Page 69 - All About History - Issue 59-17

The Dragon Empress

The Wordless Stele marking
Wu Zetian’s tomb

Wu became Emperor
Taizong’s concubine aged 14
Peaceful reformer or scheming murderer, the true nature of the only

woman to rule China in her own right is shrouded in mystery

he Guanzhong Plain in Shanxi so unwilling to upset the status quo that a blank of Tang and she was selected to become one of
province is China’s own Valley of the stone is better than the truth that challenges it. his concubines. Aged just 14 years old, Wu was
Kings, scattered with 20 mausoleums Wu was born in 624 to a wealthy family that spirited away to the ruler’s court, a palace of
to Tang dynasty rulers. However, one had made its money in the timber business. While schemes, plots and power plays, likely a terrifying
Tof the tombs at Qianling Mausoleum is most young girls were instructed in what would place for a young girl to be thrust into — but she
quite different from the others. Normally, the huge make them a good wife, Wu’s father allowed was a quick learner.
stone slab that sits outside a tomb lists the great her to follow her own interests. An intelligent Sources vary as to the emperor’s feelings
deeds of the dead, but this one’s tablet is blank. girl, she was actively encouraged to widen her towards Wu, with some claiming she became a
Known as the Wordless Stele, it marks the tomb of education, to read books and learn about politics, quick favourite and others the opposite. What we
the only woman to rule China in her own right as government, writing, literature and music. As most do know is that she was hardly a timid, kneeling,
an empress in the country’s 2,000 years of history. girls did needlework, Wu was learning the skills submissive mistress because while still assigned
On the one hand, Empress Wu Zetian’s blank that one would day help her rule a nation. Because to the aging emperor, she began an affair with
slate suggests she did nothing memorable. Others of her father’s support, she was encouraged to step his son, Prince Li Zhi.
will tell you it hints at a life of murder, betrayals beyond what was expected of her gender from a Li Zhi’s feelings for Wu are in no debate — he
and scheming — acts not worthy of inscription. very early age. was completely in love with her. When Taizong
What you would never assume is that it belongs a Wu’s quick mind, coupled with her good looks, died, all of his concubines, as tradition dictated,
woman who ruled over one of the most peaceful attracted the attention of the Emperor Taizong had their heads shaved and were sent to live out
and prosperous periods of China’s history, and the rest of their days at a Buddhist convent. When
even gave the lower orders of Chinese society their Li Zhi became emperor in 649, taking the name of
first ever voice in how they were governed. “Wu was learning the Gaozong, he broke with tradition and demanded
This is because the historians who were Wu to be returned to court as his own concubine.
expected to recount her great deeds upon the skills that would one day Surprisingly, Gaozong’s wife, Empress Wang, had
tablet were men who hated her. The blank stone, actually encouraged the return. Wang had hoped
much like Wu herself, presents two possibilities help her rule a nation” that Wu might divert attention from one of the
— a woman so indescribably evil that a single ruler’s other concubines, Xiao Shufei. Wang was
good deed cannot be etched upon it, or a country right, but she would rue the day.

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