血统

陕西省考古研究院研究团队发现，周武帝与契丹人、黑水靺鞨人以及达斡尔人、蒙古人存在最近的遗传关系，并估计武帝血统有六成源于黑龙江流域的东北亚人群，三成源于黄河流域的人群。

生平

宇文邕身长六尺9寸，167厘米，武力绝伦，识量沉深，不怒自威。

543年生于同州（今大荔）。

此时其父宇文泰与东魏权臣高欢于邙山对阵，史称邙山之战。

12岁封辅城郡公，14岁北周建立时封鲁国公，其堂兄宇文护专横跋扈，拥立宇文邕之兄宇文觉为帝，建立北周。后杀之。

又立宇文邕之兄宇文毓为帝，宇文毓被宇文护下毒临终之时（560年5月30日）口述遗诏传位于四弟宇文邕。

宇文邕17岁即位，因其兄弟先后被宇文护所杀，武帝560年即位后，选择从宇文护不注意的民生入手，修建大荔龙首渠，让民众得以休养生息，韬光养晦。为免自身也遭杀身之祸，对宇文护表示恭敬，让他主理国家大事，以静待时机。十二年后（572年）三月十四以给母亲读《酒诰》之名联合其弟宇文直杀死宇文护，得以亲政。

建德三年（574年），开始灭佛，并说下「但令百姓得乐，朕亦不辞地狱诸苦」的豪言壮语。

建德四年（575年）起兵灭北齐，率兵进攻金墉城，久攻不下，生病休整。

建德五年（576年）吸取教训，再次伐齐

建德六年（577年）正月十八，在邺城击败北齐军（公以下皆降）

建德七年（578年）五道伐突厥，行至泾阳云阳宫体力不支，在返回长安途中猝然离世。

在位期间，武帝不像其父欲恢复鲜卑旧俗，反而极力摆脱鲜卑旧俗并接受汉文化，且自己也整顿吏治，使北周政治清明，百姓生活安定，国势强盛。宇文邕生活俭朴，能够及时关心民间疾苦。据史书记载，他「身布袍，寝布被……后宫不过十馀人。」他的汉文化政策为日后隋唐的兴盛奠定基础。

北周武帝灭佛与撰写敦煌遗书《无上秘要》

自建德三年（574年）始，至其驾崩（578年），灭佛时间共五年。史称「建德毁佛」。北周实际建立者权臣宇文护笃信佛法，因对东方的东魏（乃至后面的北齐）处于弱势，以佛教消弥胡汉差异，统合人心，到了宇文邕时代北周逐渐强势，且关陇集团间鲜卑、汉族士大夫趋于无异，遂废掉了佛教，吸收其财富，不过由于在灭佛前僧人净影慧远批评道教道士比佛教僧侣更加不清净，于是顺手也灭北方道教，亦强迫道士和僧侣一起还俗。

帝升高座，辨释三教先后，以儒教为先，道教次之，佛教为后。以大将军赫连达为柱国。诏军人之间，年多耆寿，可颁授老职，使荣沾邑里。戊午，听讼于正武殿，自旦及夜，继之以烛

七路灭北齐

建德四年（575年）七月，周武帝和齐王宪及内史王谊谋划伐齐，又派遣纳言卢韫三次问计于安州总管于翼。周武帝召集大臣于大德殿上通知伐北齐的计划，随后周武帝下诏伐齐。委任柱国陈王宇文纯、荥阳司马消难、郑公达奚震为前三军总管，越王盛、周昌公侯莫陈崇、赵王招为后三军总管。齐王宇文宪率领二万军队向黎阳进发，随公杨坚、广宁公薛迥率领水军三万自渭水入黄河，梁公侯莫陈芮统帅二万军队守太行道，申公李穆帅统领三万军队守河阳道，常山公于翼帅众二万出陈、汝。总计12万人。

八月，北周六路大军侵入北齐境内，军纪严明，所到之处对百姓秋毫无犯。又周武帝所部六万进逼河阴，攻破外城,北齐军退保内城。又宇文宪所部攻占武济，兵锋指向洛阳。周武帝见河阴难下，转而率军进攻金镛城，但遇到守城军队顽强抵抗，无法攻下。

九月，北齐右丞高阿那肱自晋阳带兵救援洛阳，北周军此时因为久攻金镛城不下，加上周武帝生病，主动撤军。

此次出征周武帝曾与手下大臣讨论出兵计划，宇文弼认为北齐虽然失道，但是还有能干的大臣在，而且「今之用兵，须择其地。河阳冲要，精兵所聚，尽力攻围，恐难得志。」所以他认为应该取小道偷袭晋州，周武帝不听。建德五年（576年），北周再次大举伐齐，周武帝吸取教训采用这条计。

十月四日，周武帝调遣军队伐齐，以越王宇文盛、杞公宇文亮、随公杨坚统带右三军，谯王俭、大将军窦泰、广化公丘崇统带左三军，齐王宇文宪、陈王宇文纯统带前军。周武帝的计划是进攻晋州，以图吸引北齐主力来救援后进行决战，打败对方后再进逼北齐的首都邺。

