboutit,althoughheregrettedit,hecouldn'thelpit.Itissaidthatafterthedeathofthewarrior,thewholecityofLuoyangrejoiced.

MuDipoisthesonofLuLingxuan.HersurnameisLuo.BecausehermotheristhemotherofthequeenofQi,shewasfavoredbyQueenMuZhaoyi.SheintroducedtheservantandgavethesurnametoMuandworshippedtheofficialZuo.AftertheNorthernZhouDynastydestroyedtheNorthernQiDynasty,hewaspunishablebyEmperorWuoftheNorthernZhouDynasty.

ZhuJianLiangzong

HuLuguang,afamousgeneralinthenorth.AnativeofShuozhou(ShanxiShuoCounty),Gaochetribe.Borningeneral.Beginningasacaptain,hewasgoodatridingandshooting,andwasnamed"CaptainofFallingEagles."Afterworshipingthegeneral,theTaiFu,theprimeministerontheright,andtheprimeministerontheleft.Heisbraveandgoodatfighting.Inthenearly20yearsofwarwiththeNorthernZhouDynasty,hehascommandedbattlesmanytimesandwon.InDecemberofthefifthyearoftheNorthernQiDynasty(569),theZhouarmybesiegedYiyangandcutofftheQiJunliangRoad.InthefirstmonthofthefirstyearofWuping(570),herode30,000horsestobreaktheYiyangZhouarmy,andthenpassthegraintransportation;Zhouarmyresumedtheattack,heledthebattle,andwontheprofit,capturedtheNorthernZhouKaifuyiTongSansiYuWenyingandsoon.InthesecondyearofWuping(571),heledthecrowdtobuildfortificationsinPinglongandotherplacestofightagainsttheNorthernZhouhussargeneralWeiXiaokuanwholedtensofthousandsofhorsemenonfoot.Heranthearmystrictlyandwisely,tookthelead,notforpersonalgain,andwasrespectedbyhissubordinates.

WeiXiaokuan,afamousgeneralintheNorthernZhouDynasty,couldnotwinthebattlewithHuLuguang.HeknewthatGaoweiwasmediocre.HealsoheardthatHuLuguanghadagapwithZuTingandotherofficials,sohecreatedrumorsofHuLuguangusurpingthethrone.SinginYecheng,andthesongsaid:"Hundredsoflitersflytothesky,andthebrightmoonshinesonChang'an".BaishengmeansYihu,MingyueisthewordforHuluguang,andrumorsimplythatHuluguanghasthehearttousurpthethrone.ZuTingandotherstooktheopportunitytoslanderGaoWeiandinstructedpeopletofalselyaccuseHuLuguangforrebellion.

InJuneofthethirdyearofWuping(572),GaoweigaveHuluguangafalserewardtothehorse,andaskedhimtovisitDongshanonthesecondday,lurehimtothepalace,andkillhim.Theyearwas58.age.Hewipedouthisfamilywiththecrimeoftreason,andsentpeopletoransackhishome.Intheend,heonlygotsomebows,arrows,andscabbardsforbanquets,andtherewasnomoremoney.

Thegovernmentandthepeopledeploredtheself-destroyingofthepillarsofQihouGaowei.However,EmperorWuZhouwasextremelypleasedtoreceivethenewsofHuLuguang'smurder,andorderedanamnestytoattackYechengin577anddestroytheNorthernQiDynasty.HeissuedanedicttochaseHuLuguangasShangzhuKingdomandChongguo,andpointedtotheedictandsaidtoeveryone:"Ifthispersonishere,howcanIreachYe".

LanlingKingGaoChanggongisthefourthsonofGaoCheng.Heisbraveandgoodatfightingandhasmademanycontributions.ThemostfamousbattleofManshanMountainmadehimfamous.Oneday,whenGaoWeitalkedwithKingLanlingaboutthevictoryofMangshan,hesaid,"Beingtoodeepintothebattle,thereisnowaytoregretdefeat."KingLanlingrepliedaffectionately,"Familyaffairsarekind,andIdon'tknowit."Afterthat,Gaosaid.WeibegantowonderwhetherKingLanling,whohadmilitarypower,wantedtoreplacehim,andwantedtoturn"nationalaffairs"into"familyaffairs."KingLanlingfeltthatthedisasterwasapproaching.Althoughherepeatedlyactedinalow-keymanner,hecouldnotescapethefateofbeingkilled.OnedayinMayofthefourthyearofWuping,GaoWeisentanenvoytovisittheemperor'sbrotherGaoSuandsentaglassofpoisonedwine.ThekingofLanlingwasextremelyangryanddrankthepoisonouswineresolutely.Hediedwhenhewasonly30yearsold.

