Early career

Yuwen Tai was born in 507, and was a descendant of the last chieftain of the Xianbei Yuwen tribe Yuwen Yidougui, whose tribe was destroyed by Murong Huang, the founding ruler of Former Yan. Yuwen Yidougui's descendants served as generals during Former Yan and its successor state Later Yan. Later, when Emperor Daowu of Northern Wei defeated the Later Yan emperor Murong Bao (Emperor Huimin), Yuwen Tai's great-great-grandfather Yuwen Ling (宇文陵) surrendered to Northern Wei, and was relocated to Wuchuan (武川, in modern Hohhot, Inner Mongolia). Yuwen Tai's father Yuwen Gong (宇文肱) was known for his ability in battle. In 524, with Northern Wei's northern provinces overrun by agrarian rebels, Wuchuan was being held by one of the major rebels, Poliuhan Baling (破六韩拔陵). Yuwen Gong and another local leader, Heba Duba (贺拔度拔), ambushed Poliuhan's general Wei Kegu (卫可孤) and killed Wei, temporarily restoring order. It was probably at this time that Yuwen Tai met and befriended Heba Duba's son Heba Yue (贺拔岳). Sometime after this incident, Yuwen Gong and his sons fled to Zhongshan (中山, in modern Baoding, Hebei), and were forced to join the army of another rebel general, Xianyu Xiuli (鲜于修礼). Yuwen Gong died in a battle between Xianyu's troops and Northern Wei troops, but Yuwen Tai continued to serve in Xianyu's troops. After Xianyu was killed by his general Yuan Hongye (元洪业) in 526, another Xianyu general, Ge Rong (葛荣), in turn killed Yuan and took over Xianyu's troops, and Yuwen continued to serve Ge. However, he saw that Ge was not a competent leader and considered fleeing with his brothers, but before he could carry out his plans, Ge was defeated by the Northern Wei general Erzhu Rong in 528, and Erzhu forcibly moved Ge's troops to his power base at Jinyang (晋阳, in modern Taiyuan, Shanxi). Suspicious of the Yuwen brothers, Erzhu killed Yuwen Tai's older brother Yuwen Luosheng (宇文洛生), but Yuwen Tai pleaded his case with Erzhu and was spared.

In 529, the Northern Wei prince Yuan Hao, under support from Liang Dynasty, attacked Emperor Xiaozhuang and seized the capital Luoyang, declaring himself emperor. Emperor Xiaozhuang fled north of the Yellow River, and Erzhu advanced south to aid him, sending Heba Yue, who was then serving under Erzhu, to lead his forward troops. Heba made Yuwen Tai his assistant, and later on, after Erzhu defeated Yuan Hao, allowing Emperor Xiaozhuang to return to Luoyang, Yuwen was created the Viscount of Ningdu.

In 530, Erzhu Rong sent his nephew Erzhu Tianguang, with Heba and Houmochen Yue (侯莫陈悦) as assistants, to attack the rebel general Moqi Chounu (万俟丑奴), who then occupied the western provinces. Yuwen continued to serve under Heba. After Erzhu Tianguang defeated Moqi, Yuwen, who contributed in the campaign, was made the governor of Yuan Province (原州, roughly modern Guyuan, Ningxia), and he was said to have ruled the province with such kindness and faith that the people of the province proclaimed, "Had we had Governor Yuwen as our governor earlier, how would we have joined the rebellion?"

Late in 530, apprehensive that Erzhu Rong would eventually seize the throne, Emperor Xiaozhuang ambushed him and killed him in the palace. Subsequently, Erzhu Rong's clan members, led by his nephew Erzhu Zhao and cousin Erzhu Shilong, defeated and killed Emperor Xiaozhuang, first making Yuan Ye the Prince of Changguang emperor, and then further replaced Yuan Ye with Emperor Jiemin. In 531, the general Gao Huan rebelled against the Erzhus. Erzhu Tianguang was initially not particularly interested in aiding his Erzhu clan members, but felt compelled to, and he departed Chang'an to head east. While Erzhu Tianguang was away, Yuwen advised Heba to rise against the Erzhus, and Heba did, defeating Erzhu Tianguang's brother Erzhu Xianshou (尔朱显寿), whom Yuwen subsequently captured, dividing control of the territory with Houmochen. By 532, Gao had defeated the Erzhus and seized much of power, deposing Emperor Jiemin and making Emperor Xiaowu emperor instead. When Gao subsequently tried to intimidate Heba into giving up his territory and reporting to Luoyang, but under the advice of Xue Xiaotong (薛孝通), Heba refused. He made Yuwen his lieutenant, and consulted him on most important matters. In 533, Yuwen volunteered to serve as messenger to Gao in order to observe Gao's abilities, and Heba agreed. When Gao met Yuwen, Gao was impressed by the answers Yuwen had to his questions and wanted to detain Yuwen, but Yuwen left Gao's domain before Gao could seize him. Subsequently, Heba sent Yuwen to confer with Emperor Xiaowu, who was not happy about Gao's hold on power, and Emperor Xiaowu and Heba were able to enter into a secret alliance against Gao. Heba made Yuwen the governor of the key Xia Province (夏州, roughly modern Yulin, Shaanxi).