北周军军至晋州，屯驻在汾曲。周武帝先调遣齐王宇文宪统带精骑二万守雀鼠谷，陈王宇文纯步骑二万守千里径，郑公达奚震步骑一万守统军川，大将军韩明步骑五千守齐子岭，焉氏公尹升步骑五千守鼓钟镇，凉城公辛韶步骑五千守蒲津关，赵王宇文招步骑一万自华谷攻北齐汾州诸城，柱国宇文盛步骑一万守汾水关。又调遣内史王谊监督诸军攻平阳城，周武帝每日从汾曲到平阳城下督战。北齐行台仆射海昌王尉相贵负责带兵防守平阳城。围城不久，防守北城的晋州刺史崔景嵩，在夜晚遣使请降于北周，王轨带领众响应，打开北城门。当天天还没有亮，北周将领段文振，持槊和数十人率先登城，和景嵩同至尉相贵住处劫持了他。守军得知消息后士气崩溃，无心抵抗，晋州被北周攻克，俘虏相贵及甲士八千人。

此时，齐主和冯小怜在天池打猎，晋州的告急文书，从太阳升起到中午不停送来。右丞相高阿那肱却说：「大家正为乐，边鄙小小交兵，乃是常事，何急奏闻！」至傍晚，晋州使者再至，说：「平阳已陷」，高阿那肱才把晋州危机消息告诉。高纬听到后马上起身，但冯小怜恳请北齐后主再下一盘棋，高纬答应，延误了发兵时间。

十月二十五日，高纬亲率大军救援平阳，到达时平阳已被攻下，遂昼夜猛攻平阳，北周守城将领晋州刺史梁士彦领兵一万与之展开激烈的战斗。北齐军曾经挖地道进攻，但是被北周军拿木头塞住无法攻克。

十二月初三，周武帝所部与宇文宪所部会合，救援平阳。初六，周武帝部队到达平阳与北齐军对阵。此时齐军东翼稍稍后退，冯小怜惨叫：「军败矣！」录尚书事城阳王穆提婆也应声：「大家去！大家去！」高纬居然立即带著淑妃逃奔高梁桥。开府仪同三司奚长劝高纬：「半进半退，战之常体。今兵众全整，未有亏伤，陛下舍此安之！马足一动，人情骇乱，不可复振。愿速还安慰之！」武卫张常山自高纬身也劝谏说：「军寻收讫，甚完整。围城兵亦不动。至尊宜回。不信臣言，乞将内参往视。」高纬听后停止逃跑。但穆提婆拉著齐主手肘说：「此言难信。」高纬听后又和冯淑妃向北逃走。北齐军知道皇帝逃跑后士气崩溃，被北周军大败，死者万馀人，军资器械被丢弃满地都是。只有安德王高延宗全军而退。

十二月十三日，北周军军至晋阳。十四日，高延宗称帝，大赦天下。十二月十七日，北周军击败北齐军，攻破晋阳。

建德五年（577年）正月十八日，北周军达到邺，围困邺城。随后击败北齐军，攻占邺城，高纬带数百骑逃亡。逃亡途中传位太子高恒，又以高恒名义禅位给高纬的叔父瀛州刺史彭城王高湝。后被北周将领尉迟勤捉获，送至邺城。因传诏使者在途中被擒，高湝亦没有收到传位诏书。

北周武帝宇文邕在云阳，宴请北齐君臣，自弹胡琵琶，命令高孝珩吹笛。高孝珩推辞曰：「亡国之音，不足听也。」武帝执意命之，举笛裁至高孝珩口，高孝珩泪下呜咽，周武帝乃止。其年十月，重病时奏请归葬山东，周武帝恩准。死后令还葬邺。

二月，高湝等北齐其馀抵抗力量陆续被消灭，北周统一北方。唯北齐营州刺史高宝宁不投降，奉逃奔突厥的皇子高绍义为主，一直抵抗到隋朝开皇三年（583年）。

太建北伐（攻占南陈之地）与五道伐突厥（未果）

577年（太建九年），陈宣帝得知北周灭亡了北齐，想和北周争夺徐州、兖州，下诏南兖州刺史、司空吴明彻督率军进讨，以吴明彻的长子吴戎昭、将军惠觉代理州事。吴明彻率军到了吕梁，北周徐州总管梁士彦率军抵抗，十月十九日，吴明彻打败梁士彦。梁士彦据城自守，被吴明彻的军队包围。十一月初四，北周派上大将军王轨带兵援救徐州。578年（太建十年）二月，吴明彻包围彭城，将战船环绕排列在城下，攻城很急。王轨领兵轻装前进，占据淮口，结成长长的包围圈，用铁锁连接起几百个车轮，沉在清水河里，用来阻断陈船归路，吴明彻不听萧摩诃的请求，水路被周军被阻断。北周军队越到越多，陈朝的将领们商议破坏堵水的土堤将军队撤离，用船只装载马匹退走，马军主将裴子烈说：「如果破了土堤将马匹放下船，船一定会倾翻，不如先将马匹送出去。」当时吴明彻背上长疮病得很重，萧摩诃再次向他请求说：「现在求战不得，进退无路。军队如果秘密地突围，也不足为耻。希望您率领步兵、乘马车慢慢地前进，我带领几千名铁骑在前后来往奔驰，崐一定能使您平安地到达京城建康。」吴明彻说：「老弟这个计策，是个好办法。然而步兵很多，我是总督，必须在队伍后面，率领他们一起行动。老弟的马军应当行动迅速，走在步兵前面不能迟缓。」萧摩诃因此率领马军在晚上出发。二月二十七日，陈军溃败，吴明彻被北周捉住，三万将士以及军械物资都被北周俘获。萧摩诃、任忠率军突围。周武帝封吴明彻为怀德公，位于大将军之列。吴明彻忧愁愤怒而去世。三月初九，陈朝任命中军大将军、开府仪同三司淳于量为大都督，总管水陆军事，镇西将军孙都督荆州、郢州之军，平北将军樊毅都督清口上至荆山沿淮河一带之军，宁远将军任忠都督寿阳、新蔡、霍州之军，以防备北周。 四月二十一日，樊毅派军渡过淮河到了北面，对著清口筑城。四月二十五日，清口城失守。十二月二十七日，北周任命河阳总管滕王宇文逌为行军元帅，率众攻陈朝。579年（太建十一年）二月，北周停止南征。