TheNorthernZhouDynastydestroyedtheQi

Thepost-NorthernQiruledhighlatitudes,andthecharacterwasstingyandlicentious.Whenhecametothethrone,thedecayingNorthernQiregimehadalreadybeenshakenbystorms,andhehimselfwasstilllicentiousandself-proclaimed"thesonofnosorrow".Politicalcorruption,especiallythekillingoffamousgeneralsHuLuguangandKingLanling,madeNorthernQilosethepowertoresisttheNorthernZhouattack.general.

InthesixthyearofWupingintheNorthernQiDynasty(575years),EmperorWuoftheNorthernZhouDynastyledhisarmytoattacktheNorthernQiDynastyandbecameateacherduetoillness.InOctoberofthefollowingyear,theNorthernQiwasre-attacked,withYueWangYuwensheng,QiGongyuWenliang,andSuiGongYangJianastheleftthreearmies;QiaoWangYuwenjian,GeneralDouTai,andGuanghuaGongqiuChongastheleftthreearmies;QiWangYuwenxian,ChenWangYuwenispurelyaformerarmy.YuwenyongledhisarmytoJinzhouandstationedinFenqu.HeorderedYuwenxiantolead20,000soldierstoguardtheQueshuValley,Yuwenchunled20,000cavalrytroopstoguardthethousandsofmilesaway,andYuwenshengled10,000infantrycavalryguardsatFenshuiPass.DaXizhenled10,000cavalrytroopstoguardtheTongjunchuaninordertodetertheQiarmyfromJinyangfromgoingsouth;orderedHanMingtolead5,000cavalrytroopstodefendQiziling,andYinShengled5,000cavalrytoGuzhongTowntodeterQiinHanoi.Thearmywentnorth;XinShaoled5000infantrycavalrytoguardPujinPasstoensurethesafetyoftherear;orderedYuwentorecruit10,000infantrycavalryfromHuagutoattackthecitieswestofFenshuiinNorthernQi,andsentNeishiWangYitocommandthemainattackonPingyangCity.WeiXianggui,thekingofHaichangoftheNorthernQiDynasty,stayedfirmlyinthecity.TheNorthernQiEmperorGaoweiledthearmyfromJinyangtoJinzhou.YuWenyongwentfromFenqutoJinzhoutosupervisethebattleunderthecity,andHouZiqinwentoutofthecitytosurrendertoZhouintheNorthernQiDynasty.CuiJingsong,thegovernoroftheNorthernQiJinzhou,defendedBeicheng.Seeingthatthereisnoback-up,pleasesurrendertotheNorthernZhouYuwenYonglingtoKaifuyiandGeneralWangGui.WangGuiqi'sdepartmentputDuanWenzhenleddozensofpeopleastheadvance,andunderCuiJingsong'sresponse,hefirstascendedthecity.Therewere8,000captivesandlieutenants.TheNorthernQiarmybrokeup,andtheNorthernZhouarmyoccupiedPingyang.InNovember,QiDiGaoweiledreinforcementstoBinhDuong.YuWenyongsawtheQiarmy'sprosperousarmy,andledthearmywesttoavoiditsfront.AllthegeneralsoftheNorthernZhouDynastybelievedthatthearmycouldnotbewithdrawn.Afterweighingtheprosandcons,YuWenyongwithdrewthemainforcefromJinzhou,retained10,000troops,andorderedLiangShiyantosticktoit.TheQiarmypursuedtheretreatingZhouarmy,ZhouarmydefendersYuWenxian,YuWenxin,etc.,intheblockade,QiXiaogeneralHelanLeopardandothers,QiShiretired.YuwenYongorderedYuWenxiantoleadanarmyof60,000tuninSuchuan,insolidaritywithPingyang,andleftthearmyinHedong,returningtoChang'an.AftertheZhouarmyretreated,theQiarmysurroundedPingyangandattackeditdayandnight.LiangShiyanencouragedthesoldierstoresistbravely,andrepelledtheQidivisionwithonehundred,holdingontoallsides.AfterYuwenyongreturnedtoChang'an,helearnedthattheNorthernQiarmywasinahurrytoattackPingyang,andledhisarmytorescue.InDecember,YuwenYongreturnedtoBinhDuong.ZhouJungatheredabout80,000people,linedupnearthecity,morethan20milesfromeasttowest.ZhouJunfoughthardanddefeatedthereinforcementsoftheNorthernQi,beheadingmorethan10,000people.ThequeenofQiwasdefeatedandretreatedtoJinyang,andZhouJunmarchedtowardsJinyangbyvictory.

