Yuwen Yun

Biography

Family Background and Early Life

Yuwen Yun was the eldest son of Emperor Wu of Northern Zhou, Yuwen Yong, and was born in Tongzhou in 559. His mother Li Ezi was a daughter of the Western Wei general Li Qianzhe and was later honored as Imperial Empress Dowager after giving birth to Yuwen Yun.

Raised within the imperial household, Yuwen Yun was only three when he was made Duke of Lu on the first day of the fifth lunar month in 561. On the twenty-first day of the fourth lunar month in 572, Emperor Wu personally reported the appointment to the ancestral temple, capped Yuwen Yun at the eastern steps, and formally established him as crown prince. The Book of Zhou records the ceremony explicitly.

Emperor Wu placed high expectations on his heir but regarded him as mediocre and self-indulgent and therefore disciplined him harshly. At audiences Yuwen Yun was required to observe the same strict deportment as officials and was allowed no respite even in extreme heat or cold. Because he liked alcohol, Emperor Wu prohibited wine from entering the Eastern Palace. Whenever Yuwen Yun committed an offense, the emperor beat him with canes or whips and even warned that many crown princes had been deposed before and that he had other sons who could replace him. Officials of the Eastern Palace were ordered to record Yuwen Yun's words and conduct and report monthly.

Fearing his father's severity, Yuwen Yun carefully concealed his real disposition. Even so, Wang Gui and other ministers urged Emperor Wu to replace the heir. The emperor judged that his second son Yuwen Zan was also unworthy and the remaining sons too young, so Yuwen Yun retained his position. The Comprehensive Mirror in Aid of Governance records Wang Gui lamenting during a banquet that although Emperor Wu was admirable, his heir was weak. Emperor Wu appears to have shared some of these concerns but did not act.

Period as Crown Prince

In 573, Emperor Wu ordered the crown prince to inspect the western regions, and that same year Yuwen Yun married Yang Lihua, eldest daughter of Duke Yang Jian of Sui, as crown princess. In 574, after Empress Dowager Wenxuan Chinu died, Emperor Wu observed mourning and ordered Yuwen Yun to oversee the government for fifty days. Thereafter, when Emperor Wu traveled on inspection, he often left Yuwen Yun in charge of court affairs. In February 576 Yuwen Yun again inspected the west and used the occasion to campaign against Tuyuhun.

Although he appeared outwardly disciplined during his years as crown prince, he had long suppressed his impulses. Conscious of his father's severity, he concealed his temperament to avoid punishment. The source presents this prolonged repression as contributing to the extreme indulgence of his later reign.

Accession

Emperor Wu died on the first day of the sixth lunar month of 578. Yuwen Yun ascended the throne the next day. He honored his father's principal wife Ashina as empress dowager and his birth mother Li Ezi as imperial empress dowager and designated the following year as the first year of Dacheng. Whereas established mourning norms expected a new ruler to observe mourning for about a month, Yuwen Yun took the throne immediately after his father's death, buried him ten days later, then removed mourning clothes and celebrated his accession.

The Book of Zhou states that Yuwen Yun showed no grief at his father's death and even touched scars on his feet left by past beatings and shouted toward Emperor Wu's coffin that he had died too late. After accession he rapidly displayed an extravagant and violent disposition. He ordered that daughters of officials of Yitong rank and above were not to marry so that he could choose among them for the palace. He withdrew into the inner court, relied on eunuchs, undertook large construction projects, imposed arbitrary punishments, punished memorials for writing errors, and sent confidants to monitor ministers.

Execution of Imperial Clansmen and Weakening of the Princes

On the twenty-eighth day of the sixth lunar month of 578, Yuwen Yun killed his uncle Yuwen Xian, Prince of Qi, a famous Northern Zhou general of exceptional prestige. In May 579 he ordered Yuwen Zhao, Prince of Zhao; Yuwen Chun, Prince of Chen; Yuwen Sheng, Prince of Yue; Yuwen Da, Prince of Dai; and Yuwen You, Prince of Teng to leave Chang'an for their respective fiefs. The strength of the imperial clan declined markedly.