578年6月21日，周武帝伐突厥，行至离长安45公里处的泾阳云阳宫，突感身体不适，遂返回长安，半路去世。

《北史·周本纪》

五月己丑，帝总戎北伐，遣柱国原公姬愿、东平公宇文神举等五道俱入。发关中公私马驴悉从军。癸巳，帝不豫，止于云阳宫。丙申，诏停诸军。六月丁酉，帝疾甚，还京。其夜崩于乘舆，时年三十六。遗诏曰：

人肖形天地，禀质五常，修短之期，莫非命也。朕君临宇县，十有九年，未能使百姓安乐，刑措不用。未旦求衣，分宵忘寝。昔魏室将季，海内分崩，太祖扶危翼倾，肇开王业。燕、赵榛芜，又窃名号。朕上述先志，下顺人心，遂与王公将帅，共平东夏。虽复妖氛荡定，而人劳未康，每一念如此，若临冰谷，将欲包举六合，混同文轨。今遘疾大渐，力气稍微，有志不申，以此叹息。天下事重，万机不易，王公以下，爰及庶寮，宜辅导太子，副朕遗意，令上不负太祖，下无失为臣。朕虽瞑目九泉，无所复恨。朕平生居处，每存菲薄，非直以训子孙，亦乃本心所好。丧事资用，须使俭而合礼。墓而不坟，自古通典，随吉即葬，葬讫公除。四方士庶，各三日哭。妃嫔以下无子者，悉放还家。

死因

2022年11月21日，复旦大学科技考古研究院青年副研究员文少卿团队表示，在对周武帝遗骨进行测试的时候，在DNA提取过程中，试剂加进去后颜色变红，团队与陕西考古所联系，通过对周武帝棺椁、随葬品做系统的采样，发现周武帝遗骨中的砷元素是正常人的100多倍。团队又和医学方面的老师联系，了解到砷超标会集中在腹腔区域，而复旦大学的研究人员是在周武帝在肢骨中测得了砷元素超标，所以周武帝只能是慢性中毒。复旦大学历史系韩升教授通过各类文献，发现宇文邕豢养了一些术士为自己修炼丹药，这样一来就解开了周武帝砷超标的谜团。

容貌

阎立本的《历代帝王图》中有周武帝画像。2024年3月28日，复旦大学科技考古研究院与陕西省考古研究院公布周武帝的头像复原图。周武帝拥有黑色头发、黄色皮肤和棕色眼睛。

逸事

【与外甥女太穆皇后的故事】

宇文泰第五女襄阳公主，第二女窦氏，窦氏出生时头发下垂超过了脖子，虚龄三岁时头发就和身体一样长，阅读《女诫》、《列女传》等书籍，读过一次就不忘记。襄阳公主的弟弟周武帝特别喜爱这个外甥女，将她带到宫中养育，与其他外甥不同。当时周武帝娶突厥女子阿史那氏为皇后，皇后不受宠爱，窦氏当时年纪还小，私下对周武帝说：「四方没有宁静，突厥还很强大，希望舅舅抑制个人感情抚慰皇后，以天下百姓为念，还需要突厥的帮助，那么江南的南陈、关东的北齐政权就不能成为祸患了。」周武帝赞许并采纳了意见。周武帝去世后，窦氏追悼思念好像丧失了亲生父母。隋文帝杨坚接受禅让建立隋朝，窦氏听说后洒下眼泪，自己跳上胡床说：「恨我不是男子，不能救助舅舅家的危难！」窦毅和襄阳公主急忙捂住窦氏的口说：「你别胡说，我们家族会被族灭的！」

【与姐夫窦毅的故事】

建德六年（577年）四月，周武帝在平定北齐后返回长安，命令李德林跟随车驾，任命李德林为内史上士。从此之后，诏书文诰的格式以及对崤山以东人士的任用，全部委托给李德林。周武帝曾在云阳宫用鲜卑语对群臣说：「我以前听说李德林的名字，等到见了他给北齐朝廷创作的诏书和檄文，我正以为他是天上人。没想到现在他为我所用，为我制作文书，这真是奇事。」窦毅回答说:「臣听说明王圣主，能得到骐����凤凰等祥瑞，是圣德感应的结果，不是人力所能得到的。神物虽然能来，但没法使用它们。而李德林受到您的任用，也是陛下圣德感应得到的，而且有大才获重用，比骐����凤凰强多了。」周武帝大笑说:「真是你说的这么回事」

