Yuwen Tai

Also known as Zi Heita

Yuwen Tai, courtesy name Heita, was a Xianbei of the Yuwen clan from Wuchuan garrison who came west with Heba Yue after the Six Garrisons revolt. When Houmochen Yue murdered Heba Yue in 534, the officers chose Yuwen Tai as leader and he destroyed the murderer. That year Emperor Xiaowu of Northern Wei fled to Chang'an to escape Gao Huan and soon died, poisoned according to the History of the Northern Dynasties, and Yuwen Tai enthroned Yuan Baoju as Emperor Wen of Western Wei, reign title Datong. He routed Gao Huan's larger army at Shayuan in 537 but lost at Mangshan in 543. With Su Chuo he issued six edicts on government and new household registers, organised the northwestern soldiery into garrison militia under eight pillar generals and twelve great generals, and recast the offices on the Rites of Zhou. He died at Yunyang in 556; after his son founded the Northern Zhou he was named King Wen, and in 559 Emperor Wen with the temple name Taizu.