Minzhong Pavilion of Fayuan Temple in Beijing

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originally named Minzhong, the Fayuan Temple was first built in 645 by Tang Emperor Taizong to hold a memorial ceremony for officers and soldiers killed in action. It was completed in 696 when Wu Zetian was in power. Historian Chang Zheng found that the predecessor of this temple was Linshuo Palace-the temporary dwelling place for Sui Emperor Yangs short stays when away from the capital.

Despotic Rule Causing a Social Upheaval

Yang Guang’s bellicose policy had caused irreparable losses to the country’s economy. The people were trapped in an abyss of misery, and cannibalism occurred in some places suffering from severe famines.

In 611 when Yang Guang was preparing for the war with Goguryeo, Wang Bo,a native of Zouping(the same-named county in present Shandong), raised an armed force of more than 100,000 men in his hometown and hoisted the anti-Sui banner first. During the following years the flames of insurrection were spreading far and wide. Besides the poor peasants who were oppressed and driven to the wall, some descendants of aristocrats like Yang Xuangan(son of Chief Minister Yang Su) also rose in revolt, demonstrating that Yang Guang’s despotic rule had aroused public indignation.

By the year of 617, about a dozen of generals in command of insurrectionary armies had proclaimed themselves “emperor,”and just a few cities including the East Capital and Jiangdu were still under Yang Guang’s control. With the masses rising in rebellion and his followers deserting, he was at the end of his rope, and his empire was hopelessly disintegrated.