宇

CIVILIZATION DOSSIER

Yuwen Huaji宇文化及

SuiHistory × Fiction

Sui general, mastermind of the regicide.

Open this figure in the atlas ↗ Read the key relationships and their sources ↓
DIRECT FIGURES
15
RELATION RECORDS
20
SOURCE WORKS
3

RELATIONSHIP COMPASS

Yuwen Huaji, 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

3 figures · 4 records
02
ALLEGIANCE

Allegiance

Rulers, appointments and allegiance

3 figures · 4 records
03
CONFLICT

Conflict

Battles, captures and defeat

12 figures · 12 records
6 more in the complete 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 · Old Book of Tang

Sui general, mastermind of the regicide. The regicide, his younger brother Zhiji and others were condemned by imperial edict. Sui general, killed Emperor Yang, later fought with Li Mi.

In fiction · New Book of Tang · Romance of Sui and Tang

Son of Yuwen Shu, advocated demanding justice from Li Yuan. Son of Yuwen Shu, had a grudge against Qin Qiong. Son of Yuwen Shu, involved in framing Qin Shubao.

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

    Old Book of Tang

    20 profile notes
    9 relations14 verified quotations
    • Yuwen Huaji→ murder →Emperor Yang of Sui
    • Li Mi→ battle →Yuwen Huaji
    • Dou Jiande→ slay →Yuwen Huaji
    • Xu Shiji→ confront →Yuwen Huaji
    Verified original text · 14
    1. 执弑炀帝人于弘达献越王侗

      regicide · Old Book of Tang, 李密传

    2. 弑炀帝

      regicide · Old Book of Tang, 李密传

    12 more verified quotations in the relationship records below.

    Open work page →

  2. Literature / legend

    Romance of Sui and Tang

    9 profile notes
    11 relations10 verified quotations
    • Yuwen Huaji→ murder →Emperor Yang of Sui
    • Li Jing→ use strategy →Yuwen Huaji
    • Yuwen Huaji→ scheme frame →Qin Shubao
    • Dou Jiande→ slay →Yuwen Huaji
    Verified original text · 10
    1. 议定以化及为主，司马德戡先召骁勇首领，说这举动之意

      rebel · Romance of Sui and Tang, 047

    2. 司马德戡，缢死了炀帝，随来报知宇文化及。

      murder · Romance of Sui and Tang, 048

    8 more verified quotations in the relationship records below.

    Open work page →

  3. Official history

    New Book of Tang

    17 profile notes
    10 relations11 verified quotations
    • Li Yuan→ hostile →Yuwen Huaji
    • Yuwen Huaji→ murder →Emperor Yang of Sui
    • Li Mi→ battle →Yuwen Huaji
    • Dou Jiande→ slay →Yuwen Huaji
    Verified original text · 11
    1. 宇文化及弑太上皇

      hostile · New Book of Tang, 高祖本纪

    2. 宇文化及弑太上皇于江都

      murder · New Book of Tang, 高祖本纪

    9 more verified quotations in the relationship records below.

    Open work page →

History vs. fiction

In the episode where Yuwen Huaji is executed by Dou Jiande, the novel changes the beheading to a more cruel death by dismemberment as a sacrifice.

  • based on factHow was Yuwen Huaji executed after being captured by Dou Jiande?

    The 'Old Book of Tang, Biography of Dou Jiande' records that after capturing Yuwen Huaji, 'Huaji and his two sons were loaded together into a prison cart and beheaded at Daluxian,' while his fellow conspirators were 'assembled before the Sui civil and military officials, beheaded, and their heads displayed outside the camp gate.' In chapter 50 of 'Romance of Sui and Tang,' Dou Jiande, to dramatise his vengeance for Emperor Yang of Sui, orders his men to 'bind Huaji and Zhiji to posts and cut them to pieces with knives, as a sacrifice to Emperor Yang.' The novel converts a beheading at Daluxian into death by slicing plus a sacrificial rite.

Relationship network

16 figures · 75 links
Yuwen HuajiYuwen HuajiLi YuanLi YuanEmperor Yang of SuiEmperor Yang of SuiLi JingLi JingLi MiLi MiQin ShubaoQin ShubaoXu ShijiXu ShijiDou JiandeDou JiandeEmpress XiaoEmpress XiaoYu ShinanYu ShinanLuo YiLuo YiYuwen ShijiDou XianniangYuwen ShuLi ShentongDu Fuwei
historyliteraturedual
Open full atlas →

Sources: New Book of Tang, 侯君集张亮薛万钧弟 万彻弟 万淑弟 万备附 盛彦师附 卢祖尚附 刘世让附 刘兰等传; Old Book of Tang, ch. 82; Romance of Sui and Tang, 018; New Book of Tang, 奸臣传上; Old Book of Tang, 太宗本纪上; Romance of Sui and Tang, 041; New Book of Tang, 宗室传; Old Book of Tang, 太宗本纪下

This page was extracted from classical texts with AI assistance and revised; errors remain possible. Spotted a mistake? Tell us →

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