【与儿子宇文贇的故事】

他是一位严父，曾对其继承人，教而不善的太子宇文贇（后来的北周宣帝）施用体罚，并多次威胁要废去其太子地位，但最后都没有实行。这样的举措反而收到了反效果，让宇文贇对他记恨，而更加不听从他的说教。宣帝继位后荒淫无度，不到三年内其子就被杨坚篡位，北周灭亡。

北周武帝《象经》

《象经》，又称《三局象经》，公元569年，由北周武帝宇文邕与底下臣子替他所发明的北周象戏所编写，并由王褒作序《象戏经序》、庾信作《进象经赋表》、《象戏赋》，现在也只保留此三篇。

评价

唐令狐德棻《周书》评价宇文邕沉著、毅力且有智谋，韬光晦迹、除国害。之后励精图治、除却奢靡、凡事从俭，战争时与军士同喜悲。令狐德棻认为，再一两年，宇文邕就能统一：「帝沉毅有智谋。初以晋公护专权，常自晦迹，人莫测其深浅。及诛护之后，始亲万机。克己励精，听览不怠。用法严整，多所罪杀。号令恳恻，唯属意于政。群下畏服，莫不肃然。性旣明察，少于恩惠。凡布怀立行，皆欲逾越古人。身衣布袍，寝布被，无金宝之饰，诸宫殿华绮者，皆撤毁之，改为土阶数尺，不施栌栱。其雕文刻镂，锦绣纂组，一皆禁断。后宫嫔御，不过十馀人。劳谦接下，自强不息。以海内未康，锐情教习。至于校兵阅武，步行山谷，履涉勤苦，皆人所不堪。平齐之役，见军士有跣行者，帝亲脱靴以赐之。每宴会将士，必自执杯劝酒，或手付赐物。至于征伐之处，躬在行阵。性又果决，能断大事。故能得士卒死力，以弱制强。破齐之后，遂欲穷兵极武，平突厥，定江南，一二年间，必使天下一统，此其志也。」

唐令狐德棻《周书》评价宇文邕认真治国、同匹夫节俭度日，成为一时明君。虽然因为长年征战，被称穷兵黩武，但他的鸿图远略，是能凌驾古代王者：「自东西否隔，二国争强，戎马生郊，干戈日用，兵连祸结，力敌势均，疆埸之事，一彼一此。高祖缵业，未亲万机，虑远谋深，以蒙养正。及英威电发，朝政惟新，内难旣除，外略方始。乃苦心焦思，克己励精，劳役为士卒之先，居处同匹夫之俭。修富民之政，务强兵之术，乘讐人之有衅，顺大道而推亡。五年之间，大勋斯集。摅祖宗之宿愤，拯东夏之阽危，盛矣哉，其有成功者也。若使翌日之瘳无爽，经营之志获申，黩武穷兵，虽见讥于良史，雄图远略，足方驾于前王者欤。」

家庭

祖父母

• 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

父母

• 宇文泰，追赠周文帝

• 叱奴氏，追谥宣皇后

兄弟姐妹

• 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

• 宇文宪，生母妃达步干氏，北周上柱国、齐炀王

• 宇文直，宇文邕同母弟。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、谯忠孝王

• 宇文纯，北周上柱国、陈惑王

• 宇文盛，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，北周使持节、大将军、大都督、潼州诸军事、潼州刺史、冀恭康公

• 宇文逌，北周上柱国、滕闻王

后妃

• 阿史那皇后

• 沈皇后，北周骠骑大将军、太子太傅、尚书左仆射沈勰之女

• 李妃，西魏柱国、陇右十二州诸军事、行台左仆射、太尉公、陇西郡开国公李虎之女

• 李娥姿，北周宣帝宇文贇、汉王宇文赞生母

• 库汗姬，生宇文贽、宇文允

• 冯姬，生宇文充

• 薛世妇，生宇文兑

• 郑姬，生宇文元

• 郑氏，原为北齐武成帝长子高绰妃，北齐灭亡后，被武帝所宠幸。与郑姬为一人，或两人，已不可考。

子女

• 周宣帝宇文贇

• 汉王宇文赞

• 秦王宇文贽

• 曹王宇文允

• 道王宇文充

• 蔡王宇文兑

• 荆王宇文元

• 清都公主，嫁隋朝上仪同、殿内少监、兼领将作少监、石保恭公阎毗

• 义阳公主，嫁隋朝仪同、禽昌县开国公于象贤

• 皇女，仅知生于天和五年六月（570年）

纪录片，动漫，游戏，影视形象与展览

Background

Yuwen Yong was born in 543, as the fourth son of the Western Wei paramount general Yuwen Tai. His mother was Yuwen Tai's concubine Lady Chinu. He was born at Yuwen Tai's then-headquarters at Tong Province (同州, roughly modern Weinan, Shaanxi). He was considered filially pious, respectful, and intelligent in his youth. During six years his father entrusted him and his brother to general Li Xian for his protection and education, as the court had become too dangerous. In 554, Emperor Fei of Western Wei created him the Duke of Fucheng.

Yuwen Tai died in 556, and in spring 557, Yuwen Yong's cousin Yuwen Hu, entrusted with the governing authority by Yuwen Tai, forced Emperor Gong of Western Wei to yield the throne to Yuwen Yong's older brother Yuwen Jue, ending Western Wei and establishing Northern Zhou. Yuwen Jue took the throne as Emperor Xiaomin, but used the alternative title of "Heavenly Prince" (Tian Wang). Yuwen Hu served as regent, and later that year, when Emperor Xiaomin tried to seize power from him, Yuwen Hu deposed Emperor Xiaomin and then killed him, replacing him with another older brother of Yuwen Yong's, Yuwen Yu, who took the throne as Emperor Ming. Emperor Ming created Yuwen Yong the greater title of Duke of Lu and often consulted Yuwen Yong on important matters. Although Yuwen Yong did not speak much, Emperor Ming made the observation, "He did not often speak, but whatever he spoke was always right."