These measures strengthened Yuwen Yun's immediate personal authority but weakened the wider Northern Zhou imperial house and, according to the source, helped create conditions later exploited by Yang Jian.

Abdication and the Tianyuan Emperor Period

On the nineteenth day of the second lunar month in 579, Yuwen Yun abdicated in favor of his eldest son Yuwen Yan, later renamed Yuwen Chan. He changed the era name to Daxiang and styled himself Tianyuan Emperor. Yang Lihua became Tianyuan Empress. His residence was called the “Terrace of Heaven”; he wore a crown with twenty-four pendant strands; vehicles, dress, banners, and drums were organized in units of twenty-four; his commands were styled “heavenly decrees,” “heavenly edicts,” and “heavenly orders”; and he referred to himself as “Heaven.” Ministers were required to fast for three days and purify themselves for one day before appearing before him.

Although he had transferred the throne to his son, Yuwen Yun remained the effective ruler and issued orders as retired emperor. He established five empresses: Grand Tianyuan Empress Yang Lihua, Great Heavenly Empress Zhu Manyue, Central Heavenly Empress Chen Yueyi, Left Heavenly Empress Yuchi Chifan, and Right Heavenly Empress Yuan Leshang. Historical records call this the “five empresses ruling concurrently,” surpassing the three empresses of Liu Cong of Former Zhao.

Yuwen Yun ordered large-scale selection of women throughout the realm for the palace. Chen Yueyi, the eighth daughter of Grand General Chen Shanti, and Yuan Leshang, the second daughter of Yitong Yuan Sheng, were especially favored. The source attributes the rapid deterioration of Yuwen Yun's health to excessive sexual indulgence and constant pleasure-seeking.

Later Years and Death

In his later years Yuwen Yun became suspicious of his father-in-law Yang Jian, Duke of Sui. He once intended to order the death of Yang Jian's daughter Yang Lihua, who was spared only after Yang Jian's wife Dugu Jialuo pleaded for her. On another occasion Yuwen Yun summoned Yang Jian with instructions that he be killed if his facial expression changed; Yang Jian remained composed and survived. Deeply uneasy, Yang Jian asked the emperor's trusted official Zheng Yi to persuade Yuwen Yun to give him an outside assignment.

In the fifth lunar month of 580, Yuwen Yun planned a campaign against Southern Chen and asked Zheng Yi's opinion. Zheng Yi took the opportunity to recommend Yang Jian, and the emperor approved. On the eighteenth day of the fifth lunar month Yuwen Yun appointed Yang Jian chief administrator of Yangzhou to direct the southern campaign. Yang Jian suddenly developed a foot illness and did not depart immediately. On the twenty-fourth day Yuwen Yun became critically ill and summoned Liu Fang, Lesser Imperial Corrector, and Yan Zhiyi, Middle Grand Master of Imperial Correction, to entrust final matters, but he could no longer speak. Liu Fang, Zheng Yi, and others then planned to place Yang Jian in charge of the government and forged an associated testamentary edict. Yuwen Yun died that day in Tiande Hall at the age of twenty-two and received the posthumous title Emperor Xuan. He was buried at Dingling on the twelfth day of the seventh lunar month.

After Yuwen Yun's death, Yang Jian took control of government as regent. The following year he deposed Emperor Jing of Northern Zhou, established the Sui dynasty, and brought Northern Zhou to an end.

Major Activities

Changes to the Official System

After taking the throne, Yuwen Yun used the Rites of Zhou as a model and created four assistant offices: Yuwen Sheng as Great Front Adviser, Yuchi Jiong as Great Right Supporter, Li Mu as Great Left Assistant, and Yang Jian as Great Rear Chancellor. The source says he did not follow established precedent and changed official ranks and grades at will. He also added middle grand masters to the Six Ministries and upper grand masters in the Imperial Correction and Secretariat offices. Many changes were introduced in the morning and altered again by evening. The Book of Zhou states that although the Rites of Zhou remained nominally in force, the government simultaneously used offices derived from Qin and Han practice.

