Wei Hsiao-wen-ti (467-499) was the sixth emperor of the Northern Wei dynasty. His reign represents the apogee of the dynasty's power and probably sowed the seeds for its subsequent decline.

Wei Hsiao-wen-ti was born T'o-pa Hung on Oct. 13, 467, in P'ing-ch'eng (east of the present Ta-t'ung, Shansi, south of the Great Wall), eldest son of Emperor Hsien-wen. He was perfectly white, and there were the usual "supernatural" signs of an imperial birth. His father, a fervent Buddhist, abdicated in 471, and four-year-old Hsiao-wen ascended the throne. The first 19 years of his reign, under the regency of his grandmother, the formidable empress dowager Feng (442-490), were devoted to studies which enabled him to become versed in all aspects of Chinese literary culture, as well as in Buddhism.

Until his grandmother's death Hsiao-wen was only titular head of state, all real decisions being taken by her with the counsel of her Chinese...