Yangtze River History in Sui and Tang Dynasties

Yangtze River History in Sui and Tang Dynasties - Events

In Sui Dynasty, there happened an important event in Yangtze River Three Gorges Area. The Wen Emperor in Sui Dynasty sent his officer to Fenjie to build ships and train navy, making preparation for the battle with Chen. The ships can be divided into giant, middle and small size. In 8th year of Kaihuang in Sui Dynasty (588), Yang Su leaded the army to fight with Chen, and defeat the Chen Army. At last, the Sui Army broken through Three Gorges and reached to Hankow.

In the end of Sui Dynasty, Xiao Tong who lived in Yangtze River area betrayed Sui Government, declared himself as Emperor Liang and settled his capital in Jiangling. In the second year of Wude (619), Li Yuan, who was the emperor of Tang, wanted to unify the south area of the river. At the same time, Xiao Tong sent his great general to attack Bashu area. But the army came across Tang Army in Xiling Gorge and retreated back to Jingmen and Huya. In the third year of Wude, the Tang Army took Huya. In the fourth year of Wude (621), Tang Army crusaded against Xiaotong, and captured him at Jiangling. At last, Xiao Tong was killed in Changan.

The history story happened in Yangtze River Three Gorges area is precious treasure in Yangtze River history. It also offers visitors more fun when they take Yangtze Cruise passing by Three Gorges.

Yangtze River History in Sui and Tang Dynasties – Town Construction

In Sui and Tang Dynasty, there were three great families, Tian, Xiang and Ran, lived in Yangtze River Three Gorges area. There were some ancient books recorded the events in this period. In Sui and Tang Dynasty, the local administration system changed. It changed to canton and county two levels system from province, canton and county.

As early as in New Stone Age, people in Yangtze River Three Gorges area have begun to live at some plain area, and formed some tribe relics. All of these relics along the Yangtze River bank laid a good foundation for the town and city development in Yangtze River area. In Sui and Tang Dynasty, the large county in Yangtze Rive Three Gorges area was the Xianaoxi, located in today's northwest of Yichang County, which was a small town built by the river.

Yangtze River History in Sui and Tang Dynasties – Economy

In Sui and Tang Dynasty, every aspect of social economy was same as previous period that fishing, hunting and picking played important roles in social life. The planting in agriculture remains took traditional slash and burn cultivation. The crops in Yangtze River area mainly are Panicum miliaceum, beans and grain. Rice also took a certain proportion. The cash crops in this period included tea, ramie, and kudzu and so on. Especially tea production came into its prosperous period in Tang Dynasty.