Later depiction of Emperor Yang of Sui
Later depiction of Emperor Yang of Sui · 7 世纪A transmitted or later depiction, not presented as a contemporary documentary portraitYan LibenSource·Public domain

CIVILIZATION DOSSIER

Emperor Yang of Sui隋炀帝

SuiHistory × Fiction

Emperor of the Sui dynasty, killed by Yuwen Huaji.

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DIRECT FIGURES
18
RELATION RECORDS
31
SOURCE WORKS
6

RELATIONSHIP COMPASS

Emperor Yang of Sui, and the people around them.

Open one chapter at a time. Each chapter gives the relationship first, then the source text behind it.

01
KINSHIP

Kinship

Blood, marriage and sworn bonds

4 figures · 6 records
02
ALLEGIANCE

Allegiance

Rulers, appointments and allegiance

12 figures · 17 records
8 more in the complete record
03
CONFLICT

Conflict

Battles, captures and defeat

6 figures · 7 records
3 more in the complete record
04
THE UNSEEN

Mythic acts

Transformation, aid and divine punishment

1 figure · 1 record
Complete relationships and verbatim sources ↓Open in the civilization atlas ↗

12 key relationships are shown here. The complete record remains below.

FeatureFact and Fiction in the Sui-Tang Transition: The Lingyan Pavilion Officials vs. Outlaw Brotherhoods"Romance of Sui and Tang" writes this period of history as a jianghu of sworn brotherhood, martial contests, and roaming, while the "Old Book of Tang" records a different matter. The meritorious officials in the Lingyan Pavilion become greenwood brothers in the romance, and several of the most deeply rooted fierce generals are nowhere to be found in the official history; whereas a coup like the Xuanwu Gate Incident is actually written more plainly in the official history than in the romance. This piece compares the two sides, noting which volume each part comes from.

In history · History of Song · Old Book of Tang

Emperor of the Sui dynasty, killed by Yuwen Huaji.；Emperor Yang of Sui, killed by Yuwen Huaji.；Emperor of the Sui dynasty, assassinated by Yuwen Huaji.

In fiction · Book of the Later Han · Extensive Records of the Taiping Era · New Book of Tang · Romance of Sui and Tang

Second son of Emperor Wen of Sui, enfeoffed as Prince of Jin, commander-in-chief of the campaign against Chen, later became Emperor Yang of Sui.；Son of Emperor Wen of Sui, plotted to seize the crown prince's position, killed his father and ascended the throne as Emperor Yang of Sui.；Emperor of the Sui dynasty, had emotional entanglements with Lady Xuanhua and Empress Xiao, and had mutual suspicion with minister Yang Su.

Across source works

How this figure changes across texts

Works are shown side by side, not as a chronology. No influence between texts is inferred.

  1. Official history

    Book of the Later Han

    2 profile notes
    1 relations1 verified quotations
    • Ma Yuan→ urge surrender →Emperor Yang of Sui
    Verified original text · 1
    1. 援又为书与嚣将杨广

      urge surrender · Book of the Later Han, 马援列传

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  2. Official history

    Old Book of Tang

    26 profile notes
    10 relations12 verified quotations
    • Li Mi→ attack →Emperor Yang of Sui
    • Wang Shichong→ subordinate →Emperor Yang of Sui
    • Dou Jiande→ posthumous title →Emperor Yang of Sui
    • Yuwen Huaji→ murder →Emperor Yang of Sui
    Verified original text · 12
    1. 将问南巢之罪

      attack · Old Book of Tang, 李密传

    2. 时炀帝数幸江都，世充善候人主颜色

      subordinate · Old Book of Tang, 王世充窦建德传

    10 more verified quotations in the relationship records below.

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  3. Official history

    History of Song

    5 profile notes
    0 relations0 verified quotations

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  4. Literature / legend

    Romance of Sui and Tang

    35 profile notes
    17 relations43 verified quotations
    • Emperor Yang of Sui→ appoint →Li Yuan
    • Emperor Yang of Sui→ spouse →Empress Xiao
    • Empress Xiao→ spouse →Emperor Yang of Sui
    • Yuwen Huaji→ murder →Emperor Yang of Sui
    Verified original text · 43
    1. 李渊为元帅府司马

      commander · Romance of Sui and Tang, 001

    2. 即著补弘化郡留守，总管关右十三郡兵马

      appoint · Romance of Sui and Tang, 029

    41 more verified quotations in the relationship records below.

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  5. 12 profile notes
    1 relations1 verified quotations
    • Emperor Yang of Sui→ nickname →Li Yuan
    Verified original text · 1
    1. 帝目为阿婆面

      nickname · Extensive Records of the Taiping Era, 谶应

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  6. Official history

    New Book of Tang

    14 profile notes
    7 relations8 verified quotations
    • Li Yuan→ ruler-subject →Emperor Yang of Sui
    • Li Yuan→ rebel →Emperor Yang of Sui
    • Wang Shichong→ subordinate →Emperor Yang of Sui
    • Yuwen Huaji→ murder →Emperor Yang of Sui
    Verified original text · 8
    1. 炀帝征辽东，遣高祖督运粮

      ruler-subject · New Book of Tang, 高祖本纪

    2. 遥尊隋帝为太上皇

      honor as · New Book of Tang, 高祖本纪

    6 more verified quotations in the relationship records below.

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History vs. fiction

The last ruler of the Sui dynasty, whose licentiousness and cruelty are greatly exaggerated in the historical novel.

  • based on factThe image of a cruel and licentious last ruler

    The Old Book of Tang and the Book of Sui record that Emperor Yang of Sui was extravagant, lascivious, and abused the people's labor, ultimately being assassinated by Yuwen Huaji, leading to the fall of the Sui dynasty. The Romance of Sui and Tang writes: "如今再说炀帝荒淫之念，日觉愈炽，初命侍卫许庭辅等十人，点选绣女；又命宇文恺营显仁宫于洛阳；又令麻叔谋、令狐达开通各处河道；又要幸洛阳，又思游江都。弄得这些百姓东奔西驰。" (The Romance of Sui and Tang 027.txt) However, The Romance of Sui and Tang makes extensive artistic exaggerations based on historical facts, heavily embellishing details of his greed, murder, patricide, usurpation, and extreme debauchery in the harem, portraying him as a stereotyped absolute tyrant to highlight the legitimacy of the Tang dynasty replacing the Sui.

Relationship network

19 figures · 79 links
Emperor Yang of SuiEmperor Yang of SuiLi YuanLi YuanLi MiLi MiWang ShichongWang ShichongDou JiandeDou JiandeMa YuanMa YuanEmpress XiaoEmpress XiaoYuwen HuajiYuwen HuajiXiao YuXiao YuYang SuYang SuEmperor Wen of SuiEmperor Wen of SuiYu ShinanYuwen ShijiQu TutongPei JuYuwen ShuZhu Gui'erLi BaiyaoFeng Deyi
historyliteraturedual
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Sources: Book of the Later Han, 隗嚣公孙述列传; Extensive Records of the Taiping Era, 乐二; History of Song, 乔维岳王陟张雍董俨魏廷式卢琰宋抟凌策杨覃陈世卿李若拙绎陈知微传; New Book of Tang, 刘吴韦蒋柳沈传; Old Book of Tang, 五行志; Romance of Sui and Tang, 001; Book of the Later Han, 马援列传; Extensive Records of the Taiping Era, 书二

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Compiled with AI assistance from public-domain texts; for cultural reference. Mythological accounts vary — corrections welcome.