In 559, Yuwen Hu formally returned his authorities to Emperor Ming, and Emperor Ming began to formally rule on governmental matters, but Yuwen Hu retained the command of the military. In 560, Yuwen Hu, apprehensive of Emperor Ming's abilities, had the imperial chef Li An (李安) poison him with sugar cookies. Emperor Ming, realizing that he was near death, designated Yuwen Yong as his successor, and after he soon died, Yuwen Yong took the throne as Emperor Wu. However, the control of the government again fell into Yuwen Hu's hands.

DNA analysis

A 2024 genetic study analyzed the genetic makeup of Emperor Wu, determining him to be of primarily Ancient Northeast Asian ancestry (c. 62%), with lower amounts of 'Yellow River farmers' ancestry associated with Han Chinese (c. 32%). The remaining 6% was derived from Western Steppe Herders. It was furthermore revealed that he might have died of a stroke, as he carried several risk-alleles. The study's authors also could reconstruct how he looked like, determining him to have had "a typical East or Northeast Asian facial appearance". A previous study on his wife, Empress Ashina of the early Turkic ruling class, the Ashina tribe, determined her to be of nearly entirely Ancient Northeast Asian ancestry. (This made them far northerners, as at such a recent time "Yellow River" was already predominant even on some territory of today's independent Mongolia)

His face was reconstructed in 2024 using the DNA analysis, CNN posted his reconstructed face.

Early reign

Emperor Wu was said to be largely a silent emperor early in his reign, giving Yuwen Hu free rein over the government, although he appeared to start cultivating a group of officials who would be loyal to him as the years went by. He formally bestowed Yuwen Hu with not only the military authorities, but also authority over all six ministries.

With the Liang dynasty general Wang Lin and the throne claimant that he supported, Xiao Zhuang, having been defeated by the Chen dynasty in spring 560 and having fled to Northern Qi, Northern Zhou (and its vassal Western Liang, with Emperor Xuan of Western Liang as its emperor) contended for control of Xiao Zhuang's former territory with Chen, precipitating a confrontation. Starting in winter 560, the Northern Zhou generals Heruo Dun (贺若敦) and Dugu Sheng (独孤盛) began a drawn-out stalemate with the Chen general Hou Tian (侯瑱), initially being successful in thwarting Hou's attacks. Around the new year 561, however, Dugu was forced to withdraw, and Heruo was isolated. In spring 561, Hou agreed to let Heruo withdraw if Heruo would yield, and so Heruo withdrew; the modern Hunan region thus became Chen territory. (Yuwen Hu, believing Heruo to be at fault for losing the region, removed him from his posts.)

Also in 561, Emperor Wu honored his mother Lady Chinu empress dowager.

In spring 562, to foster a peaceful relationship with Chen, Northern Zhou returned the brother of Emperor Wen of Chen, Chen Xu, as well as Chen Xu's wife Liu Jingyan and son Chen Shubao, to Chen. In exchange, Chen gave the city of Lushan (鲁山, in modern Wuhan, Hubei) to Northern Zhou.

In summer 562, Emperor Wu, seeing that previously, nobles were not receiving any material benefits from their titles, began to have the nobles receive stipends based on the size of their fiefs.

In spring 563, while on a visit to Yuan Province (原州, roughly modern Guyuan, Ningxia), Emperor Wu suddenly returned to the capital Chang'an without explanation. One of his attendants, Houmochen Chong the Duke of Liang, speculated to his associates that Yuwen Hu had died. When Houmochen's speculations became known, Emperor Wu publicly rebuked Houmochen, and the same night, Yuwen Hu sent troops to surround Houmochen's mansion, forcing him to commit suicide. Soon thereafter, he publicly bestowed Yuwen Hu the honor of having his name be subject to naming taboo, an honor that Yuwen Hu declined.

Also in spring 563, Emperor Wu promulgated a new 25-volume criminal code drafted by the official Tuoba Di (拓拔迪), which divided the criminal punishment into 25 classes.

In fall 563, Northern Zhou entered into an alliance treaty with the Gokturks, known to the Chinese as Tujue, against Northern Qi, part of which involved a promise that Emperor Wu would marry the daughter of Ashina Qijin, Tujue's Mugan Khan. In winter 563, the joint forces of Northern Zhou and Tujue launched a two-prong attack on Northern Qi, with the northern prong attacking Northern Qi's secondary capital Jinyang (晋阳, in modern Taiyuan, Shanxi) and the southern prong attacking Pingyang (平阳, in modern Linfen, Shanxi). The northern prong, commanded by the general Yang Zhong, put Jinyang under siege, but was soon defeated by the Northern Qi general Duan Shao (段韶) and forced to withdraw. In response, the southern prong, commanded by Daxi Wu (达奚武), also withdrew. Still, the attack demonstrated the growing Northern Zhou strength—as previously, in the winter months, Northern Zhou forces would break the ice on the Yellow River to prevent possible Northern Qi attacks, but around this time and thereafter, Northern Qi forces broke the ice on the river to prevent possible Northern Zhou attacks.

