The Suzer State 's Harsh Politics And Its Reasons - From The Perspective Of Sui Dynasty' S Political And Cultural

Tyranny is an obvious phenomenon in the politics of Sui Dynasty.Both emperors and local officials implemented tyranny.The ways of implementing tyranny and causes of tyranny are different.Sui Emperor Wen was engaged in mediating the conflicts among different political groups from the 1st year (581) to the 9th year (589) of Kaihuang period,during which less tyranny was implemented unless fewer meritorious ministers were killed because of the rebellion.After the 9th year of Kaihuang period,Sui Emperor Wen had annihilated Chen Dynasty and defeated Tujue,as a result he was arrogant.Meanwhile tyranny was implemented and became fiercer and fiercer. Sui Emperor Wen sent out Bingchen Imperial Decree permitting extrajudicial torture in the 17th year of Kaihuang period (597),which is the symbol of tyranny dominating everyday politics.Sui Emperor Wen’s killing meritorious ministers is an important aspect of his tyranny.His tyranny misled political developments and brought negative effects on Sui Dynasty.Sui Emperor Yang’s tyranny developed in three stages.He undertook remitting tyranny from his enthronement to the 4th year of Daye period (608),but meanwhile he requisitioned and misused financial resources of the people foretelling regeneration of his tyranny.Tyranny gradually dominated politics from the 4th year to the 7th year (611) of Daye period.Sui Emperor Yang abused penalties to suppress the rebellion and pushed tyranny in its extreme after the 9th year of Daye period (613).His tyranny hastened Sui Dynasty’s doom.Local officials,especially local cruel officials often established harsh laws to abuse the civilian.Emperors of Sui Dynasty tended to put cruel officials in an important position.They attached importance to cruel officials’political achievements instead of their tyranny.Tyranny of Sui Dynasty originated from the Northern Dynasties owing to history inheritance.Emperors of Sui Dynasty inherited spirit of utilitarianism from the Northern Dynasties and many military officers could be provincial governors who were weak in government affairs,so that tyranny easily occurred.Emperors of Sui Dynasty who were born of the Guanlong Group had martial spirit.As such,utilitarianism sank into their mind and played a potential role in implementing tyranny.The court raised assessment criteria to local officials who also payed attention to utilitarianism,urging them to pursue political achievements,during which local officials implemented a mass of tyranny.In order to strengthen the centralization and official management,Sui Emperor Wen canceled counties and abolished rural official system,but these measures also brought drawbacks.Relatively few officials had to deal with burdensome government affairs and abolishing rural official system deepened the gulf between local officials and the civilian.In this situation officials’ effective governance relied on high concentration of power and administrative force,which brought about tyranny.The court sought people who were hidden by local powerful families to master more people and wealth,but in this process local officials easily harassed the civilian and implemented tyranny.