From Concubine to Consort
Emperor Gaozong of Tang, though less capable than his father Emperor Taizong of Tang, initially ruled smoothly with the aid of veteran ministers and by adhering to his father’s advice. During this prosperous era, he completed the construction of the Daming Palace, a monumental complex of unparalleled scale and grandeur. However, Gaozong soon suffered from severe headaches that often left him incapacitated, gradually shifting the reins of power to his empress, Wu Zetian. Originally named Wu Mei, she had been a low-ranking concubine of Emperor Taizong. After Taizong’s death, she was sent to Ganye Temple as a nun. During a visit to the temple, Emperor Gaozong recognized her; they rekindled a connection from his days as crown prince. Empress Wang, childless and seeking to divert the emperor’s affection from her rival Consort Xiao, secretly arranged for Wu to regrow her hair and return to the palace as a concubine. This decision proved fatal for Empress Wang. Wu quickly bore sons and gained the emperor’s deep favor. In a notorious incident, Wu allegedly smothered her own newborn daughter and blamed Empress Wang, who had visited the infant shortly before. Enraged by the perceived murder, Gaozong resolved to depose the empress.
The Purge of the Old Guard
The proposal to replace Empress Wang with Wu faced fierce opposition from senior statesmen. Zhangsun Wuji, the emperor’s uncle, and Chu Suiliang, a principled minister, argued vehemently against it, citing Wu’s previous status as a concubine of the late emperor as a moral stain. Wu, listening from behind a curtain, reportedly shouted, “Why not kill this old fool?” While traditionalists resisted, officials like Xu Jingzong and Li Yifu supported the change, with General Li Ji famously stating, “This is a family matter; why consult outsiders?” Gaozong proceeded to depose Empress Wang and Consort Xiao, installing Wu as the new empress. Wu exacted brutal revenge: the two former rivals were beaten, mutilated, and drowned in wine vats. Subsequently, Zhangsun Wuji was forced to commit suicide after being framed for treason, and Chu Suiliang was exiled to die in remote Annam (modern Vietnam). This purge effectively eliminated the old guard of the Zhenguan era, clearing the path for Wu’s dominance.
The Era of “Two Saints”
As Gaozong’s health deteriorated, Wu Zetian increasingly managed state affairs, often making decisions from behind a curtain while the emperor sat silently. Her competence grew, but so did Gaozong’s fear that she might usurp the throne. When he secretly plotted with official Shangguan Yi to depose her, Wu discovered the plan. Terrified, Gaozong shifted the blame entirely to Shangguan, who was executed. Thereafter, the court referred to the couple as the “Heavenly Emperor” and “Heavenly Empress,” ruling jointly as “Two Saints.” Upon Gaozong’s death in 683, Wu manipulated the succession, first placing her son Li Xian (Emperor Zhongzong) on the throne, then deposing him within a year for being too independent. She installed another son, Li Dan (Emperor Ruizong), as a puppet ruler while she held actual power.
Crushing Rebellion and Claiming the Throne
Resistance to Wu’s rule culminated in a rebellion led by Li Ji’s grandson, Xu Jingye, in Yangzhou. The poet Luo Binwang wrote a famous denunciation against her. Although the rebellion gained initial traction, Prime Minister Pei Yan’s suggestion that Wu return power to the emperor to quell the unrest only angered her. She had Pei Yan imprisoned and executed, then sent general Li Xiaoyi to crush the revolt, which collapsed within months. Emboldened, Wu declared her intention to rule as emperor. In 690, she formally ascended the throne, establishing the Zhou Dynasty with Luoyang as its capital, becoming the only female emperor in Chinese history.
Rule by Favor and Fear
Wu Zetian’s reign maintained the stability and agricultural policies of the Zhenguan era but was marked by unconventional personnel choices. She promoted talent regardless of background, elevating capable officials like Di Renjie and Yao Chong. However, she also relied heavily on favorites and secret police. Her male consorts, such as the former medicine seller Xue Huaiyi and the talented Zhang Yizhi and Zhang Changzong brothers, were granted immense political power, outranking even princes and prime ministers. More terrifying was her use of “cruel officials” to purge opponents. Encouraging a culture of denunciation, she installed bronze boxes for secret accusations, promising rewards for informants and immunity for false claims. This led to a wave of paranoia. Officials like Lai Junchen and Zhou Xing devised horrific torture methods with names like “Phoenix Spreading Wings” and “Donkey Pulling the Stake” to extract confessions. Lai Junchen even authored the Treatise on Entrapment, a manual on fabricating treason. While these tactics secured her power, they bred deep hatred. Eventually, to appease public outrage, Wu executed some of these cruel officials, including Lai Junchen, whose death was celebrated by the families of his victims.
The End of an Era
By 705, Wu Zetian was over eighty and gravely ill. A coalition of ministers, led by Zhang Jianzhi, staged a coup, killing the Zhang brothers and forcing Wu to abdicate in favor of her son Li Xian, restoring the Tang Dynasty. Shortly after, Wu Zetian died. Her final words to her son reflected her indomitable spirit: “I have done what no one else could. Let history judge me as it will.”
Leave a Reply