Empress Wu Zetian

Empress Wu Zetian

China is considered to be one of the oldest civilizations in the world today. Out of its two thousand years of existence, and two hundred and forty-three emperors from the eleven major dynasties only one woman has ever ruled China. This would be Empress Wu Zetian who's cunning, malicious, and devious behavior would lead her to commit unthinkable acts against others as she tried to rise above her statues of a mar woman and sit on the dragon throne of China.

The future Empress of China Wu Zhao would be born in Wenshui part of the Shanxi Province (www.chinavoc.com/history/tang/women.htm) in 624 A.D. Wu Zhao's father Wu Shihuo, a supporter of Emperor Taizong, was a member of an aristocratic Shanxi family, while her mother, Lady Yang, was from the royal Sui family. At the time of Wu's birth China would be experiencing an era in the Tang Dynasty in which women had more freedom. During this time most women did not practice foot binding or were they of a submissive nature. Because of Emperor Tai Tzong cultural revolution women were allowed to economically independent, and educated in philosophy, culture and social ethics. As a result Wu Zhao was educated in music reading, writing, and the Chinese Classics. By the age of thirteen Wu Zhao would not only be know for her beauty, but also for her intelligence and wit.

At fourteen Wu Zhao was recruited to the court of Emperor Tai Tsung, and became a member of the harem. She would be given the rank of Cairen a concubine of the fifth level (www.hyperhistory.net/apwh/bios/b3wuempress.htm). Due to her wit and understanding of literature and history Wu would be put to work in the Imperial Study. This would prove to be a valuable educational experience for her, as a result of the twelve years she worked in the Imperial Study, Wu learned the finer points of official documents, policy and foreign affairs. In the intervening time Wu would become Emperor Tai's favorite concubine and he would rename her Wu Niang, Charming Lady (www.travelchinaguide.com/intro/history/tang/emperor_wuzetian.htm). It would be during her early years in the harem that Wu would learn she had to obtain power in order to survive life in the harem and court. Upon the death of Emperor Tai Tsung Wu, along with the rest of the Emperor Tai Tsung's harem, would be forced into a nunnery where she was to live out the rest of her life.

Life in the convent would be hard on Wu, as she would have to shave her head and live a simple life of toil. There would be some enjoyment for Wu as the new Emperor Kao Tsung would come and visit her from time to time. Empress Wang, Emperor Koa's wife, world learn of these visits and see Wu Zhao as a way to distract Emperor Kao from his head concubine Lady Xiao. So, Empress Wang would encourage her husband to have Wu returned to court. However, this would be the worst mistake of Empress Wang's life.

Once returned to court Wu would become the Emperor's Zhaoyi or second concubine (www.chinastyle.cn/essential/famous-emperors/wuzetian.htm). After her experiences in the convent Wu would remember her earlier lessons about power and life at court and in the harem. With her intelligence and familiarity with political issues, Wu would begin to gain influence with the Emperor. Wu would secure even more influence with the Emperor when she bang to give birth to sons and heirs. It would be during this time that Wu would start to conspire against Empress Wang and Lady Xiao. As the only way Wu saw to obtain more power was to eliminate them both. First after the birth of her daughter, Wu would kill her and place the blame on Empress Wang being jealous of her (www.chinastyle.cn/essential/famous-emperors/wuzetian.htm). Next Wu would spread rumors that someone was trying to lay a curse on the Emperor. Upon hearing these rumors the Emperor had the palace surged and found evidence, that had been planted by Wu, in both Empress Wang's and Lady Xiao's bedchambers that implicated them. Both Empress Wang and Lady Xiao were striped of power, and Wu then became Empress consort to the Emperor. However, Empress Wu was not done with Wang and Xiao. Wu ordered that both Wang and Xiao have their hands and feet cut off, after which she had them placed in vats of wine to die an agonizing death (www.mabelyn.com/infamous_women/wu.htm).

Know that Wu was Empress, she would dispose of any woman that Emperor Kao would pay attention to, including her own sister and niece. After five years of marriage to Empress Wu, Emperor Kao suffered a debilitating stroke at the age of 36. Seeing an opportunity for even more power Wu began to take over the rule of China. Wu would be present for all court audiences and administrative meeting, and would use her influence with the Emperor to implement decisions that would benefit her. One of these would be to have Koa send his advisors and friends to distant province, many of which died along the way or committed suicide soon after arrival. These advisors would then be replaced by men that were loyal to her and that she could control. Also Wu would create a secrete police force to spy on, jail, and kill anyone who got in her way, even her own children. Wu's oldest son Hung would die mysteriously, after objecting about how Wu had her third son's wife starved to death (www.mabelyn.com/infamous_women/wu.htm). Her next son Shien was exiled and sent to Szechuan, after complaining of his other s affairs with men, (www.mabelyn.com/infamous_women/wu.htm) where supposedly he committed suicide. Through all this because of his deteriorating condition Emperor Kao Tsung was not able to curb Wu's climb to power. Upon Emperor Kao's death Wu would have her third son Zhongzong replaced as Emperor, after only fifty-four days, with her youngest son Ruizong because she could not control him.

In 690 Emperor Ruizong would abdicated his throne to his mother (www.meltmagazine.com/8_2001/page4.htm). Dowager Empress Wu would then declare herself Emperor and ruler of China. Wu would then change her name from Zhao to Zhou or light shinning from the sky, and instituted her own dynasty the Zhou Dynasty as she claimed to be a descended of the first Zhou Dynasty. So that there would be character in the Chinese language Wu would construct a character for it as well as eleven other characters that would be added to the Chinese language. Afraid of being over through Empress Wu would persecute, exile, or kill most of the reaming members of the Tang family. Empress Wu moved the capital to Lo Yang where it would remain until 701. Under the advice of her supporters Empress Wu would reinstate Zhongzong as Crown prince and heir to the throne in 698. However, in 705 Zhongzong with help of his mother's advisors would force Empress Wu out of power, and reinstated the Tang Dynasty. Wu would die in less