Wu Zetian's name was Zhao. Her ancestral home was in present-day Wenshui County, in Shanxi Province. She was born in where is now Guangyuan County in Sichuan Province. Her father, Wu Shihuo, was a wood-merchant, but later he followed Li Yuan, founder of the Tang Dynasty, and fought in the revolt against the Sui Dynasty. He was appointed minister of works in the Tang Court. In her early youth, Wu Zetian went with her parents who travelled a lot, which helped her widen her knowledge a gerat deal. She lost her father at the age of 12. As a result, she suffered a great deal of discrimination from society, and was also bullied by her two brothers at home. However, it was these frustrations she met with during her life that helped her to build her indomitable character.
When she was 14, Tang Tai Zong heard of her exceptional ability and beauty. She was chosen and admitted into the imperial palace and was conferred the title of Cairen (the fifth-grade concubine of the emperor).
Nurtured at the side of Tang Tai Zong, and having lived in the imperial palace for a long period of time, she accumulated a wealth of political experience. Eagerly she read, learning everything she could to enhance her abilities. After Tai Zong's death, Wu Zetian and the other palace maids were forced to become nuns in Ganye Temple. She was only 26.
Wu Zetian had had contact long before with Li Zhi, now the crown prince. The relationship between them had started while she was taking care of Tai Zong who was confined to bed at that time. She stayed in Ganye Temple only for three years. In 654 A.D., she returned to the imperial palace and was granted the title of Zhao Yi, (the second-grade concubine) and was established as Empress the following year. As soon as she became Empress, she had a hand in the management of state affairs. From 660 A.D., Gao Zong was in poor health. Almost all the important affairs of state were considered and decided by Wu Zetian. So the courtiers called both Gao Zong and Wu Zetian “Your Majesty (or His or Her Majesty)”. But it was Wu Zetian who was actually in supreme power.
In order to ensure that Li's dynasty would last long time, Gao Zong wanted to abdicate, and hand over the crown to Li Hong (Li Zhi and Wu Zetian's eldest son). But Wu Zetian killed Li Hong with poisonous drink and established Li Xian, her second son, as the crown prince. Soon he was dethroned and became a common person. Then Li Xian, the third son, was made crown prince. In 683 A.D. Emperor Gao Zong died of illness. Li Xian ascended the throne, and was entitled Zhong Zong. But Wu Zetian was still present at court to deal with the affairs of state, in a capacity of empress dowager. The following year Wu Zetian dethroned Zhong Zong and made him the King of Lu Ling. Li Dan, the fourth son was established as Emperor Rui Zong. However, she still did not allow him to interfere in the affairs of state, and she still had the final saying in everything. In 690 A.D., she simply deposed Rui Zong, proclaiming herself Sacred Empress. She changed the title of the dynasty from Tang into Zhou. Through thirty years of struggling, she finally ascended the throne and became the only empress in Chinese history.
Wu Zetian was a woman of humble birth, from a wood merchant's family. But she dared to defy public opinion in the feudal society and proclaimed herself empress of China. Without a doubt, this was a serious challenge to the feudal ethics of “the superiority of man over woman”and “the idea that lack of talent is a virtue in women”. Because of this, she was greatly criticised by the society. But, if we look at this from a historical point of view, we should say she displayed outstanding personal ability during the 50 years of her reign. At that time, the society was stable, the national defence strengthened and the economy developed further. All of this, as well as the inheritance from the past, played an important role towards ushering in the coming peak of all feudal societies——the Kaiyuan Period of Tang Xuan Zong. She encouraged the government officials at all levels to recommend persons of ability, themselves included, to fill government posts. Those who were recommended or offered their services would be charged with important tasks quickly, if they had real abilities and learning. Therefore, the prime ministers, who were apponinted while she was in power, were all known as able and virtuous prime ministers in Chinese history. Wu Zetian was also willing to listen to objections and remonstrations. She orderd Tong Gui (just like today's suggestion box) to be placed around the imperial court and collected suggestions from the court and the common people in all parts of the country. |
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