Northern Qi

The Northern Qi Dynasty (simplified Chinese: 北齐朝; traditional Chinese: 北齊朝; pinyin: Běi Qí Cháo) was one of the Northern dynasties of Chinese history and ruled northern China from 550 to 577.

History

The Chinese state of Northern Qi was the successor state of the Chinese/Xianbei state of Eastern Wei and was founded by Emperor Wenxuan. As Eastern Wei's paramount general Gao Huan was succeeded by his sons Gao Cheng and Gao Yang, who took the throne from Emperor Xiaojing of Eastern Wei in 550 and established Northern Qi as its Emperor Wenxuan. Although Northern Qi was plagued by violence and/or incompetent emperors (Emperor Wenxuan, Emperor Wucheng, and Gao Wei), corrupt officials, and deteriorating armies for most of its existence, it was the strongest state of the three main Chinese states (along with Northern Zhou state and Chen Dynasty) when it was established. Like most imperial dynasties, it gradually declined and was destroyed by Northern Zhou in 577. Emperor Wenxuan's son Gao Shaoyi, the Prince of Fanyang, under protection by Tujue, later declared himself the emperor of Northern Qi in exile, but was turned over by Tujue to Northern Zhou in 580 and exiled to modern Sichuan. It is a matter of controversy whether Gao Shaoyi should properly be considered a Northern Qi emperor, but in any case the year 577 is generally considered by historians as the ending date for Northern Qi.

Emperors

Northern Qi arts

Northern Qi ceramics mark a revival of Chinese ceramic art, following the disastrous invasions and the social chaos of the 4th century.^[7] Northern Qi tombs have revealed some beautiful artifacts, such as porcellaneous ware with splashed green designs, previously thought to have been developed under the Tang dynasty.^[7] Such a jar has been found in a Northern Qi tomb, which was closed in 576 CE, and is considered as a precussor of the Tang Sancai style of ceramics.^[9]

Also, brown glazed wares designed with Sasanian-style figures have been found in these tombs.^[7] These works suggest a strong cosmopolitanism and intense exchanges with Western Asia, which are also visible in metalworks and relief sculptures across China during this period.^[7] Cosmopolitanism was therefore already current during the Northern Qi period in the 6th century, even before the advent of the notoriously cosmopolitan Tang dynasty, and was often associated with Buddhism.^[7][10]

Religions

A Chinese scholar translated the Buddhist text Nirvana Sutra text into a Turkic language during this era. Some Zoroastrianism influences that went into previous states continued onto the state of Northern Qi court, such as the love for Persian dogs (sacred in Zoroastrianism) as they were taken as pets by nobels and eunuchs. The Chinese utilized a number of Persian artifacts and products.^[11]

Notes

1. ^ Zizhi Tongjian, vol. 163.
2. ^ Zizhi Tongjian, vol. 173.
3. ^ Zizhi Tongjian, vol. 174.
4. ^ Gao Wei's cousin Gao Yanzong the Prince of Ande (Gao Cheng's son) briefly declared himself emperor around the new year 577 after the soldiers guarding the city of Jinyang (晉陽, in modern Taiyuan, Shanxi) demanded that he claim the title when Gao Wei abandoned Jinyang. Gao Yanzong, however, was almost immediately defeated and captured by Northern Zhou troops, and therefore is generally not considered a true Northern Qi emperor.
5. ^ In 577, Gao Wei, then with the title Taishang Huang (retired emperor), tried to issue an edict on his son's behalf yielding the throne to his uncle (Gao Huan's son) Gao Jie (高湝) the Prince of Rencheng, but the officials he sent to deliver the edict to Gao Jie surrendered to Northern Zhou rather than delivering the edict to Gao Jie, who was subsequently also captured by Northern Zhou troops. It is questionable whether Gao Jie was even aware of the edict, and in any case, Gao Jie never used imperial title.
6. ^ As noted above, Emperor Wenxuan's son Gao Shaoyi tried to establish a Northern Qi court in exile on Tujue's territory, but was not successful in his efforts in recapturing formerly Northern Qi territory, and was eventually turned over by Tujue to Northern Zhou. Most historians do not consider him a true Northern Qi emperor, although the matter remains in controversy.
7. ^ ^{a b c d e f} The arts of China by Michael Sullivan p.120
8. ^ Notice of the Metropolitan Museum of Art permanent exhibition.
9. ^ Chinese glazes: their origins, chemistry, and recreation by Nigel Wood p.200
10. ^ China between empires: the northern and southern dynasties by Mark Edward Lewis p.168
11. ^ Cunren Liu (1976). Angela Schottenhammer. ed. Selected papers from the Hall of harmonious wind. Brill Archive. p. 14. ISBN 9004044922. http://books.google.com/books?id=AsQUAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA14&dq=was+translated+by+a+chinese+scholar+into+a+turkic+language+northern+ch'i+promotion+of+beliefs#v=onepage&q=was%20translated%20by%20a%20chinese%20scholar%20into%20a%20turkic%20language%20northern%20ch'i%20promotion%20of%20beliefs&f=false. Retrieved 2010-06-28. 

References

• Book of Northern Qi.
• History of Northern Dynasties.
• Zizhi Tongjian.

See also

• Southern dynasty
• Northern dynasty
• Chinese sovereign
• Avars
• Buddhism
• Buddhism in China