InthefirstyearofLonghua(576),theNorthernQiEmperorGaoweiretreatedtoJinyangafterhisdefeatinPingyang.EmperorWuofZhouledhisarmytopursuethevictory.TheNorthernQiGao'anafuledanarmyof10,000toguardthehighwall.Yuwenyongledthearmytothehighwall,GaoAnaranawaywatchingthewind.InDecember,YuwenyongandYuwenxianwereinthemeetingatJiexian.AfterforcedsurrenderofNorthQidefenderHanJianye,herushedtowardsJinyangandBeishuozhou.GaoWeiwantedtoruntotheTurks,butmanyofhisentourageswerescattered,buthewentbacktoYecheng.YuwenYongledthearmytobreakthroughJinyangandrushtowardsYecheng.AfterGaoweiretreatedtoYecheng,ZenwaslocatedinGaoheng,thecrownprince,whowaseightyearsoldatthetime.Inthefirstmonthofthesixthyear,GaoHengfledfromYechengtoJeju.YuwenyongbesiegedYecheng,burnedthewestgate,andtheQiarmywasdefeated.Athighlatitudes,onehundredrideseastward.ZhouJuninvadedYecheng,andallofficialsbelowtheprincesoftheNorthernQiDynastydescended.GaoHengsentpeopletoYeongjutoholdthesealinJeju,andZenwaslocatedinGaomu,thekingofRencheng,andGaoweiandothersfledtoQingju.YuwenyongsentWeiChiqintopursueGaoWeiandGaoHengtoQingzhou,andtogethertheydroveGaoAnadown.GaoWei,GaoHengratemorethantenridershurriedlyfledsouth,tryingtoruntotheChenDynasty,wascapturedbytheZhouarmyinNandengVillage.InFebruary,ZhouJuncapturedXinduandcapturedBeiqi,RenchengWangGaomu,GuangningWangGaoxiaohengandsoon.Subsequently,EmperorWuofZhousenttroopstoquelltheresistanceforcesinvariousplaces.NorthernQidied.TheNorthernZhouDynastyunifiedthenorth.

Territory

TheNorthernQiDynastyinheritedtheterritorycontrolledbytheEasternWeiDynasty,occupyingthevastareasofHebei,Henan,Shandong,Shanxi,northernJiangsuandnorthernAnhuiinthelowerreachesoftheYellowRiver.Atthesametime,thecoexistingdynastiesincludedtheWesternWei,Nanliang,andNanchen.

AfterthethreeyearsofTianbaointheNorthernQiDynasty(552years),theKhitanandtheXipingMountainHu(belongingtoHunsclan),NorthPoRouranandKumoXi,andSouthtookHuainan,extendingtheterritorytotheYangtzeRiver,andthenationalpoweroftheNorthernQiDynastyreacheditspeak.

Politics

RulingtheDarkness

NorthernQiisknownforitsextremepoliticaldarknessinChinesehistory.Xianbeiisnoble,cruelandcorrupt,causingclassandethniccontradictionstobeveryacute.Atthattime,warswerefrequentandsocialcontradictionswerecomplicated.Especiallythelaterrulers,fromtheemperortotheofficialsatalllevels,weresostupidandbrutal.Dogs,horsesandeaglesalsohadtobegivenofficialtitles,andtheaccumulatingdaywasheavy,andtheservicedaywasproliferating,resultinginexhaustionofmanpowerandemptytreasury.Classcontradictionshavebecomeincreasinglyacute,andthecontradictionswithintherulingclasshavebecomemoresuperficial.

TherulersoftheNorthernQiDynasty,apartfromGaoHuan,noonecanlivebeyondfortyyearsold.Intermsoftyrannyandfiercefornication,itisknownasthedynastyofbeasts.Amongthem,halfoftheNorthernQirulewasimpossibletorelyon,andthejudgmentwasbasedsolelyonpersonallikesanddislikesorthemoodoftheday.Alargenumberofservantsweresenttoserveascountygovernors,notbecauseofabilityortalent.OnlyEmperorXiaozhaocanberegardedasbothgoodandtalented.Unfortunately,hedidnotlastlonginthereign.Hediedofseriousinjuriesduetoafallinghorseaccident.Hereignedforonlytwoyearsandwasonly27yearsold.

