Zhou Dynasty founded 557 On this date in 557, Yuwen Hu, a general in the court of the Western Wei Dynasty (535-557), forced the emperor to cede the throne to a cousin, Yuwen Jue, and so began the Zhou Dynasty (557-581). If you’re thinking this sounds familiar, it’s because February 13th marked the founding of another Zhou Dynasty (950-960). Neither of these two decidedly average Zhou’s should be confused with the original Zhou dynasty, founded in 1046 B.C. or with Zhou Enlai, born in 1898. The Zhou Dynasty founded in 557 sputtered along with three different emperors under the regency of Yuwen Hu, until the latter was poisoned in 578. In 581, one of the Zhou generals, Yang Jian, rose up against the court and founded his own dynasty, the Sui. It was the Sui who would reunify China under a single ruler for the first time in over three centuries.
(And if you’re wondering why we’ve had so many ‘on this date such and such a dynasty was founded’ this month, it’s because it was customary to announce the founding of a new political regime on the first day of their lunar calendar.)
Gu Yanwu passes away, 1682 Today