Northern and Southern Dynasties

In 577, Beizhou conquered Beiqi. In 581, a distant relative of the Beizhou royal family seized the state power and established the Sui Dynasty (581 - 618) after the unification of the country. 1155815

Achievement on Science and Technology

1155815

During this period of near-constant political and military strife, achievements on agriculture, chronometer and mechanical manufacture found a farther way. Jia Sixie who is a viceroy of Northern Wei compiled a book named Essential Skills in Improving People's Life in which he summed up laboring people's experience and skills in farming and husbandry. The practice of some advanced skill of planting and drought control narrated in the book had been proved to be effective. Another important geographic work is Notes on Water Classic, written by Li Daoyuan. This comprehensive geographic work recorded the hydrology of the Yangtze River area including detailed records of the source, vegetation, relief and networks of 1252 rivers and watercourses with ample illustrations and maps. Ancient watermarks in the form of 14-scaled fish and inscriptions have been found in White Crane Ridge in today's Chongqing. Those records of the hydrology of the Yangtze River accord with the narration in this book. 
  wish.1155815.com

Zu Chongzhi (429-500), an outstanding scientist invented a kind of millstone driven by water power. This mill effectively relieved people of the heavy and inefficient handiwork. What makes him known is that he had correctly placed the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter between 3.1415926 and 3.1415927 while the western mathematician didn't figure it out until several centuries later.
  1155815.com

Culture and Religion 1155815

Prevail of Taoism and Buddhism 1155815.com

During the Northern and Southern Dynasties, since most emperors believed in it, Buddhism grew rapidly despite the demolition incidents. Buddhism found a receptive audience in China, while the influence of Confucianism waned. During Northern Wei period, the rulers were the most generous patrons in both the north and south. They took Buddhism as a nationwide religion in order to enforce his dominion.