In fall 564, in order to placate Yuwen Hu, Emperor Wucheng of Northern Qi returned Yuwen Hu's mother Lady Yan and his (and Emperor Wu's) aunt (Yuwen Tai's sister), who had been trapped in Northern Qi territory several decades earlier, to Northern Zhou. In order to celebrate Lady Yan's return, Emperor Wu issued a general pardon, and prostrated himself before her as an ordinary nephew would. In turn, Yuwen Hu considered calling off planned joint attacks with Tujue against Northern Qi, but was fearful that Tujue would believe that Northern Zhou was abandoning the alliance, and therefore launched another joint attack with Tujue in winter 564. The assault, the main brunt of which was against Luoyang, however, was unsuccessful, and soon was abandoned.

In spring 565, Emperor Wu sent his brother Yuwen Chun (宇文纯) the Duke of Chen, Yuwen Gui (宇文贵) the Duke of Xu, Dou Yi (窦毅) the Duke of Shenwu, and Yang Jian (杨荐, different person than the more-known Yang Jian, referenced above and below) the Duke of Nanyang, to lead a ceremonial guard corps to Tujue to welcome back Ashina Qijin's daughter for marriage to him. However, when they arrived at Ashina Qijin's headquarters, he turned against the treaty and detained Yuwen Chun and his attendants.

Middle reign

In 566, the non-Chinese tribes of Xin Province (信州, modern eastern Chongqing) rebelled and captured Baidicheng, under the leadership of the chieftains Ran Lingxian (冉令贤) and Xiang Wuziwang (向五子王). The general Lu Teng (陆腾), however, was able to persuade some of Rang's subjects to turn against him, and he subsequently defeated Rang and Xiang, killing them and suppressing the revolts.

In 567, in light of the death of Chen's Emperor Wen and succession by his son Emperor Fei of Chen in 566, the high level Chen officials engaged in infighting, and Emperor Wen's brother Chen Xu was victorious. The general Hua Jiao, the governor of Xiang Province (roughly modern Changsha, Hunan), felt uneasy, and therefore sought aid from Northern Zhou and Western Liang. Yuwen Hu, over the opposition by the official Cui You (崔猷), sent an army commanded by Emperor Wu's brother Yuwen Zhi (宇文直) the Duke of Wei to assist Hua and Western Liang, which was also aiding Hua. The Chen general Wu Mingche, however, quickly defeated the joint forces of Northern Zhou, Western Liang, and Hua, forcing Hua and Yuwen Zhi to both give up the war and flee to the Western Liang capital Jiangling. Chen was able to retain all of Hua's territory and further make minor territorial gains against both Northern Zhou and Western Liang as well. Yuwen Hu relieved Yuwen Zhi from his posts, and while Yuwen Zhi was eventually restored to them, Yuwen Zhi, who had previously had a cordial relationship with Yuwen Hu, bore a grudge against Yuwen Hu and secretly encouraged Emperor Wu to act against Yuwen Hu.

In spring 568, a major storm at Tujue's headquarters inflicted substantial damage, and Ashina Qijin took it as a sign of divine displeasure at his rescission of the marriage agreement with Northern Zhou. He therefore returned Yuwen Chun, along with the daughter he promised Emperor Wu, back to Northern Zhou. Emperor Wu personally welcomed her and created her empress.

Perhaps in light of the new adversarial relationship with Chen, when Northern Qi made peace overtures in fall 568, Northern Zhou accepted, and there was peace between the states for about a year, until fall 569, when Emperor Wu's brother Yuwen Xian the Prince of Qi led an army to siege Northern Qi's city of Yiyang (宜阳, in modern Luoyang, Henan) -- and for more than a year, the two states would engage in struggle for the control of Yiyang. Meanwhile, in fall 570, the Chen general Zhang Zhaoda (章昭达) put siege to Jiangling, nearly capturing it, but was eventually fought off by Northern Zhou and Western Liang's joint forces.

In 569–570, Emperor Wu organized a debate between Buddhists and Daoists and commissioned two reports - the Xiaodao Lun and the Erjiao Lun - on the suitability of either religion for their adoption by the Chinese government. He came out with a more favorable impression of Daoism, and would found the Tongdao Guan (通道观) for Daoist research, which would eventually compile the first Daoist encyclopedia, the Wushang Biyao (无上秘要).

In winter 570—as forewarned by the Northern Zhou general Wei Xiaokuan, who advised against the Yiyang campaign—the famed Northern Qi general Hulü Guang left Yiyang and instead advanced onto Northern Zhou territory north of the Fen River (汾水, flowing through modern Linfen), building forts and capturing substantial territory from Northern Zhou. While a counterattack by Yuwen Xian subsequently fought Hulü to a stalemate, damage had been done, and Northern Zhou was further forced to give up on the Yiyang campaign in fall 571 to concentrate against Hulü.

Also in 571, Hua went to Chang'an, and on the way, he met Yuwen Zhi at Xiang Province (襄州, roughly modern Xiangfan, Hubei), suggesting to Yuwen Zhi that Western Liang was in such a desperate shape that if Northern Zhou wanted to see it preserved, Northern Zhou should lend some land to Western Liang. Yuwen Zhi agreed and made the proposal to Emperor Wu; in response, Emperor Wu gave three provinces—Ji (基州), Ping (平州), and Ruo (鄀州) (together making up about modern Jingmen and Yichang, Hubei) to Western Liang.

