By the end of the Southern and Northern Dynasties, Chinese had experienced north-south separation for a long time.
南北朝末年，中国经历了长期的南北分裂后，人民普遍渴望统一。
People looked forward to a unified country but no emperor either in the Northern Zhou or the Southern Chen was able to accomplish this. It was not until Yang Jian usurped the throne and founded the Sui Dynasty that the reunification occurred.
但北周和南陈的皇帝都没有统一南北的能力；到了杨坚夺取了北周政权、建立 隋朝以后，这一任务才由隋文帝杨坚完成。
Yang Jian, a born aristocrat of the Northern Zhou, was Emperor Xuan^ Chancellor of Military Affairs.
杨坚出身北周贵族，周宣帝时拜上柱国、大司马。
Later when the infant Emperor Jing ascended the throne, Yang was made the chief Minister and took charge of both military and civil affairs. After his suppression of the separatist forces in Henan，Hubei and Sichuan，he cleared away the Yuwen’s families, overthrew the Northern Zhou, declared himself the emperor in the first year of Dading (581) and named his empire the Sui.
后来周静帝年幼即位，坚为大丞相，总揽军政大权,在平定了河南、湖北、四川的割据势力后，又剪除了宇文氏诸王室，于大定元年(581)代周称帝，建国号隋，是为隋文帝。
As Emperor Wen of the Sui, he immediately carried out his military plans for unification. He first made peace with the Western Turks through marriage and resettled the Eastern Turks； hence trouble was free in the north. Then he attacked the Chen in the south by appointing Yang Guang as marshal.
接着，他开始了统一的军事部署，先与突厥和亲，使东突厥归顺，解除了后顾之忧,然后便安排南下伐陈。
Yang Guang collected the vanguards forces in Anhui to make preparations for crossing the Yangtze River.
文帝以晋王杨广为行军元帅,在安徽前线集结兵力，准备渡江。
In the 9th year of Kaihuang (589)，the vanguards Han Qinhu and He Ruobi，s forces advanced crossing the Yangtze River from Caishi and Guangling respectively； then they quickly attacked and captured Jiankang. The Chen forces collapsed and its emperor surrendered.
开皇九年(589)正月，先锋韩擒虎、贺若弼分别从采石、广陵渡江，直取建康，陈军崩溃，陈后主投降。
All forces in the south successively pledged allegiance to the Sui. It took Emperor Wen less than four months to unify the North and the South.
南方各地纷纷归附，文帝出兵后不到四个月，便实现了南北统一。
Emperor Wen undertook a series of measures to develop the economy, recover production and consolidate the unification.
隋文帝实行了一系列发展经济、恢复生产、巩固统一成果的措施。
He strengthened the power of the central government by dividing it into six departments under three ministries. Local administrative divisions were also changed from the three-level system (prefectures, sub-prefectures, and counties) to a two-level system ( prefectures and counties). He also reformed the military enlistment system, issued new orders to implement the land equalization system and to mint the five- zhu coins, and standardized weights and measures.
他加强中央行政机构的领导，设立三省六部;又改地方州郡县三级制为郡县二级制；改革府兵制;重颁均田令;制定新刑律;新铸五铢钱;统一度量衡等。
He entrusted able men like Gao Ying, Yang Su, Niu Hong and Su Wei alike with important positions N Emperor Wen also engaged in developing agriculture and constructing water conservancy as well as irrigation systems, which helped reviving handicraft industry and commerce.
他使用得力的大臣高颖、杨素、牛弘、苏威等，坚持以农为本，兴修水利，使手工业和商业得到恢复发展。
The completion of the Guangtong Channel made it more convenient for water transportation. The imperial examination system was improved, allowing candidates to enter government offices through examination.
文帝又开通广通渠，以便漕运交通,并完善科举制，通过考试选拔人材。
During the Renshou years, the number of families in the country reached seven million, the granaries were full and the society was tranquil and economy prosperous.
仁寿年间， 全国户口增到700万户，仓廪充实，社会安定，出现欣欣向荣的景象。