The more important of the independent generals in the east, Ch'en
Pa-hsien, installed a shadow emperor, forced him to abdicate, and made
himself emperor. The Ch'en dynasty which thus began was even feebler
than the preceding dynasties. Its territory was confined to the lower
Yangtze valley. Once more cliques and rival pretenders were at work and
prevented any sort of constructive home policy. Abroad, certain
advantages were gained in north China over the Northern Ch'i dynasty,
but none of any great importance.

Meanwhile in the north Yang Chien had brought into power the Chinese Sui
dynasty. It began by liquidating the quasi-feudal state of the "Later
Liang". Then followed, in 588-9, the conquest of the Ch'en empire,
almost without any serious resistance. This brought all China once more
under united rule, and a period of 360 years of division was ended.