Taking control over western provinces

By this point, Heba Yue, in alliance with Houmochen Yue, controlled almost all of the western provinces. However, one provincial governor, Cao Ni (曹泥), the governor of Ling Province (灵州, roughly modern Yinchuan, Ningxia), was aligned with Gao Huan and refused to follow Heba's orders. Heba Yue sent his assistant Zhao Gui (赵贵) to Xia Province to request Yuwen's opinions, and Yuwen, believing that Houmochen was unreliable, advised against an attack on Cao and suggested instead that Houmochen be attacked. Heba refused—not realizing that by this point, Gao's messengers had persuaded Houmochen to act against him. Heba and Houmochen rendezvoused at Gaoping (高平, in modern Guyuan, Ningxia), and then headed north against Cao—but as they advanced, Houmochen tricked Heba into coming to his camp for discussions, and then had his son-in-law Yuan Hongjing (元洪景) assassinate Heba. Initially, Heba's army was surprised and intimidated, but Houmochen, instead of taking over Heba's army, panicked and fled to Shuiluo (水洛, in modern Pingliang, Gansu), while Heba's army, without a central commander, withdrew to Pingliang (平凉, also in modern Pingliang). After some internal discussions, the army commanders decided to offer the command to Yuwen Tai, and they sent Du Shuozhou (杜朔周, later changed his name to Helian Da (赫连达)) to Xia Province to summon Yuwen Tai. Yuwen agreed, and Du and he quickly headed back toward Heba's army. (On the way, they encountered Gao's general Hou Jing, whom Gao had sent to try to take over Heba's army; Hou, surprised, withdrew to Gao's territory quickly.)

Emperor Xiaowu, hearing of Heba's death, sent Yuan Pi (元毗) to summon both Yuwen and Houmochen to the Luoyang. Houmochen outright refused, and Yuwen persuaded Emperor Xiaowu to allow him to remain in command. Emperor Xiaowu agreed. Yuwen next sent a letter to Houmochen to rebuke him, and when Houmochen did not answer, prepared to launch an attack on Houmochen. He advanced quickly on Shuiluo, and Houmochen withdrew to Lüeyang (略阳, in modern Tianshui, Gansu), and then to Shanggui (上邽, also in modern Tianshui). He then further withdrew from Shanggui, and Shanggui surrendered to Yuwen. He decided to try to flee to Cao's territory, but on the way, believing that Yuwen's forces were close, committed suicide.

Alliance with Emperor Xiaowu

Gao Huan made an overture of alliance to Yuwen Tai, but Yuwen refused, instead arresting Gao's messengers and delivering them to Emperor Xiaowu. Emperor Xiaowu authorized him to take over Heba's authorities in the west and created him the Duke of Lüeyang.

Meanwhile, Emperor Xiaowu prepared for an attack on Gao, but meanwhile claimed to Gao that he was preparing to attack Yuwen and Heba Yue's brother Heba Sheng (贺拔胜), who controlled the southern provinces. Gao saw through Emperor Xiaowu's trick, and in summer 534, he instead advanced south toward Luoyang. Emperor Xiaowu's associate Wang Sizheng (王思政), believing that imperial forces would not be able to withstand an attack from Gao, suggested fleeing to Yuwen's domain—despite his own reservations about Yuwen's intentions. Emperor Xiaowu agreed, but at the same time summoned Heba Sheng. However, Heba Sheng did not arrive at Luoyang, while Yuwen sent forces east, commanded by Li Xian (李贤), to welcome Emperor Xiaowu. In fall 534, before Gao's forces arrived, Emperor Xiaowu fled west, meeting Li on the way. Li escorted Emperor Xiaowu back to Yuwen's headquarters at Chang'an, and Emperor Xiaowu reestablished the imperial government there. He made Yuwen his commander in chief, and married his sister Princess Pingyi（冯翊公主） to Yuwen.

After Gao entered Luoyang, he sent messengers to request Emperor Xiaowu to return to Luoyang. When Emperor Xiaowu ignored his request, Gao made his distant nephew, Yuan Shanjian, emperor (as Emperor Xiaojing), dividing Northern Wei into two, with Eastern Wei recognizing Emperor Xiaojing, and Western Wei recognizing Emperor Xiaowu.

Yuwen's relationship with Emperor Xiaowu, however, soon deteriorated. Emperor Xiaowu had engaged in incestuous relationships with three of his cousins, at least one of whom, Yuan Mingyue (元明月) the Princess Pingyuan, followed him to Chang'an. Yuwen disapproved of the relationship, and he persuaded the imperial princes to arrest Yuan Mingyue and put her to death. Emperor Xiaowu became angry, and he often showed his displeasure by tightening his bow or by pounding his table in the palace. Around the new year 535, Yuwen poisoned him to death and made his cousin Yuan Baoju the Prince of Nanyang (Yuan Mingyue's brother) emperor (as Emperor Wen).

During Emperor Wens reign

Western Wei was, initially, the smaller and the weaker of the two successor states of Northern Wei, and early in its existence, there were questions on whether it would survive at all. Yuwen Tai spent much of his effort on preserving existence of Western Wei against repeated attacks led by Gao Huan. He also gradually began to show a trend of following both ancient Chinese customs, as largely encapsulated by the governmental structures of Zhou Dynasty, and restoring Xianbei customs that had largely been abolished by Emperor Xiaowen of Northern Wei. In this, he was assisted by the official Su Chuo (苏绰). He also worked on earning the respect of other officials and generals, including Emperor Xiaowu's confidant Wang Sizheng and Pei Xia (裴侠), both of whom had initially been suspicious of Yuwen and yet later became important and faithful generals serving under him.