By 572, Yuwen Hu had controlled the military for 16 years and the government for nearly as long. Emperor Wu had long wanted him out of the way, although he showed few outward signs of it. He conspired with Yuwen Zhi, distant relatives Yuwen Shenju (宇文神举) and Yuwen Xiaobo (宇文孝伯), and Wang Gui (王轨) against Yuwen Hu. In spring 572, he made his move. After Emperor Wu and Yuwen Hu had a meeting, he invited Yuwen Hu into the palace to meet with Empress Dowager Chinu. On the way to her palace, he told Yuwen Hu that Empress Dowager Chinu was having problem with alcoholism and not listening to his advice to stop her drinking, so he wanted Yuwen Hu to advise her to change her ways as well. He further gave Yuwen Hu the text of the Jiu Gao (酒诰) -- an anti-alcoholism declaration written by King Cheng of Zhou—and suggested that he read the Jiu Gao to Empress Dowager Chinu. Once they reached her palace, Yuwen Hu, pursuant to Emperor Wu's request, started reading the Jiu Gao. Before he could finish it, Emperor Wu stepped behind him and used a jade tablet to strike the back of his head. Yuwen Hu fell to the ground, and Yuwen Zhi, who was hiding nearby, jumped out, and cut off Yuwen Hu's head, ending Yuwen Hu's hold on power. Yuwen Hu's sons, brothers, and key associates were all executed.

Late reign

Having been instrumental in Yuwen Hu's death, Yuwen Zhi sought to take over Yuwen Hu's post, but Emperor Wu, who wanted to directly control the government, divided the authority between several officials, retaining most authorities in himself. He took the opportunity posthumously to honor his brother Emperor Xiaomin (Yuwen Hu had refused to do so previously) and create his son Yuwen Yun the Duke of Lu crown prince. He also began to oppose overt luxury and destroyed several palaces that he found overly luxurious as well as other items that he considered ornately decorated.

Also in summer 572, Emperor Wu learned that Northern Qi's emperor Gao Wei, apprehensive of Hulü Guang, had executed Hulü. Being glad, Emperor Wu declared a general pardon.

By 573, it had come to Emperor Wu's attention that Crown Prince Yun was not paying attention to matters of state but instead associated with immoral people. In response, Emperor Wu selected staff members for Crown Prince Yun who were known for their strict conduct. This made the crown prince unhappy.

Around the new year 574, Emperor Wu gathered Confucian scholars, Taoist monks, and Buddhist monks, and had them debate about their philosophies. He ranked Confucianism the highest, then Taoism, and then Buddhism. Subsequently, in summer 574, he banned both Taoism and Buddhism, ordering their monks to return to secular life. He also banned the worship of minor deities whose cults were not registered with the government. (This became known as the second of the Three Disasters of Wu)

In spring 574, Empress Dowager Chinu died. Emperor Wu mourned for more than a month, eating only a small amount of rice during this period.

In fall 574, while Emperor Wu was at Yunyang (云阳, in modern Xianyang, Shaanxi), Yuwen Zhi, who had long resented not receiving more authority, rebelled at Chang'an. The official Yuchi Yun (尉迟运), one of the officials in charge of the capital along with Crown Prince Yun, defeated Yuwen Zhi, forcing him to flee. Yuwen Zhi was soon captured and executed.

Believing Northern Qi to have been substantially weakened not only by Hulü's death but also by the successful campaign that Chen waged against it in 573 (capturing the provinces between the Yangtze River and the Huai River), by 575, Emperor Wu was seriously considering a major campaign against Northern Qi. However, he kept the matter secret, consulting only Yuwen Xian, Wang Yi (王谊), and Yu Yi (于翼). Only until he was ready in fall 575 did he announce it generally. He aimed his attack at Luoyang, but he spent about 20 days sieging it and could not capture it, and became ill. He withdrew, with virtually no gain.

In spring 576, pursuant to Emperor Wu's orders, Crown Prince Yun launched a campaign against Tuyuhun; a campaign that appeared to be moderately successful. Yet the campaign would bring another deterioration of the relationship between father and son, as Wang Gui, who officially served as the crown prince's lieutenant (along with Yuwen Xiaobo) but was in charge of the operation, reported a matter of immoral acts that the crown prince and his associates Zheng Yi and Wang Duan (王端) engaged in. Emperor Wu himself caned the crown prince and his associates, expelling the associates from the crown prince's palace. (Crown Prince Yun, however, soon recalled his associates.) Emperor Wu was also exceedingly strict with Crown Prince Yun, disallowing him from resting or drinking. Whenever he had faults, Emperor Wu would batter him or whip him, and further warn him that he would be deposed. Emperor Wu further ordered the crown prince's staff to report all of his actions to the emperor. Fearful of his father, Crown Prince Yun learned to feign upright behavior, and the emperor thought that the crown prince had changed.

