What is the historical significance of the opening of the Grand Canal in Sui Dynasty?

It has the following three important meanings:

1. It has strengthened the communication between the north and the south of China. In ancient times, water transportation was usually cheaper than land transportation by horse and ox cart. Crossing the river or even the sea by boat is fast and efficient, and it is often cheaper than taking the land. The Grand Canal connects the north and south water channels to form a water network, and turns several natural water systems (Yangtze River, Huaihe River, Yellow River, Haihe River and Qiantang River) into a large water system.

2. Promote the prosperity of cities along the river. Frequent digging, dredging and renovation in Tang and Northern Song Dynasties kept the Grand Canal unblocked for a long time. After the long-term development in Tang and Song Dynasties, the towns along the Grand Canal developed more prosperously with the help of the convenience of the Grand Canal. The Grand Canal promoted the development of Yangzhou, Hangzhou, Xi 'an, Luoyang and Kaifeng.

3. In the social field, with the improvement of the system and the expansion of the scale, the grain transportation gradually broke through its early stereotype with political function as the main body, and played an increasingly wide range of social functions, becoming an important means to maintain the stability of the dynasty and balance the society. Especially in the middle and late period of ancient society, the rulers skillfully and frequently used grain transportation to carry out social checks and balances and control, and eliminated social instability factors such as heavy taxation, disasters and price fluctuations.

after the reign of emperor Yangdi in the early 7th century, he moved to Luoyang. In order to control the vast areas in the south of the Yangtze River and transport the rich materials in the Yangtze River Delta to Luoyang, Emperor Yangdi ordered the excavation of the "Yongji Canal" with a length of about 1, kilometers from Luoyang via Linqing in Shandong to Zhuojun in Hebei (now southwest of Beijing) in 63 AD. In the first year of Daye (AD 65), it was ordered to dig a "Tongji Canal" about 1 kilometers long from Luoyang to Qingjiang (now Huai 'an City) in Jiangsu Province, to directly communicate the traffic between the Yellow River and Huaihe River, and to transform the Hangou and Jiangnan Canal. In three years, Yongji Canal was dug, which led to Zhuojun in the north. Together with Guangtong Canal dug in 584 AD, a multi-branch canal system was formed.

In 61 AD, the "Jiangnan Canal" with a length of about 4 kilometers was dug from Zhenjiang, Jiangsu to Hangzhou, Zhejiang (then a foreign trade port); At the same time, the Han ditch was reformed.

in this way, the river channel with a total length of more than 1,7 kilometers between Luoyang and Hangzhou can be directly connected to ships. Yangzhou is a famous city of Li Canal. When Emperor Yangdi dug a canal in the city, Yangzhou became a transportation hub between the north and the south. With the benefit of grain transportation, it became one of the most prosperous areas in China.

Extended information:

The Grand Canal in Sui Dynasty generally refers to the Grand Canal in Sui and Tang Dynasties. The Grand Canal in Sui and Tang Dynasties was centered on Luoyang, with Zhuojun (now Beijing) in the north and Yuhang (now Hangzhou) in the south. Later generations extended to Huiji (now Shaoxing) and Ningbo through the East Zhejiang Canal.

Reference: Baidu Encyclopedia-Sui Grand Canal