In spring 537, Gao Huan and his generals Dou Tai (窦泰) and Gao Aocao (高敖曹) launched a major attack on Western Wei. Yuwen, correctly judging that Gao Huan was trying to draw Yuwen toward him while allowing Dou to penetrate Western Wei defenses, announced that he was going to lead a withdraw to modern eastern Gansu but instead made a surprise attack on Dou's army at Xiaoguan (小关, in modern Sanmenxia, Henan), crushing Dou's forces. Dou committed suicide in shame. Gao Huan and Gao Aocao were forced to withdraw. In fall 537, Yuwen led an attack on Eastern Wei and captured Hengnong (恒农, in modern Sanmenxia as well). With Western Wei's capital region Guanzhong suffering from a famine, Yuwen remained in Hengnong to collect food from the area, but then heard that Gao Huan was again launching another attack from the northeast, forcing him to return to the Guanzhong region. The forces engaged at Shawan (沙苑, in modern Weinan, Shaanxi), after Gao rejected advice from his general Hulü Qiangju (斛律羌举) to directly attack the Western Wei capital Chang'an. Despite Eastern Wei's numerical superiority, Yuwen's forces crushed Gao's forces, and Gao was forced to withdraw. In winter 537, the Western Wei general Dugu Xin captured the former Northern Wei capital Luoyang, and several other nearby provinces also surrendered to Western Wei.

In spring 538, in order to create an alliance with Rouran, Yuwen first had Emperor Wen bestow the title of Princess Huazheng to Yuan Yi (元翌), the daughter of a member of the imperial clan, to marry her to Yujiulü Tahan (郁久闾塔寒), the brother of Rouran's Chiliantoubingdoufa Khan Yujiulü Anagui. But Yuwen, believing that to be insufficient, requested Emperor Wen divorce his wife Empress Yifu and marry Yujiulü Anagui's daughter. Emperor Wen was forced to agree, and he deposed Empress Yifu, ordering her to become a Buddhist nun, and married Yujiulü Anagui's daughter as empress. (In 540, under Rouran pressure, Empress Yifu would be forced to commit suicide.)

By summer 538, however, Eastern Wei generals Hou Jing and Gao Aocao had surrounded Luoyang. Yuwen and Emperor Wen proceeded to Luoyang to try to lift the siege. When Yuwen arrived, Hou and Gao initially lifted the siege on Luoyang, but when Yuwen chased after them, his horse was shot by an arrow, and he fell off his horse and was nearly captured, but both he and his general Li Mu (李穆) pretended to be common soldiers and were able to escape. Once Yuwen returned to Western Wei camp, Western Wei forces again attacked and killed Gao. Later that day, however, an Eastern Wei counterattack inflicted major losses on Western Wei forces, forcing Yuwen to withdraw and rendezvous with Emperor Wen at Hengnong. Meanwhile, however, Eastern Wei captives in Chang'an heard of the Western Wei defeat and rebelled within the city, led by the general Zhao Qingque (赵青雀), forcing the official Zhou Huida (周惠达), who had been left in charge of Chang'an, to flee the city with the crown prince Yuan Qin. Under the advice of Lu Tong (陆通), Yuwen quickly returned west and defeated Zhao, suppressing his rebellion. Around this time, Yuwen also started setting up his headquarters at Hua Province (华州, roughly modern Weinan), not far from Chang'an but maintaining some distance from the capital, incorporate many talented officials and generals into his staff. He further established a night school for the junior officers and officials in his administration at Hua Province.

In 541, under Su's suggestion, Yuwen had Emperor Wen issue an edict outlining six principles of government, intending to reduce corruption and wastefulness and strengthen the economy:

• Qingxinsi (清心思) -- ordering the officials to clean their hearts and not desire many things.

• Dunjiaohua (敦教化) -- instituting a regime of moral education.

• Jindili (尽地利) -- the concept of encouraging agriculture and maximizing the utility of the land.

• Zhuoxianliang (擢贤良) -- finding capable individuals to promote, regardless of their family backgrounds.

• Xuyusong (恤狱讼) -- forbidding torture and instituting the concept that it would be preferable to let the guilty go than to punish an innocent.

• Junfuyi (均赋役) -- the concept that tax and labor burdens must be fair, and that powerful families may not avoid them.

Yuwen ordered that all of the officials of the state must study the six principles and further be able to balance budgets, at the pain of being relieved from their offices.

In spring 543, the Eastern Wei official Gao Zhongmi (高仲密), the governor of North Yu Province (北豫州, roughly modern Zhengzhou, Henan), angry that Gao Huan's son Gao Cheng had tried to rape his second wife, and in a dispute with Gao Cheng's assistant Cui Xian (崔暹) over his having divorced Cui's sister, rebelled and surrendered his headquarters of Hulao (虎牢, in modern Zhengzhou) to Western Wei. Yuwen personally led troops to try to save Gao Zhongmi. At Luoyang, however, he was defeated by the Eastern Wei general Peng Le (彭乐) and was nearly captured, only managing to elude capture by throwing gold at Peng to bribe him and persuade him that if he captured Yuwen, he would be no longer any use to Gao Huan. The next day, a Western Wei counterattack in turn almost killed Gao Huan, but was ultimately unsuccessful. Yuwen was forced to withdraw, but against advice from Feng Zihui (封子绘) and Chen Yuankang (陈元康), Gao Huan failed to chase Yuwen and allowed him to escape. The defeat was considered so major that Yuwen offered to have his rank reduced, but Emperor Wen did not accept the request.