In winter 576, Emperor Wu again attacked Northern Qi; this time, changing strategy and attacking Pingyang instead. He was able to capture Pingyang quickly, before Northern Qi troops could arrive. The Northern Qi emperor Gao Wei soon advanced toward Pingyang with a large army, and Emperor Wu, not wanting to engage Gao Wei's army directly, withdrew, leaving the general Liang Shiyan (梁士彦) in charge of defending Pingyang. Gao Wei put Pingyang under siege, and at one point nearly captured it. Emperor Wu, after reorganizing his forces, relaunched his army and headed for Pingyang, seeking to lift the siege. Around the new year 577, he arrived near Pingyang and Gao Wei chose to engage him—but, once the battle began, panicked when his favorite concubine Consort Feng Xiaolian falsely believed that the army had been defeated—and he abandoned the army, causing its collapse. Gao Wei fled to Jinyang, and Emperor Wu gave chase. No longer having the will to fight Emperor Wu, Gao Wei further fled back to the Northern Qi capital Yecheng, leaving his cousin Gao Yanzong in charge of Jinyang. Gao Yanzong launched a counterattack, catching Emperor Wu by surprise and nearly killing him. However, after the victory, Gao Yanzong's army went into a celebration, and he was unable to reorganize it, and Emperor Wu soon defeated and captured him, and headed for Yecheng.

Gao Wei, after passing the throne to his young son Gao Heng to deflect ill omens, considered resisting, but instead decided to flee southeast across the Yellow River, planning to regroup and see if he could make a last stand—but if not, to flee to Chen. In spring 577, Emperor Wu entered Yecheng. With Gao Wei's official Gao Anagong feeding him intelligence on Gao Wei's ___location, he was able to capture Gao Wei. After Gao Wei was returned to Yecheng, he treated Gao Wei with respect and created Gao Wei the Duke of Wen. Gao Wei's uncle Gao Jie (高湝) and cousin Gao Xiaoheng (高孝珩), making one last stand at Xindu (信都, in modern Hengshui, Hebei), were also soon defeated and captured. Another of Gao Wei's cousins, Gao Shaoyi, after making a failed bid to resist, fled to Tujue and came under the protection of Ashin Qijin's successor Tuobo Khan. Other than Ying Province (营州, roughly modern Zhaoyang, Liaoning), held by the official Gao Baoning (高宝宁), a distant relative to Northern Qi's imperial Gao clan, all of Northern Qi's territory came under Northern Zhou rule.

In summer 577, Emperor Wu returned to Chang'an with Gao Wei and other members of the Gao clan in tow. In winter 577, apprehensive of the Gao clan members, he falsely accused Gao Wei of conspiring with the former Northern Qi official Mu Tipo and killed Mu and ordered Gao Wei and the other members of the Gao clan to commit suicide.

In light of Northern Qi's defeat, Chen, then ruled by Chen Xu (who had deposed Emperor Fei and took the throne himself as Emperor Xuan), launched an attack commanded by Wu Mingche on Pengcheng (modern Xuzhou, Jiangsu), an important city on the former Chen/Northern Qi border. Emperor Wu sent Wang Gui to relieve Pengcheng, and in spring 578, Wang defeated Wu, capturing him.

By summer 578, Emperor Wu was engaging in military campaigns on two fronts: against Tujue in the north and against Chen in the south. However, he suddenly grew ill and, after stopping at Yunyang, ended the attack against Tujue. He entrusted the important matters to Yuwen Xiaobo, and he soon died at the age of 35. Crown Prince Yun succeeded him (as Emperor Xuan), and by 581 Northern Zhou had fallen, its throne having been seized by Emperor Xuan's father-in-law Yang Jian.

Mausoleum

Emperor Wu was buried at the Northern Zhou Qiaoling Mausoleum, together with his Turkic wife, Empress Ashina.

A recent study on the remains of Emperor Wu (his skull was nearly completely preserved), has shown that "Emperor Wu had typical East or Northeast Asian facial characteristics", which bring some light on the appearance of the people of Xianbei ancestry, to whom Emperor Wu belonged, in the 6th century CE.

Relation with xiangxi

Yuwen Yong was a great fan of xiangxi, he wrote a book about it, Xiang Jing, in 569 AD.

Family

Consorts and Issue:

• Empress Wucheng, of the Ashina clan (武成皇后 阿史那氏; 551–582)

• Empress Dowager, of the Li clan (天元圣皇太后 李氏; 535–588), personal name Ezi (娥姿)

　• Yuwen Yun, Emperor Xuan (宣皇帝 宇文贇; 559–580), first son

　• Yuwen Zan, Prince Han (汉王 宇文赞; d. 581), second son

• Shifu, of the Xue clan (世妇 薛氏)

　• Yuwen Dui, Prince Cai (蔡王 宇文兑; d. 581), sixth son

• Lady, of the Kuhan clan (库汗氏)

　• Yuwen Zhi, Prince Qin (秦王 宇文贽; d. 581), third son

　• Yuwen Yun, Prince Cao (曹王 宇文允; d. 581), fourth son

• Lady, of the Feng clan (冯氏)

　• Yuwen Chong, Prince Dao (道王 宇文充; d. 581), fifth son

• Lady, of the Zheng clan (郑氏)

　• Yuwen Yuan, Prince Jing (荆王 宇文元; d. 581), seventh son

• Unknown

　• Princess Qingdu (清都公主)

　　• Married Yan Pi, Duke Shibao (阎毗), and had issue (two sons including Yan Liben)

　• Princess Yiyang (义阳公主)

　　• Married Yu Xiangxian, Duke Qinchang (于象贤)

　• A daughter (b. 570)

Ancestry

According to the new DNA research, his Y-DNA is C-F3830 and his Mtdna is C4a1a-a