Yuwen Yong

Timeline

1. 543–561Chang'an · Chang'anYuwen Yong was the fourth son of Yuwen Tai, born in the Western Wei capital Chang'an. After Northern Zhou was established in 557 he was created Duke of Lu, later changed to Duke of Shu. After his brother Yuwen Yu (Emperor Xiaoming) was poisoned by the powerful minister Yuwen Hu, Yuwen Yong succeeded to the throne in 560, becoming Emperor Wu of Northern Zhou.
2. 561–572Chang'an · Chang'anIn the early years of his reign, court politics were controlled by his cousin Yuwen Hu; Yuwen Yong endured humiliation and bided his time for twelve years. In 572 he seized an opportunity to personally kill Yuwen Hu, from then on personally directing state affairs, vigorously rectifying administration and expanding the fubing militia, laying the foundation for the later unification of the north.
3. 572–578Chang'an · Chang'anIn 574 he issued orders abolishing Buddhism and Daoism, forcibly returning monks and Daoist priests to lay life, known historically as 'Emperor Wu's Suppression of Buddhism', releasing a large amount of productive labor to fill military households. In 577 he personally led a great army to destroy Northern Qi, unifying North China and ending the east-west division of the Northern Dynasties. In 578 he fell ill during a northern campaign against the Turkic Khaganate and died in camp the same year, at only thirty-five; the strong national power he built laid the foundation for the Sui dynasty's later unification of the whole empire.