Promulgation of Nine Regulations

In August 578 Yuwen Yun sent commissioners to inspect the provinces and promulgated nine regulations: criminal judgments had to follow written law; women whose mourning obligations for their maternal kin had ended could remarry; corporal punishment with the cane had to follow legal rules; counties and commanderies where bandits could not be apprehended had to report the situation; filial descendants, righteous husbands, and chaste women were to be honored locally and talented persons recommended; persons of ability who had previously served without attaining rank or who remained among the common people were to be sought out and reported; officials of seventh rank and above whose appointment had already been ordered were to be admitted, while those of eighth rank and below or outside the formal rank system could enter selection and receive posts two grades lower; superior provinces were to recommend one xiucai annually and superior commanderies one xiaolian annually, while lower units did so once every three years; and people aged seventy or above were to receive offices according to regulation, while widowers, widows, and impoverished persons unable to support themselves were to receive relief.

The regulations addressed criminal justice, marriage, service, recruitment of talent, and social relief. Although issued by Yuwen Yun, the source notes that several provisions had a genuine regulatory role in local government.

Reconstruction of Luoyang

Yuwen Yun intended to move the capital to Luoyang and began restoring a city badly damaged by war. In the first lunar month of 579 he visited Luoyang, and in the second lunar month he ordered the old capital rebuilt according to a stated principle of avoiding both excess and meanness. Other construction projects were halted so resources could focus on the Luoyang palace. To accelerate work he mobilized provincial troops from east of the Taihang Mountains and increased their annual labor service from one month to forty-five days. Around forty thousand workers were often employed, and construction continued until his death.

In the twelfth lunar month he traveled to Luoyang with a large entourage to inspect construction personally. To move quickly he rode relay horses rather than a carriage and covered three hundred li a day, with several hundred civil and military attendants also mounted. Four empresses accompanied him, and any who fell behind were reprimanded. To promote Luoyang's prosperity, Yuwen Yun ordered the six offices of Xiangzhou moved there as the “Six Offices of the Eastern Capital.” He also ordered the stone classics removed from Luoyang when Gao Huan moved the capital to Ye returned to the city. Former households that had been relocated were permitted to return to Luozhou, and others who wished to move to Luoyang could do so. According to the source, these measures quickly contributed to renewed prosperity. Historical records state that although the palace was unfinished, its scale and luxury already surpassed the palaces of Han and Wei.

Suppression of Local Rebellions

During Yuwen Yun's reign the government suppressed several local disturbances and maintained territorial stability. The source lists resistance by local forces such as Yuchi Jiong, chief administrator of Xiangzhou, and measures against incursions by Tuyuhun. Because Yuwen Yun's reign was very short and much of his attention was devoted to pleasure, his military record remained limited.

Yue Yun's Remonstrance

Official Yue Yun, appalled by Yuwen Yun's disorderly government, had a coffin carried with him to court and presented eight criticisms of the emperor. Yuwen Yun was enraged and initially intended to execute him. Secretariat official Yuan Yan argued that Yue Yun had expected to die and sought posthumous fame; killing him would only fulfill that goal. The emperor accepted this reasoning and spared him. The following day Yuwen Yun reflected on the memorial, summoned Yue Yun, called him a loyal minister, and rewarded him with imperial food. Court officials, who had feared for Yue Yun's life when the emperor first became angry, congratulated one another when he survived.

