WU ZETIAN

Wu Zetian (624-705) was empress consort of China through her marriage to Emperor Gaozong, and later became empress dowager and regent for her sons Zhongzong and Ruizong. She had a remarkable rise to power and eventually became the first empress regnant of China, founding the Wu Zhou dynasty (690-705).

By Gabrielle Storey

Born in the Sichuan province of Lizhou to Wu Shiyue and Lady Yang on 17 February 624, we have no record of Wu's birth name. She received an extensive education under the guidance of her father, which enabled her to take up the position of secretary in the royal court. During the 640s, as a teenager, Wu Zetian entered the imperial palace as a concubine of the fifth rank. After the death of Emperor Taizong, Wu Zetian became a nun of the Buddhist Ganye temple. However, Empress Wang, the wife of the succeeding Emperor Gaozong, encouraged Gaozong's affections for Wu Zetian in hopes of displacing a favourite concubine, Xiao Shufei. Consort Empress Wang's plan failed. Both she and Xiao Shufei were deposed shortly after Wu Zetian's return to the imperial palace. Wu…

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Medieval World Culture & Conflict (Digital) - 1 Issue, Issue 10 - 2024

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