In 545, Yuwen, seeing that one of Rouran's vassals, Tujue, was growing in strength, sent a messenger, Annuo Pantuo (安诺盘陀) to Tujue to greet its chief Ashina Tumen, to try to establish friendly relations.

In 546, Gao Huan launched another major attack on Western Wei, putting Yubi (玉壁, in modern Yuncheng, Shanxi) under siege, intending to draw Western Wei forces to try to save Yubi, but Yuwen took no reaction to it, instead leaving Yubi's defense to the general Wei Xiaokuan. Wei ably defended Yubi, draining the strength of the Eastern Wei forces, and as Gao grew ill, Eastern Wei forces were forced to withdraw with major losses.

Later in 546, Su died. Yuwen mourned him greatly, and personally attended Su's burial, crying bitterly.

In spring 547, the Eastern Wei general Hou Jing, who was in charge of Eastern Wei provinces south of the Yellow River, believing that Gao Huan had died (indeed, Gao had, although his son Gao Cheng was keeping the death a secret) and not willing to submit to Gao Cheng, surrendered the provinces initially to Western Wei and then to Liang. Yuwen conferred honorary titles on Hou, but was initially unwilling to send relief troops. With Wang Sizheng advocating taking four provinces that Hou offered in exchange for aid, however, Yuwen sent Li Bi (李弼) and Zhao Gui to assist Wang, initially forcing Eastern Wei forces attacking Hou to withdraw. Soon, however, Western Wei generals and Hou began to suspect each other, and after Yuwen ordered Hou to proceed to Chang'an to greet Emperor Wen and Hou refused, the sides officially broke, and the Western Wei generals held onto the four provinces without rendering further aid to Hou, who from that point on depending solely on Liang aid. (Later that year, however, the Eastern Wei general Murong Shaozong (慕容绍宗) would crush Liang forces commanded by Xiao Yuanming, the nephew of Emperor Wu of Liang, capturing Xiao Yuanming, and then in early 548 defeat Hou and force him to flee to Liang, taking all of the provinces back except the four that Western Wei had taken.)

In summer 548, Yuwen and Yuan Qin the Crown Prince carried out a tour of Western Wei's border provinces, but upon hearing that Emperor Wen was ill, cut their tour short and returned to Chang'an. However, when they did, Emperor Wen had already been healed, and Yuwen thereafter returned to his headquarters at Hua Province.

Around the same time, the Eastern Wei general Gao Yue (高岳, Gao Huan's cousin) launched an attack on Yingchuan (颍川, in modern Xuchang, Henan), one of the major cities that Western Wei took from Hou. Wang, defending Yingchuan, initially repelled Eastern Wei's attacks, but with Eastern Wei diverting Wei River (洧水) to flood Yingchuan, it was in the danger of falling. Yuwen sent Zhao to try to lift the siege, but Zhao was impeded by the water and was unable to proceed to Yingchuan. A counterattack by Wang, however, killed Murong Shaozong and Liu Fengsheng (刘丰生), temporarily relieving the pressure on Yingchuan. Gao Cheng himself reinforced Gao Yue's army, and by summer 549 captured Yingchuan, taking Wang captive. With Yingchuan having fallen, Yuwen ordered a general withdrawal from the area, and the provinces taken from Hou were retaken by Eastern Wei.

Meanwhile, with Hou having rebelled against Liang's Emperor Wu in 548 and captured the Liang capital Jiankang in 549, Liang was in disarray, with Hou and the various imperial princes and governors fighting for control. By winter 549, one of the Liang princes, Xiao Cha the Prince of Yueyang (Emperor Wu's grandson), fearing an attack from his uncle Xiao Yi the Prince of Xiangdong (Emperor Wu's son), surrendered his domain around the city Xiangyang (襄阳, in modern Xiangfan, Hubei) to Western Wei, requesting protection. Yuwen sent the general Yang Zhong (杨忠) to aid Xiao Cha, and after Yang defeated and captured Xiao Yi's general Liu Zhongli (柳仲礼) in spring 550, Western Wei made peace with Xiao Yi, setting the borders in such a way to put Xiao Cha under Western Wei's protection. Yuwen created Xiao Cha the title "Prince of Liang," preparing to have him claim the Liang throne as Western Wei's vassal.

In summer 550, Gao Cheng's brother Gao Yang, who had controlled the Eastern Wei government after Gao Cheng's death in 549, forced Eastern Wei's Emperor Xiaojing to yield the throne to him, ending Eastern Wei and starting Northern Qi (as its Emperor Wenxuan). In response, Yuwen launched a major attack on the newly established Northern Qi, reaching Jian Province (建州, roughly modern Jincheng, Shanxi). However, Gao Yang himself led a strong army to defend against Yuwen's attack, and Yuwen, upon hearing that Gao Yang's army was well-run, made the comment, "Alas, Gao Huan is not dead." Meanwhile, due to rains, the livestock that Western Wei forces relied on were dying in large numbers, and so Yuwen was forced to retreat. While there appeared to be few casualties, Northern Qi was in turn able to make minor border gains in light of Yuwen's withdrawal.