Personal Relations

• Father: Emperor Wu of Northern Zhou, Yuwen Yong
• Mother: Imperial Empress Dowager Li Ezi
• Principal mother: Empress Dowager Ashina
• Younger brother: Yuwen Zan, Prince of Han
• Sons: Emperor Jing Yuwen Chan (mother Zhu Manyue); Yuwen Kan, Prince of Lai (mother Lady Wang); Yuwen Shu, Prince of Ying (mother Lady Huangfu)
• Daughters: Yuwen Eying (mother Yang Lihua); Yuwen Xuan, fifth daughter (mother Yang Lihua); Princess Xiyao
• Grand Tianyuan Empress Yang Lihua, daughter of Yang Jian
• Great Heavenly Empress Zhu Manyue, mother of Emperor Jing
• Central Heavenly Empress Chen Yueyi
• Left Heavenly Empress Yuchi Chifan
• Right Heavenly Empress Yuan Leshang
• Lady Wang
• Lady Huangfu
• Lady Gao, granddaughter of Emperor Xiaozhao of Northern Qi Gao Yan and daughter of Gao Yanli, Prince of Runan
• Father-in-law: Yang Jian, Duke of Sui, later Emperor Wen of Sui
• Mother-in-law: Dugu Jialuo
• Favored officials: Liu Fang, Lesser Imperial Corrector; Zheng Yi, Upper Grand Master of the Secretariat
• Close officials: Yan Zhiyi, Middle Grand Master of Imperial Correction; Yuan Yan, Secretariat official
• Remonstrating official: Yue Yun
• Yuwen Xian, Prince of Qi: Imperial uncle executed by Yuwen Yun
• Yuwen Zhao, Yuwen Chun, Yuwen Sheng, Yuwen Da, and Yuwen You: Imperial princes ordered out of the capital to their fiefs
• Wang Gui: Had urged Emperor Wu to replace Yuwen Yun as heir

Historical Assessment

Northern Zhou / Contemporary

• Yue Yun's memorial listed eight failings and criticized Yuwen Yun for filling the palace with women, remaining for days in the inner court, relying on eunuchs for reports, and displaying signs associated with dynastic collapse.
• Yan Zhiyi refused to sign the forged testamentary edict and denounced Liu Fang and others, arguing that the young successor required a senior imperial clansman rather than the transfer of supreme authority to an outsider.
• Secretariat official Yuan Yan described Yuwen Yun as heavily addicted to alcohol and eventually withdrew from court after his advice went unheeded.

Tang Dynasty

• Linghu Defen's Book of Zhou argued that Emperor Wu recognized his heir's inadequacy but, like Emperor Wu of Jin, was constrained by paternal attachment. It condemned Yuwen Yun as a violent and benighted ruler whose wrongdoing exceeded what records could fully contain and remarked that he was fortunate to die intact and see the dynasty fall only in his son's reign.
• The Book of Sui, compiled under Wei Zheng, treated Yuwen Yun's violent government as important background to Yang Jian's replacement of Northern Zhou and presented the dynasty's fall as partly self-inflicted.
• Li Yanshou's History of the Northern Dynasties followed the Book of Zhou in calling Yuwen Yun a violent and benighted ruler and repeating the claim that even endless records could not exhaust his crimes.

Song and Yuan Periods

• Sima Guang's Comprehensive Mirror in Aid of Governance exposed Yuwen Yun's indulgence and brutality and treated him as a classic example of an incompetent ruler.
• Hu Sansheng commented that Yuwen Yun had not been on the throne even a year before behaving in this fashion and that Northern Zhou's collapse was already foreseeable before the rise of Sui.
• Zheng Qiao's Comprehensive Treatises classified him among rulers who ruined their states and regarded unrestrained desire and violation of proper norms as direct causes of Northern Zhou's collapse.

Modern Period

• Lü Simian, in History of the Jin and the Northern and Southern Dynasties, argued that Yuwen Yun's violence and indulgence accelerated Northern Zhou's decline and that his appointment of five concurrent empresses was an unusually extreme manifestation of political and personal excess.
• Wang Zhongluo, in History of the Wei, Jin, and Northern and Southern Dynasties, judged his institutional changes arbitrary and unsystematic and saw the constant alteration of offices as seriously damaging political order.
• Tian Yuqing, in relevant discussions of Northern Zhou politics, treated Yuwen Yun's reign as the critical transition from strength to decline and argued that his execution of imperial clansmen and suspicion of ministers helped clear the way for Yang Jian's usurpation.