ThepoliticsoftheNorthernQiDynastywasdeeplyinfluencedbythefactorsoftheNorthernWeiDynasty.Firstofall,thetreacherouscourtpoliticsoftheNorthernWeiDynastywaspasseddowntotheNorthernQiDynastyalmostintact.LuLingxuan,thenannyoftheQueenoftheNorthernQiDynasty,controlledthecourt,thentheemperor,andthenthegovernment,almostexactlythesameastheEmpressDowageroftheNorthernWeiDynasty.Secondly,theauxiliaryministersHuChangcan,FengZicong,YuanWenyao,WeiJin,etc.,allcamefromrelatives,clanandfirst-classaristocraticfamiliesintheNorthernWeiDynastyduringthepost-primaryperiodoftheNorthernQiDynasty.Similarly,hesparednoefforttoclimbtheladderofpower,andwasfinallyreusedduringtheWuchengperiodoftheNorthernQiDynasty.ThemerchantsoftheNorthernQiDynastyalsoinvestedinpoliticsforgenerousrewards.ThesethreeoldforcesoriginatingfromtheNorthernWeiDynastydidnothaveapositiveeffectontheconstructionoftheNorthernQiregime.Onthecontrary,theyerodedthefoundationoftheNorthernQiregimetovaryingdegreesandcausedseriousconsequencesoftherebellionofthepeople.

Themilitary-ledgovernment

ThecharacteristicsoftheNorthernQiregime’smilitary-ledgovernmentareveryobvious.TheNorthernQiDynastyislocatedinBingzhou(Jinyang),whereShangshuProvinceandYejingarefarawayfromeachother.TheexistenceofthisspecialadministrativesystemisrelatedtoJinyang,apoliticalandmilitarycenterintheNorthernQiDynastyoutsideYejing.TheimportanceofparallelprovinceandYeprovinceinactualgovernmentaffairsisnotstatic,butdependsonthedevelopmentofthepoliticalsituation.Jinyangislocatedinthemilitarycenter,andistheseatofthemilitaryhouseholdsinthesixtownsofGaohuanXianbei,whileYeProvinceseemstobetheworldofHanscholars.ThisdifferencereflectstheruleoftheNorthernQirulerthatbothHuandHanurgedbothHuandHan,establishedthecountrybymilitaryforceandgovernedthecountrybycultureatthesametime.

Theclanclass

Theclanclass,asanimportantpartoftherulingclassoftheNorthernQi,playedanimportantroleinthepoliticalhistoryoftheEasternWeiandNorthernQi.Undercertainhistoricalconditions,theclanstratum,asamemberoftherulingclass,embodiesvarioussocialcontradictionsincludingnationandclass,andisarelativelyrepresentativestratuminsocietyatthattime.TheEasternWeiDynastyandtheearlyNorthernQiDynastyinheritedthenoblesystemofthelateNorthernWeiDynasty.Underthissystem,theclanclassbasicallyestablishedthestatusofnobilitythroughknighthood,andatthesametimeobtainedthequalificationsofofficialeunuchs.Thenobilitysystembroughtnotonlypoliticalprivilegestomembersoftheclanclass,butalsohugeeconomicbenefits.

NorthernQiLaw

GaoYanghasalwaysbeenmoody,obsceneandcruel,andseemstobeveryinterestedinthelaw.Duringhisadministration,heformulatedthefamous"NorthQiLaw".

WhenGaoYang'selderbrotherGaoChengwasinpowerintheEasternWeiDynasty,hepresidedoverthecompilationoftheEasternWeiCode"LinChiGe".AfterGaoYangbecametheemperor,heconsidered"LinChiGe"as"notrefined"andorderedhisofficialstodiscussandformulateauniformrule.IntheprocessofcompilingQiLv,GaoYangreusedFengShu,afamouslawscholarintheFengfamilyofJizhou,andCuiXian,LiYang,WeiShou,etc.,sothattheycomprehensivelysummarizedthelegislativeexperienceofthedynastiessincetheHanandWeidynasties,simplifiedthestructureofthecode,Refinedthetitleofthearticle,determinedtoinnovate,andfinallyformulated12articlesand949articlesinthe"NorthernQiLaw".ThearticlesofBeiqiLawareasfollows:FamousLaws,ForbiddenGuards,MarriageHouseholds,UnauthorizedProsperity,ViolationofSystem,Fraud,Lawsuits,Thieves,Arrests,Damages,Stables,andMiscellaneousLaws.