Around the new year 550, another son of Liang's Emperor Wu, Xiao Guan (萧纶) the Prince of Shaoling, attempted to recapture Anlu (安陆, in modern Xiaogan, Hubei), which Yang had earlier captured from Xiao Yi. Yuwen sent Yang to relieve Anlu, and Yang not only did so, but proceeded to siege Xiao Guan's headquarters at Ru'nan (汝南, in modern Jingmen, Hubei), capturing it and then executing Xiao Guan.

In spring 551, Emperor Wen died, and Yuan Qin succeeded him (as Emperor Fei).

During Emperors Feis reign

Yuwen Tai appeared to hold an even firmer grip on power after Emperor Wen's death. Emperor Fei's wife Empress Yuwen was Yuwen Tai's daughter, and while it was recorded that he did not have any concubines because he loved her greatly, it could have also been that he feared Yuwen's power and therefore did not have any concubines.

In summer 551, the Tiele were launching an attack on Rouran, when Tujue's chieftain Ashina Tumen intercepted the Tiele and captured a large number of the Tiele people. Ashina Tumen, after his victory, sought a marriage with a daughter of Yujiulü Anagui. Yujiulü Anagui felt insulted and refused, viewing the Tujue as inferior; in response, Ashina Tumen cut off relations with Rouran. Yuwen took this opportunity to create an alliance with Tujue, sending the Princess Changle to Tujue to marry Ashina Tumen.

In summer 552, with Xiao Yi and Hou Jing battling each other, Xiao Yi sought help from Western Wei and agreed to cede Nanzheng (南郑, in modern Hanzhong, Shaanxi) to Western Wei, but the order was declined by Xiao Yi's cousin, Xiao Xun (萧循). Yuwen and his general Daxi Wu (达奚武) thus attacked Hanzhong. Xiao Xun instead turned to another brother of Xiao Yi, Xiao Ji the Prince of Wuling for aid, and Xiao Ji sent reinforcements commanded by the general Yang Qianyun (杨乾运). Yuwen and Daxi put Nanzheng under siege, and due to the length of the siege, Yuwen and Daxi became angry and ordered that the city be slaughtered when it falls, but at the intercession of Xiao Xun's chief of staff Liu Fan (刘璠), whom Western Wei forces captured during the siege and whose talent Yuwen respected, Yuwen rescinded the order. Soon thereafter, Xiao Xun surrendered, and Nanzheng was in Western Wei hands. Yuwen initially agreed to allow Xiao Xun to return to Liang, but instead detained him, releasing him only after Liu again persuaded him to do so, reminding him of his promise. (During the conversation Liu had with Yuwen, Liu commented that he initially thought of Yuwen as Tang of Shang and King Wu of Zhou, but because of his failure to follow his promise, found him to be less than Duke Huan of Qi and Duke Wen of Jin. Yuwen instead compared himself to Yi Yin (伊尹, a legendary regent of Shang Dynasty) and Duke of Zhou, apparently disavowing intentions on the throne for the time being.)

In spring 553, with Xiao Ji and Xiao Yi, both of whom having claimed Liang's imperial title after Hou's fall, battling each other, Xiao Yi sought aid from Western Wei, requesting Western Wei to attack Xiao Ji's home base of Chengdu (成都, in modern Chengdu, Sichuan) from the rear. Yuwen sent his nephew Yuchi Jiong to attack Xiao Ji's domain (modern Sichuan and Chongqing). Most of Xiao Ji's domain fell into Western Wei hands, and subsequently, Xiao Ji was defeated and captured by Xiao Yi.

In winter 553, the imperial official Yuan Lie (元烈) formed a conspiracy to kill Yuwen, but the news leaked. Yuwen killed him. Following Yuan Lie's death, Emperor Fei himself was angry and wanted to kill Yuwen, despite advise from his cousins Yuan Yu (元育) the Prince of Huaiai and Yuan Zan (元赞) the Prince of Guangping. However, Emperor Fei's apparent attempt to court the imperial guards became known by the commanders, several of whom were Yuwen's sons-in-law, and Yuwen put Emperor Fei under house arrest and then deposed him, replacing him with his younger brother Yuan Kuo the Prince of Qi (as Emperor Gong). Yuwen took this opportunity to change the Han names for the Xianbei that Emperor Xiaowen had instituted back to the original Xianbei names, including changing the imperial surname Yuan back to Tuoba. Further, because Xianbei legends indicated that originally, the Tuoba tribe had 36 subtribes and 99 subclans, Yuwen chose 36 key Han generals and 99 commanders and changed their names to Xianbei names, to fill out the original names. Yuwen subsequently put the former emperor to death. It was recorded that Empress Yuwen, Yuwen Tai's daughter, also "suffered death because of her loyalty to Wei," but it is not known exactly whether Yuwen killed her.

