Sui and Tang Dynasties: the Formation of an Empire

"Sui and Tang: The Formation of an Empire" begins with Emperor Wen of the Sui Dynasty and ends with Empress Wu coming to power. During this period, aristocratic politics was still the main thread of Chinese history. This is especially reflected in the emergence of a large number of princely political groups. For example, Yang Guang, the king of Jin in the Sui Dynasty, seized the throne of Prince Yang Yong; Li Shimin, the king of Qin in the Tang Dynasty, launched the Xuanwumen coup, killed his elder brother and younger brother, and seized the throne; Li Shimin's sons were also eager to try, coveting the highest power. The major families in the ruling class make their own bets, or even bet on both sides, hoping to maintain their political status. Even Wu Zetian, whose surname was foreign, was able to seize the throne and become the only empress in Chinese history. In addition, this book breaks away from the traditional writing method that takes political history as the main line. It selects representative figures among the Guanlong nobles and Shandong heroes, and introduces the formation of the Sui and Tang ruling classes and their national character from various dimensions, such as family networks, religious beliefs, regional characteristics, etc. Each volume is divided into ten chapters, mainly in chronological order, with selected important historical nodes and historical figures discussed and examined. The whole book not only retains the original literature materials, but also adds the author's wonderful explanations, allowing readers to read selectively. The latest research papers are specially noted in the footnotes to assist readers in need of further reading. There is also a "Tell me more" unit at the end of each chapter, which introduces readers to the methods of reading history and the key points of the chapter.