Page 71 - All About History - Issue 59-17

Pagoda of
Wu Zeitan gained power after
marrying Emperor Gazong
they were with the concept of bowing to a female
ruler when one scholar claimed that “throughout
the empire… hens changed into roosters.”
After her accession, an earthquake shook the
land — a bad omen proving that a woman ruling as
a man had upset the very balance of nature itself.
When a mountain was seen to ‘appear’ afterwards,
Wu claimed it was a sign of heavens blessing her
reign but many of her ministers disagreed.
One implored her that she should lead “the quiet
life of a widow” else “further disasters will befall
us.” He was promptly exiled to a southern swamp
land and other ministers who did not favour her
decided to keep their opinions quiet. Instead, their
disdain found its way into the histories of her reign
as opinions and fears that would eventually be
accepted as truths.
Wu didn’t really care about the opinions of
men — she wanted to make it very clear that her
reign was the beginning of something new, and
her name, Zetian, meant ‘ruler of the heavens’.
When she changed the name of the state from
Tang to Tianzhou, meaning ‘granted by heaven’,
it was almost as if she was mocking the men who
claimed her position was unnatural for a woman
by deeming it blessed by the heavens themselves.
Wu bookended the Tang dynasty by making
sure that all of the royal family were imprisoned.
This may seem cruel in retrospect, but she was
simply acting as any man of the time would have.
“Rather than simply
letting her enemies plot
against her, Wu decided
to hit back”
Power
Wu’s rise to the top was bloody,
brutal and ruthless
Reign of terror
Wu works quickly to eliminate any opposition
in the court. She systematically wipes out all
claimants to the throne by exile, execution
and even forced suicide so that she can
rule unopposed.
Seizes the throne
With no sons left, Wu claims the dragon
throne for herself and becomes the first
recognised female ruler of china to govern
in her own name.
Second son abdicates
Wu keeps her second son and current
emperor under house arrest but eventually
gets tired of him, too. She forces him to
abdicate the throne and he does as he’s told.
Son is charged
After Taizong’s death, Wu’s son takes the
throne but he is unruly with a scheming wife.
Wu decides to cut all ties and has him charged
with treason and banished.
Weds the emperor
Now with no rivals to oppose her for the
emperor’s affections, Wu rises to the position
of first wife and empress of China with her
sons as heirs.
Lady Wang accused
Wu ensures the emperor’s wife is the prime
suspect for the murder of her daughter. Wang
is divorced and exiled, along with Taizong’s
first concubine, Xiao.
Murder of daughter
Wu’s newborn daughter is found dead in
her crib. In many accounts it is Wu who has
killed her, strangled to death with her own
hands to frame her rivals.
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