The"NorthernQiLu"hasachievedanumberofinnovationsinthehistoryofChineselegalsystem:thefirstistoscientificallystructurethecode,andmergethe"PrimaryNames"and"Laws"into"Names",whichisplacedfirstinthecode.Asageneralrule.Thesecondistheestablishmentofthe"tenarticlesofseriouscrimes",whichbecametheoriginofthe"tenevils"oflatergenerations;thepunishmentwasonceagainstandardized,andthefivepunishmentsystemsofdeath,succumbing,imprisonment,rod,andwhipweredetermined,andtheexecutionstandardswererefined.Thisisanimportantcodethatconnectsthepastandthenext.Itisknownfor"clearlyreviewinglawsandregulations,andconcisesections";ithasabsorbedthelegislativeachievementsofpreviousgenerationsandistheblueprintoftheSuiandTangdynasties.

ThiscodewasformulatedundertheleadershipofGaoYang.ItwasthelawwiththehighestlegislativeachievementduringtheThreeKingdoms,JinandSouthernandNorthernDynasties,anditplayedamajorroleintheformationofthelaterChineselegalsystem.

ThetraditionalviewoftheacademiccircleshasalwaysbelievedthatthelegislationlevelofBeiqiLawismuchhigherthanthatofBeizhouLaw,butitlacksconsiderationofthesocialeffectsofBeiqiandBeiqiLaw.Infact,intheprocessofreactiontosociety,theinfluenceofthelawsoftheEasternWei,WesternWei,NorthernQi,andNorthernZhouDynastywasquitedifferent.The"LawoftheNorthernQi"playsaroleinlinkingthepastandenlighteningthefuture,andhasafar-reachinginfluenceonthelegislationoflatergenerations.

Military

Recruitmentsystem

AtthebeginningoftheEasternWeiDynastyandQi,themilitarysysteminheritedtheNorthernWeiDynasty,Thesoldiersandthepeopleareseparated,andtheXianbeiarethesoldiers.InthereformsduringEmperorQiWenxuan'stime,thesoldiersappearedasChineseheroes,butthedistinctionbetweensoldiersandpeopleandHanandHuwasnotchanged.

InHeqingthreeyearslater(564years),anewmilitarysystemappeared,combiningmilitaryservicewithfarming,andbecamethetemplateforEmperorWen'sreformofthemilitarysystemintheSuiDynasty.

DefenseEngineering

See:NorthernQiGreatWall

NorthernQi’sThefoundingemperorGaoYangorderedtheconstructiontoconsolidatethenorthernfrontierdefenseanddefendthenorthernZhouinthewest.ThreesectionsoftheGreatWalloftheNorthernQiDynastyweremainlybuilt,sixtimesintotal.ThescaleoftheGreatWallbuiltintheNorthernQiDynastyissecondonlytotheQinandHanGreatWalls.

Thereisabeacontowerinthe"WildGreatWall"inJixianCounty,Tianjin,whichhasapeculiarstyle.Rocksareplacedontheinsideandbluebricksontheoutside.Theinnerandouterfloorswerenotbuiltinthesamedynasty.ItispreliminarilydeterminedthatthebeacontowerisMingDynasty.TheGreatWallwasbuiltaroundtheoriginalNorthernQiAncientGreatWall.TheancientGreatWalloftheNorthernQiDynasty.ThisancientGreatWallhasahistoryofmorethan1,400years.Itis800yearsearlierthantheMingDynastyGreatWallatHuangyaguan,JiCounty,andisalsotheoldestGreatWallinTianjin.TheancientGreatWalloftheNorthernQiDynastyismorethan40kilometersinlengthinJixianCounty.Atthetimeoftheconstruction,thematerialsweretakenfromthespotandbuiltwithblockstoneswithoutaddingmortar.QiJiguangbuiltbricks,enemybuildingsandotherbuildingsonthebasisoftheoriginalNorthernQiGreatWall,formingthephenomenonofthecoexistenceoftheNorthernQiandMingGreatWalls.Becausethelocationofthesebeacontowersisverydangerous,allofthemareonthecliffs,itisdifficultforordinarypeopletoclimbhere.Thereare5known"mixandmatch"beacontowers.

Economy

NorthernQiwasthefirsttobreakawayfromthemilitaryandtownsystemandrealizetheseparationofsoldiersandpeasants.TheNorthernZhouDynastywastenyearslaterthanNorthernQi.TheNorthernQiDynastyimplementedalandequalizationsystem,buttheactualimplementationwasverypoor.Thegentrylandlordsoccupiesalargeareaandpossessedalargenumberofslavesandmaids.WhentheNorthernQiDynastydiedintheNorthernZhouDynastyin577,theNorthernZhouDynastyhad55prefectures,162prefectures,385counties,3,302,528households,and2,006,886people.ScholarsconsideredtheBeiqiHeqingthreeyearsinthethirdyearoftheQingDynasty(In564,thepopulationpeakedtomorethan22million.Later,duetothebrutalruleofthepost-mainsoftheNorthernQiDynastyandtheendoftheQiwar,thepopulationdroppedsharplyto20millionwhenQidied.

