Evaluation of the Reforms of Emperor Xiaowen of the Northern Wei Dynasty

When later generations evaluate Tuoba Hong’s comprehensive sinicization reform, they have nothing more than the following three views:

1. Praise and affirmation. It is believed that he completed the feudalization of Northern Wei society, promoted the integration of various ethnic groups, and promoted social stability, economic prosperity and cultural progress at that time.

It should be said that Emperor Xiaowen’s comprehensive sinicization complied with the trend of historical development at that time, and was also the reform strategy he had to adopt.

Second, there is both praise and blame. While affirming Tuoba Hong's sinicization reform, he believed that he should not have no choice, indiscriminately, and absorb the Han culture regardless of the essence and dross. For example, the establishment of the clan system had a huge negative impact. It not only made Xianbei aristocrats Increasing corruption and incompetence has also led to the decline of soldiers' status, low morale, and lower combat effectiveness. Not long after he moved the capital to Luoyang, he launched three large-scale military operations to conquer Southern Qi in succession despite insufficient preparation and internal instability, which was even more suspected of being too hasty.

When absorbing foreign culture, people naturally want to select the best and discard the corrupt parts. However, it is indeed difficult to tell which is the essence and which is the dross. Furthermore, culture is often a whole, with gold and jade coexisting with mud and sand, and it is difficult to separate it into “pieces”. Regarding the ancient subject of cultural sublation, not only Tuoba Hong, but even modern people find it difficult to come up with a perfect answer.

3. Total denial. It is believed that Emperor Xiaowen's Sinicization was pedantic Confucianization and negative Sinicization. He only learned the complicated etiquette and decadent factors of the Han people, and lost the bravery and simplicity of the Tuoba tribe. His reforms not only failed to revitalize the Northern Wei Dynasty, but actually It led to the weakness of the nation and the decline of the country.

The reason for the uprising in the six towns lies in the shortcomings of Emperor Xiaowen's reforms. It severed the connection between the Xianbei people in the Central Plains and the Xianbei people outside the Great Wall. The Xianbei people in the Central Plains advocated peace in the south of the Yangtze River, while the Xianbei people outside the Great Wall advocated conquering Mobei. The gap between the two parties became deeper and deeper. The six towns, like the three towns in Heshuo in the late Tang Dynasty, showed an independent tendency. Coupled with political corruption, it led to an uprising in the six towns and the decline of the Northern Wei Dynasty.