China was reunified in 589 by the brief Sui dynasty which existed from 581-617 CE. The Sui Dynasty was led by Yang Jian who ruled as Emperor Wendi. By 589 he ruled all of China which marked the first time in centuries that one man had ruled China entirely. Yang Jian reigned until 604 until his son and heir, Yangdi, disastrously ruled until his assassination in 618.
The Sui Dynasty is often compared to the earlier Qin dynasty in term length and the cruelty of its accomplishments. Despite its military strength, the Qin dynasty lasted just 15 years. The Sui dynasty's early demise was attributed to the government's oppressive demands on the people of China through high taxes and unavoidable labor. The Sui dynasty is credited for the completion of the Grand Canal and reconstructing the Great Wall. These feats were
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Merchant wealth increased as printing, education, and commerce rapidly spread. Many merchants chose to specialize in silk, cotton and porcelain manufacturing. Owning land and being a government employment were no longer the only means of gaining wealth due to this economic balance.
The Song dynasty witnessed an increased interest in Confucian principles and historic ways of life. Buddhism became less popular amongst many of the Chinese people due in part to their rapidly changing culture. The Song Empire never matched the Tang dynasty in terms of extent of land controlled or military power, perhaps because they carefully restrained military growth to prevent internal uprisings.
Both Tang and Song dynasties experienced an expansion of commerce accompanied by substantial urban growth due to the construction of the Grand Canal under the Sui dynasty. The Grand Canal improved shipping times, and encouraged trade which aided their steadily growing economies. Though the Sui dynasty was brief, its lasting effects were felt for