During Emperor Gongs reign

In spring 554, while on a diplomatic mission to Liang (now with Xiao Yi as its undisputed emperor—as Emperor Yuan), the Western Wei official Yuwen Renshu (宇文仁恕, probably Yuwen Tai's relative but relationship is unclear) was slighted by Emperor Yuan, who treated Northern Qi's ambassador with far greater respect. Emperor Yuan then further aggravated the situation by sending an impolite letter to Yuwen Tai demanding that the borders be redrawn in accordance with old borders. Yuwen made the comment, "Xiao Yi is the type of person that, as said in proverbs, 'One who has been abandoned by heaven cannot be revived by anyone else.'" Yuwen Tai therefore began to prepare attacking Emperor Yuan at his headquarters of Jiangling (江陵, in modern Jingzhou, Hubei), as Emperor Yuan had made Jiangling his capital and declined to move back to the old capital Jiankang. The Western Wei general Ma Bofu (马伯符), formerly a Liang general, secretly revealed the attack plans to Emperor Yuan, but Emperor Yuan did not believe Ma and took minimal precautions.

In winter 554, under Yuwen Tai's orders, Western Wei forces, commanded by Yu Jin (于谨), who was assisted by Yuwen Tai's nephew Yuwen Hu and Yang Zhong, launched a major attack on Liang. Emperor Yuan initially did not take reports of the Western Wei attack seriously, and while he summoned his major generals Wang Sengbian and Wang Lin from afar, he himself took little defensive or evasive actions. Yu quickly descended on Jiangling and put it under siege. Soon, Emperor Yuan surrendered, and Western Wei forces gave him to Xiao Cha to be executed. Western Wei created Xiao Cha the Emperor of Liang (as Emperor Xuan) and gave him the Jiangling area (known in history as Western Liang) in exchange for his old domain of Xiangyang area, which Western Wei took control directly. (However, the rest of Liang did not recognize Emperor Xuan, and soon recognized a rival candidate for the throne supported by Northern Qi, Emperor Yuan's cousin Xiao Yuanming.) Most residents of Jiangling were seized as slaves, although eventually most of them were released by Yuwen after he was persuaded to do so by one of the captives, the Liang official Yu Jicai (庾季才).

Around the near year 556, after Tujue's Mugan Khan Ashina Qijin thoroughly crushed Rouran's last khan Yujiulü Dengshuzi, Yujiulü Dengshuzi fled to Western Wei. Ashina Qijin demanded the execution of Yujiulü Dengshuzi, and Yuwen Tai, fearing a Tujue attack, turned Yujiulü Dengshuzi and 3000 of his followers to the Tujue ambassadors, who slaughtered them.

Also around the new year 556, Yuwen Tai promulgated a new government structure, dividing the government into six ministries, based on the Zhou Dynasty model. (This structure was initially devised by Su Chuo, and after Su Chuo's death, Yuwen had it further revised by Lu Bian (卢辩).) He also had Tuoba Yu the Prince of Huai'an submit a request, and then have Emperor Gong formally approve the request, to have all imperial princes reduced in rank to dukes, in accordance with the Zhou tradition.

In spring 556, Yuwen was pondering the issue of succession. His wife Princess Pingyi had one son, Yuwen Jue, but his oldest son, Yuwen Yu, was born of his concubine Lady Yao, and was married to the daughter of one of his chief generals, Dugu Xin. On the advice of Li Yuan (李远), who argued that the son of a wife always had precedence over the son of a concubine, Yuwen Tai made Yuwen Jue his heir apparent.

in fall 556, while Yuwen Tai was on a tour of the norther provinces, he became ill at Qiantun Mountain (牵屯山, in modern Guyuan, Ningxia). He summoned his nephew Yuwen Hu to Qiantun and entrusted the affairs of the state as well as his sons to Yuwen Hu. He soon died, and Yuwen Jue took over his titles, while Yuwen Hu took the reins of the state, and under Yuwen Hu's tutelage, Yuwen Jue soon took the throne from Emperor Gong, ending Western Wei and establishing Northern Zhou.

Family

Consorts and Issue:

• Empress Wen, of the Yuan clan of Henan (文皇后 河南元氏; d. 551)

　• Yuwen Jue, Emperor Xiaomin (孝闵皇帝 宇文觉; 542–557), third son

• Empress Xuan, of the Chinu clan (宣皇后 叱奴氏; d. 574)

　• Yuwen Yong, Emperor Wu (武皇帝 宇文邕; 543–578), fourth son

　• Yuwen Zhi, Prince Weila (卫剌王 宇文直; d. 574), sixth son

• Furen, of the Yao clan (夫人 姚氏)

　• Yuwen Yu, Emperor Ming (明皇帝 宇文毓; 534–560), first son

• Fei, of the Dabugan clan (妃 达步干氏)

　• Yuwen Xian, Prince Qiyang (齐炀王 宇文宪; 545–578), fifth son

• Furen, of the Quan clan (夫人 权氏)

　• Yuwen Jian, Prince Qiaoxiao (谯孝王 宇文俭; 551–578), eighth son

• Furen, of the Wuliuhun clan (夫人 乌六浑氏), personal name Xianyu (显玉)

　• Yuwen Tong, Prince Jikang (冀康王 宇文通; 555–571), 12th son

• Lady, of the Wang clan (王氏)

　• Yuwen Zhao, Prince Zhaojian (赵僭王 宇文招; d. 581), seventh son

• Lady, of the Zhang clan (张氏), personal name Nübi (女毕)

