SuiAD 581–618

Sui: Timeline of Events (AD 581–618)

China reunited; the Grand Canal is dug and the imperial examinations begin

Events in this period

• Founding and Unification of the SuiSui founded 581, unification 589

  Yang Jian founded the Sui in AD 581 with its capital at Chang'an and destroyed the Chen in 589 to unify the country, ending nearly three centuries of division since the Wei and Jin.

• Li Chun Builds the Zhaozhou BridgeSui dynasty

  The Zhaozhou Bridge, designed and built by the Sui craftsman Li Chun, is the world's oldest surviving open-spandrel single-arch stone bridge, still intact after over 1,400 years.

• Three Departments and Six Ministries600

  Three departments divided central government in Tang China.

• Opening of the Grand CanalFrom AD 605

  From AD 605 Emperor Yang of Sui had the Grand Canal dug, centered on Luoyang, reaching Zhuojun in the north and Yuhang in the south, over 2,700 km long, a great artery linking north and south.

• Creation of the Imperial Examination SystemReigns of Emperors Wen and Yang of Sui

  Emperor Wen of Sui began selecting officials by examinations, and Emperor Yang created the jinshi degree, marking the formal establishment of the imperial examinations, used for over 1,300 years.

• Emperor Yang of Sui Sends Three Missions to LiuqiuAD 610

  Emperor Yang of Sui sent three missions to Liuqiu (today's Taiwan); in AD 610 Chen Leng and others crossed the sea from Yi'an with over 10,000 men, and the Book of Sui has a dedicated account.