TheNorthernQiDynastyabolishedtheregulationofreceivingland.However,theactualnumberoflandreceivedbyahusbandandawomanisstillequivalenttothatofland.TheNorthernWeiDynastyhasnorestrictionsonslavesreceivingland.InBeiqi,thenumberofpeopleisbetween300and60accordingtoofficialproducts.Inaddition,taxesarestipulated.

IntheNorthernQiDynasty,therewasalsoa"banonburning"toprotectgrasslandandsurfacevegetation.InthespringoftheninthyearofTianbaointheNorthernQiDynasty(558),theemperorGaoYangissuedanedict:“LimitedtostartaprairiefireinmidwinterandJanuary,andnofireisallowedtodamageinsectsandplants.”Canonlybeburnedwithinonemonthofmidwinter(November),otherseasonsAllareprohibited.

Ethnicity

HuFengintheNorthernQiDynastyisverypopularwithHuHua,acountrythatstubbornlyinsistsonethnicoppressionandXianbeiprivilegesandisdominatedbyHu.

TheruleroftheNorthernQiDynasty,theGaoclan,wasaXianbeiculturally.HeusedtheXianbeilanguageasthenationallanguageandimplementedapolicyofseparatingtheXianbeifromtheHan.ThevastmajorityofthenationalarmyisXianbei.Itisobviouslysuperiortootherethnicgroups,sotheNorthernQiregimeisaXianbeiregime.Theso-called"Xianbeigovernment"meansthatitisagovernmentbasedonthepoweroftheXianbeipeopleandultimatelyservestheXianbeipeople,butitdoesnotmeanthatitcannotwidelyuseHanpeopleandHanculturetomaintainandconsolidateitsrule..ManypredecessorsbelievedthattheEasternWeiDynastyandtheNorthernQiDynastywerearegimeofXianbeiizationoranti-Sinicization.Thisargumentisquestionable.TheNorthernQi'sacceptanceofHancultureisactuallyquitehigh.

Society

TheNorthernQiimperialfamilyisnolongermonogamous,andalmostconstantlystagedmaritalrape.

TheNorthernQiShenwuEmperorGaoHuansuccessivelytookthedaughterofErZhurong(QueenofEmperorWeiZhuang),DaughterofErZhuZhao(QueenofEmperorJianming),ZhengDache(PrincessWeiGuangping),FengShi(PrincessRencheng)),Li(thePrincessofChengyang),thesearetheroyalconcubinesoftheWeiDynasty,GaoHuanacceptedthemall.

EmperorWenxiangoftheNorthernQiDynasty,GaoChengfirstforcedYuanclan(XueZhi'swife),andlaterforciblyseizedGaoShen'swife,andthenreceivedYuanYuyi(SunTeng'sprostitute)andYuanJingyi(Yuyi'ssister,CuiKuo'swife),AndfornicatingwithZhengDache(formerlyPrincessWeiGuangping,laterGaoHuan'sconcubine,GaoHuanisGaoCheng'sfather.),andfinallymarriedPrincessWeiwei(GaoHuan'swife,GaoChengshouldbecalledShi'smother)andhaveadaughter.

AfterEmperorWenxuanGaoYangoftheNorthernQiDynastyusurpedthethrone,herapedYuanclan(thequeenofGaoCheng,GaoYangistheyoungerbrotherofGaoCheng),stillbecauseGaoChengoncerapedGaoYang'swife.GaoYangalsoforciblyseizedtheWangfamily(CuiXiu'swife)andtheXuefamily(advocatedaughterofsinging,dancingandChineseopera).Inaddition,thewifewasrewarded.Forexample,GaoYangsentLiuYujietokillYonganKingGaoJun,whichrewardedGaoJun’swife;sentFengWenluotokillthepartykingGaoJuan,whichrewardedGaoHuan’swife,andGaoJunandGaoHuanwerealsoGaoYang’sbrothers.TheotherGao'swomen,regardlessofwhethertheyarerelativesorsiblings,wererapedbyGaoYang'srightandleft.GaoYangstillhasthehabitofexposinghisbody,anddoesn'tcareabouttheministerofcivilandmilitaryaffairs.