　• Yuwen Da, Prince Daibi (代奰王 宇文达; d. 581), 11th son

• Unknown

　• Yuwen Zhen, Duke Songxian (宋献公 宇文震; d. 550), second son

　• Yuwen Chun, Prince Chenhuo (陈惑王 宇文纯; d. 581), ninth son

　• Yuwen Sheng, Prince Yueye (越野王 宇文盛; d. 581), tenth son

　• Yuwen You, Prince Tengwen (滕闻王 宇文逌; 556–581), 13th son

　• First daughter (d. 554)

　　• Married Yuan Qin of Henan (河南; 525–554)

　• Princess Xiangyang (襄阳公主), fifth daughter

　　• Married Dou Yi of Henan, Duke Shenwu (河南 窦毅; 519–583), and had issue (two sons, two daughters), their daughter Lady Dou would later become the wife of Li Yuan, the founding Emperor of the Tang Dynasty

　• Princess Yi'an (义安公主)

　　• Married Li Hui of Liaodong, Duke Wei (辽东 李晖)

　• Princess Shunyang (顺阳公主)

　　• Married Yang Zan (杨瓒; 550–591)

　• Princess Pingyuan (平原公主)

　　• Married Yu Yi of Henan, Duke Ren (河南 于翼; d. 583), and had issue (three sons)

　• Princess Yongfu (永富公主)

　　• Married Shi Xiong (史雄)

　• Princess Xihe (西河公主)

　　• Married Liu Chang, Duke Peng (刘昶; d. 597)

　• Princess Yigui (义归公主)

　　• Married Li Ji, Duke Qinghe (李基; 531–561), and had issue (one son)

　• Princess Yidu (宜都公主)

　　• Married Liang Rui, Duke Jiang (梁睿; 531–595)

　• Princess Deguang (德广公主)

　　• Married Zhao Yongguo of Tianshui (天水 赵永国; d. 557)

　• A daughter who married Heba Wei, Duke Huo (贺拔纬)

　• A daughter who married Ruogan Feng, Duke Xu (若干凤)

Ancestry

历史

宇文泰先世为宇文部酋长。东汉末，宇文部加入鲜卑部落联盟，遂被鲜卑化，游牧于今内蒙古自治区西拉木伦河上游。

北魏末年六镇起义中，宇文泰随父宇文肱加入鲜于修礼的起义队伍。起义被尔朱荣镇压后，宇文泰成为其部将贺拔岳麾下。永安三年（530年），魏孝庄帝杀尔朱荣，但军权仍然操在尔朱氏手中。不久，尔朱氏败灭，高欢位居丞相，并由此掌权。魏孝武帝密诏贺拔岳，欲以之牵制高欢。

永熙三年（534年）贺拔岳为侯莫陈悦所杀，由寇洛接手部队以稳定军心，在平凉，寇洛自认「智能本阙，不宜统帅」，赵贵建议迎宇文泰，「诸将犹豫未决」，赫连达亦称宇文泰「明略过人，一时之杰。今日之事，非此公不济」，旧部才往夏州迎宇文泰。宇文泰率领帐下轻骑兵迅速向平凉进发，当时高欢也派长史侯景招揽贺拔岳的部众，宇文泰到安定，在驿站中遇到了侯景，宇文泰吐出口中正吃的食物上战马，对侯景说：「贺拔公虽死，宇文泰还在，您想要干什么？」侯景脸色苍白，回答说：「我好比是一只箭，随他人射向别处，怎么能自己决定。」侯景至此返回。宇文泰到了平凉，为贺拔岳哭泣非常悲痛，贺拔岳的将士们既悲伤又高兴的说：「宇文公来了，再没有担心的。」

宇文泰上表北魏孝武帝元修，相约共扶王室，元修遂下诏以宇文泰为大都督、雍州刺史兼尚书令。同年，宇文泰平定秦、陇，孝武帝封官为侍中、骠骑将军、开府仪同三司，关西大都督，略阳县公，后又晋封「安定公」，地位仅次于高欢。是年元修携情妇元明月及宗室数人从前綫逃跑，投奔宇文泰。十月，高欢另立元善见为帝，迁都于邺（今河北省临漳县），是为东魏。北魏遂分裂。

元修性格强硬，不守礼法，与宇文泰关系搞得非常僵。永熙三年（535年）十二月，宇文泰杀元修及元明月，另立元明月之兄元宝炬为帝，是为西魏，而实际政权控制在宇文泰手中。同年，宇文泰与元修的妹妹冯翊公主结婚。

宇文泰足智多谋，有很强的指挥能力。与东魏多次交锋，互有胜负。大统三年（537年）春，东魏进攻潼关，宇文泰大败之。秋，东魏十万人进沙苑（今陕西大荔），宇文泰以不满万人乘东魏军轻敌，亲自鸣鼓奋战，获得大胜，俘虏七万人，史称「沙苑之战」。

大统十三年（547年），西魏守将韦孝宽以七千人马留守位置险要的玉璧城，顶住高欢十万鲜卑铁骑长达五十馀天的轮番冲击。高欢丧师达七万，智力用尽，玉璧城却始终屹立不倒，高欢愁闷无处发泄，被活活气死。

治国

经济上，劝课农桑，恢复了均田制。并注意屯田以资军用。曾采纳苏绰建议进行改革，制定了「墨入朱出」（臣子上奏用黑笔写，上级回覆用红笔写）公文格式，以朱色、墨色区别财政支出与收入（中文「赤字」的由来），定出户籍册和胪列次年课役大数的计帐制度。大统十三年的计帐，在敦煌石窟里有残卷保存下来。后又针对地方官员制定六条诏书：清心、敦教化、尽地利、擢贤良、恤狱讼、均赋役。

