The Northern Wei dynasty, like the Sui dynasty, may be short-lived, but its achievements endure far beyond the end of its dynasty.
The Sui reunited China after the period of division known as the Six Dynasties period, which had its capital at Nanking.
The second Sui emperor rebuilt the Great Wall and extended the canal system that we now call the Grand Canal.
The Northern Wei are an alien people. It conquered northern China and competed with a series of indigenous dynasties ruling the south of China.
To project and acquire legitimacy, the emperors of the Northern Wei acquired and adopted the Chinese way of life and culture.
More importantly, they built Buddhist monuments. One of their most significant and beautiful constructions is the Yungang Grottoes.
Built by the Empress Dowager Ling, these grottoes in Shanxi are magnificent.
There is a 6-part documentary on the Yungang Grottoes currently showing on Astro QJ channel 308. Titled Yungang Grottoes, this is a 2022 production. The visuals and the depth of analysis reveal the high cultural achievement of the Northern Wei.
The book here by Puning Liu (2021) examines the ways used by the Northern Wei to achieve legitimacy as an alien dynasty ruling the Chinese.
Stephanie Balkwill, in her 2024 book, documents the rise to power of the Empress Dowager Ling and her life on the throne, and how she promoted Buddhism as the state religion.
LWH, 19 August 2025, Tuesday, 11 pm