EmperorGaoZhanofWuchengoftheNorthernQiDynastyforcedtherapeofLi(thequeenofGaoYang,GaoZhanistheyoungerbrotherofGaoYang).Female,GaoZhanlaterkilledGaoShaodeinfrontofLi'sface,andstrippedLi'sclothestolashout.Later,theLifamily(theconcubineofEmperorWeiJing),theWangfamily(theconcubineofGaoYang),PengLenuandthedaughterofRenXiang(bothGaoYang'sunregisteredconcubine)wereallestablishedaswives.

BeforeGaoHuanwasalive,hiswifeZhengDachehadfornicatedGaoYang,andfatherandsoncouldpasswives;afterGaoHuandied,hiswife,PrincessWeiWei,wasrapedbyGaoCheng,whowasalsoafatherandson.

ThequeenofGaoChengwascontaminatedbyGaoYang,andhisbrotherscouldpasswives;thequeenofGaoYangwascontaminatedbyGaoZhan,andhisbrotherscouldpasshiswife.

TheQueenofGaoZhan,theHufamily,firstbecameeunuchs,thencommittedadulterywithministersandscholars,thenrapedSamantanTanxian,andfinallyremarriedandcontinuedobscenity.

ThequeenHulu,thequeenoftheNorthernQiDynasty,wasforcedtobecomeanunafterthedemiseoftheNorthernQiDynasty,andwasremarriedtoYuanrenashiswife;GaoWei’sbrotherNanyangWangChuojiZhengwasalsocalledDefiledbyEmperorWu;GaoWei'sauntandconcubineLi,forcedtoremarry.GaoHuan'sson,theHuashanKingGaoNing'sconcubine,committedadulterywithaservant.AlthoughGaoNingknewit,hecouldn'tstopit.

Althoughpolygamywasusedinancienttimes,itwasnotforseizingawifetocommitadultery,regardlessoffamilystatus.Fatherandsoninter-wives,brothersinter-wives,NorthernQiisoftenseen,andeventhecoexistenceoffatherandsonandbrotherscommitadultery.

TheGaofamilyhasalwaysbeenZhiGaohandsome,verysmart,andveryhandsome[LanlingKingGaoChanggong(sonofGaoCheng)alsohadtowearamaskonthebattlefieldbecausehewastoobeautiful],butforwomenThebestialbehaviors,co-wiferapeandotherfilthychaos,buttheGaofamilyfatherandsonarenotleftbehind.

Culture

Poetry

XingShaoandWeiShoubecametheleadersoftheNorthernQiliteraryworld,whichinfluencedalargenumberofyoungtalentswholatercriticizedthepoetryworldoftheearlySuiDynasty.ItwasthesuccessoftheNorthlandSancaiinimitatingsouthernpoetrycreationthatledtotherapiddevelopmentofpoetryintheNorthernDynasties,andthedifferencebetweennorthernandsouthernpoetrybecamegreaterandgreater.

Religion

TheNorthernQiimplementationisapolicyofworshippingBuddhismfrombeginningtoend.AftertheestablishmentoftheSuiDynasty,EmperorWenoftheSuiDynastyneededtosummonthesixGuandongvirtuestoenrichtheBuddhistpowerofGuanzhonginordertoreviveBuddhism.Soonaftertheestablishmentofthenewdynasty,GaoYangacceptedthebodhisattvavowsthroughtheclothofhairandmud.ThemonarchoftheNorthernQiDynastywasregardedasthekingofrunners,whichwasacommonpracticefromthetoptothepeopleatthattime.TheabolitionofTaoismbyEmperorWenxuaninthesixthyearofTianbao(555)reflectsthefactthattheNorthernQiDynastywasoverwhelminglyinclinedtoBuddhism.TherearemanyrecordsofthisincidentinBuddhistliteratureintheearlyTangDynasty,suchasFaLin’s"BianzhengLun",DaoXuan’s"ContinuedHighMonkBiography","JiGuJinBuDaoLunHeng","GuangHongMingJi",DaoShi"FaYuanZhuLin",etc..BuddhismhasalwaysbeenindominanceinthenorthernQi,andithasachievedapositionclosetothestatereligion.Fromthis,YedubecamethecenterofBuddhisminthenorthernpartoftheCentralPlains.EminentmonkssuchasBodhiLiuzhi,NalianTiliyeshe,Huiguang,Dharma,DaoPing,SengChou,LingYu,etc.,areallchosenatatime.ThemanyschoolsofthoughtintheSuiandTangdynastiesweremostlyrelatedtoBuddhisminYechengduringthisperiod.