宇文泰改革军队统辖系统，建立府兵制，以扩大兵源。这个制度为隋唐所沿用。形式上采取鲜卑旧八部制，立八柱国，实为六军。每个柱国大将军下设有两个大将军，共12个大将军；每个大将军下有两个开府，共24个开府；每个开府下有两个仪同，共48个仪同；一个仪同领兵千人。这样，六柱国合计有兵四万八千人左右。这就是历史上著名的府兵。

外交上，宇文泰采取了和北攻南的政策，对于北方的突厥、柔然曾通好，但对于南朝萧梁则采取攻势，先后进占了益州和荆雍等中国西南地区。

政治上，宇文泰实行以德治教化为主，法治为辅的原则。法律上，主张不苛不暴，而「法不阿贵」。思想文化上，推崇儒学，曾在行台设学。俘虏王褒、宗懔等均受到礼遇。后又令卢辩仿周礼更改官制，实行北周六官制，甚至政府文告也要仿先秦体。

宇文泰恢复鲜卑旧姓，如恢复皇族元氏为拓跋氏。而所将士卒也改从主将的胡姓。从形式上胡化一批的汉人，杨忠授普六茹氏，李虎授大野氏。

魏恭帝三年九月，宇文泰巡视北方回到牵屯山时患病，十月乙亥（556年11月21日）在云阳宫去世，时年虚岁五十，遗体运回长安才发丧。

评价

• 朝鲜正祖与尹载僖论：「『治国无常法。贵在通变而已。夏之忠而殷变以质。殷之质而周变以文。诚以因时制宜。所损益不得不然。天下之无善治也久矣。好古之士。必以周官为口实。殊不知圣王有作。则又自有一王之制也。夫名则美矣。而实不可用者。曲士之所以误国。如宋煕丰，明建文之事可鉴也。史称宇文泰不尙虚饰。明达政事。而又称其崇儒好古。凡所施设。皆依仿三代。如依周礼建六官。卽其一事。而宇文氏立国制度。皆仿周官。灿然可观。均之为死法。而宇文氏用之则国以治。宋明用之则小则病国。大则丧邦何哉。』幼学尹载僖对。『治国之道。固贵通变。而如周官制度。自是万世不易之法也。然非其人则不可行。王安石则依样节目而已。宋国以非。齐黄辈坐谈高远而已。明政以弱。此岂周官制度之过哉。宇文泰夷虏馀孼。固不足道。而雄俊杰特。贤能任事。国赖而治。比之宋明之事。可谓此胜于彼矣。』」（『弘斋全书』 卷115 ｢经史讲义｣ 52 '梁敬帝'）

家庭

父母

• 宇文肱，追尊周德帝

• 乐浪王氏，北魏伏波将军王罴之女，追尊明德皇后

兄弟姊妹

• 宇文颢，追尊邵惠公

• 宇文连，追尊杞简公

• 宇文洛生，追尊莒庄公

• 昌乐公主

• 建安公主

• 安德公主，嫁丘愿，生丘崇

妻妾

• 嫡妻：文皇后元氏，北魏冯翊公主

• 妾：叱奴氏，追谥宣皇后

• 妾：姚氏

• 妾：达步干氏

• 妾：王氏

• 妾：张女毕

• 妾：权白女

• 妾：乌六浑显玉，原为清河崔氏，赐姓乌六浑氏

子

• 周明帝宇文毓，生母姚夫人

• 宋献公宇文震

• 周孝闵帝宇文觉，生母文皇后元氏

• 周武帝宇文邕，生母姬叱奴氏

• 宇文宪，生母妃达步干氏，北周上柱国、齐炀王

• 宇文直，生母姬叱奴氏，北周柱国、大司徒、卫剌王

• 宇文招，生母姬王氏，北周上柱国、赵僭王

• 宇文俭，生母夫人权白女，北周柱国、大冢宰、谯孝王

• 宇文纯，北周上柱国、陈惑王

• 宇文盛，第十二子，北周上柱国、太保、越野王

• 宇文达，生母姬张女毕，北周上柱国、代奰王

• 宇文通，生母夫人乌六浑显玉，第十四子，冀康公

• 宇文逌，第十五子，北周上柱国、滕闻王

另据《独孤藏墓志》宇文宪行七、宇文俭行十，《宇文逌墓志》称墓主行十五，可见宇文泰另有年长于宇文宪的二子，可能因早夭未被史书记录在宇文泰诸子之中。

女

• 宇文皇后，长女，西魏废帝元钦皇后

• 襄阳公主，第五女，嫁神武郡公窦毅

• 义安公主，嫁李晖

• 顺阳公主，嫁杨瓒

• 平原公主，嫁任国公于翼

• 永富公主，嫁史雄

• 西河公主，第十四女，嫁彭国公刘昶，后封西河大长公主，隋朝封彭国太夫人

• 义归公主，嫁清河郡公李基

• 宜都公主，嫁梁睿

• 德广公主，嫁北周楚国公赵贵之子武卫大将军、开府仪同三司、泾州刺史赵永国

• 宇文氏，嫁霍国公贺拔纬

• 宇文氏，嫁徐国公若干凤

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