Education

DuringtheNorthernandSouthernDynasties,theschoolstarttimewasrelativelyuniform,and"winterenrollment"becamethemainstream.Inthe"BookofNorthernQi·LeeXuan",thereisthesaying"springandsummerfarming,winterenrollment".AchildprodigynamedLiHyunwenttoschoolinwinter.

Art

• Carving

BuddhismandIndia,CentralAsia,WestAsianculturecontinuedtohaveasignificantimpactonartduringthisperiod.SomeofthemostexquisiteBuddhastatuesinChinesehistoryarelocatedintheBuddhistcavetemplesoftheNorthernQiDynasty.ThesestatuesillustratethecraftsmanshipofmakingBuddhistsculpturesatthattimeandtherapiddevelopmentofartisticstylessincetheNorthernWeiDynasty.SomelargepotterysculpturesoriginatedfromtheNorthernQiDynasty.ThepotteryoftheNorthernQiDynastyincludedglazecolorsofmorethantwocolors,andwhitepotteryalsodevelopedduringthisperiod.Thepaintingqualityofthisperiodwasextremelyhigh,ascanbeseenfromthemuralsofLouRui'stombinTaiyuan.Inaddition,WeiShouwrotethebookofWeiatthistime.

• Grottos

ThecontentofthegrottoesintheNorthernQiperiodmainlyreflectsBuddhistthoughtandcultureItisarepresentativeofBuddhistcultureduringtheNorthernQiDynasty.ItislocatedatTianlongMountaininTaiyuan,Shanxi,XiangtangMountaininNorthandSouthHebei,andseveralsmallergrottoesscatteredinthemiddleofShandong.

TheBuddhistgrottoesintheNorthernQiDynastywererepresentedbytheXiangtangshanGrottoes.TheNorthXiangtangshanGrottoeswereexcavatedatthewesternfootoftheFengfengGushanMountaininHandan,andtheSouthXiangtangshanGrottoeswereexcavatedatthesouthernfootoftheFengfengGushanMountaininHandan,separatedfromYuanbaoMountainbytheriver(HebeiFuyangRiver)facingeachother.Therearemanyexistingcavesinthetwogrottoes,withmanystonesculpturesandpaintedmurals,whichhaveveryhighartisticresearchvalue.InadditiontotheXiangtangshanGrottoes,EmperorWenxuanGaoyangoftheNorthernQiDynastyalsobuilttheWaPalace,whichservesasarecreationalpalacebetweenYechengandJinyang,thecapitaloftheNorthernQiDynasty.ItislocatedonZhonghuangMountaininShexianCounty,Handan."Temples"arebuiltonthecliffs,asifinlaidonthecliffsofthemountains.

• Porcelain

TheceramicsoftheNorthernQiDynastyincludesingle-colorporcelainandtwo-colorglazewhitepotteryItalsodevelopedrapidlyatthattime.Althoughtheporcelainwashandeddown,unearthed,andhasasmallcollection,itwasrareandrefined.Generally,theglazecolorisbetter,mostofthesurvivingisceladon,thequantityofceladonandwhiteporcelainissmall,andtherearealmostnocompleteutensils.TheceladonoxfromtheXiangzhoukilnoftheNorthernQiDynastyunearthedinLuoyang,Henan,wasregardedastheancestorofnorthernceladonbytheTibetancommunity.

• MusicandDance

ThesixemperorsoftheNorthernQiDynastyalllikesinginganddancing,whichispopularAmasterofculture,thishasgreatlypromotedthedevelopmentandprosperityofmusicandart,andhasalsoleftmanypreciousculturalrelicsforfuturegenerations.ThecourtmusicanddanceoftheNorthernQiDynastynotonlyhaveuniqueuniqueness,butalsomadeahugehistoricalcontributiontothedevelopmentofmusicinlatergenerations.

• Xiqu

BeijingQiproducedabatchofsonganddancecommeOutofartisticcontribution.TheNorthernQiDynastywastheerawhenthesteppenomadsenteredtheCentralPlains.Thehistoricalopportunityfortheintegrationofvariousethniccultures,thebreakofthetraditionalcultureoftheCentralPlains,therelaxationoffeudaletiquette,andtheprimitiveheritageofthenomadiccultureofthegrassland,promotedtheformalriseoftheoriginofancientopera.

EmperorLineage

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yearofbirthanddeath

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yearnumberusetime

Musoleum