‘The Big Wikd Gaose Pago, which dates tothe mid-seventh century, Is part of Budihist temple complex near Xan. 1 was aebuilt anc flanged ding the reign of Empress Wu Zetlan, who ruled China Ly China's nly Female Emperor Fhroughout human history, women have played a subservient role to men in most cultures, China Is no exception. Confuelus, the philosopher who shaped Cliinese thinking for thousands of years, grouped wornen with "petty men’ (the opposite of "gentlemen’). “Of all people," the sage ‘obse-ved, “women and petty men are the mos cffcult to deal with, In Confucian China, women handly had any standing fat all independent of men. Before she martied, a ‘woman had to obey her father. Mter marrying, she had. to otey her husband (even though she'd probably hac rho male in deciding whom that man would arranged marriages were the rule). In the event a wonsin outlived her husband, that stil diel not mean slhe became her own master; a widow hadl to obey hersons. Chinese woman was generally nameless: she bore combi nation of her man family name and her husbans fall name: ‘And up unl the mid-20th century, a Chinese man could take as many aves at te same time as he pleased, whereas a Chinese ‘woman had 10 rematin loyal to er husband even after his death ‘hut during the Tang (Tang) dynasty (618-907), one ofthe most prospacus periods Chinese history, a woman named Wu Zetia {Wu ‘ke-len) challenged these conventions. Not only did she rnake herself the head of state i the “Mie Kingdon effetvely ruled the empire for more than hall century. Her ule marked the only time i China’ 5,000-year history tha a women hel the throne inher ov righ “The Charming Lady” ‘wo Zetian was born in 624, atthe begining of the Tang dymasty. er eer wash ber merchant who hal fought for Yuan (aan, the fist emperor of Tang, in overthrowing the previous Sui dynasty (581-618). Fo his loyalty an! bravery he was award eda high post inte government ana wie fom a Su noble fam iy. Beeause of his changing posts, the Wu family moved from place to place when Wh Zetan was young Under the Tang ruler, social ie was less rg andl conventon- al, and women enjoyed a higher degree of freedom, than under other Chinese dynasties. Wu Zetin, though a gl, was taught 1 wwe, play music, and read the Chinese classics. Soon she was lovin for hor intelligence, wt, an bea. ‘tthe age of 1, she was taken nt the Imperial palace to Dé a mince concubine of Eaperor Tatzong (Vasu). Talzong was taken by her beauty and named her Meinang (Mang) mean- sng “he Charming Lady.” ‘et Wu Zetan was no ordinary beauty. A the emperor was $00" to find out, se was a gil of determination a ron wl. Talzong Famous People of ChinaChina's Only Female Emperor 47 had a wi horse that nobody could tame, Wu Zetian informed the emperor that she coud control the animal as long as she had thee things: an ion whip, an iron mace, anel a dagger. She told him that ‘the tron whip di net bring the horse to obedience, she would use the iron mace to beat its head, and if that did not work, she would use the dagger to cutis throat. Talzong assigned Wa Zetian to work in the Imperial study, winere se was introduced to official documents and besaie acquainted With affars of state. was during her 12 years of oficial service to Taizong, arguably the greatest of all Chinese emperors, that Wu {Zetian frst developed the skills that enabled her to assume power a decade later. It was also during this time that she got to know Taizong’s designated successor, Crown Prince Li Zhi Chik). The Besa ager, and | future emperor, three years Wu > 106 from’ minor conc “ Zetia’ junior, became infatuated “een eres Aner the | ‘wither Beauty an tent. The Emperor Cabzang, she two began an affair without enn seus Talzong knowledge, ( ter own gi potatmeses other Chinese dynasties: they ~46. ‘These slay figures, made during the Tang dynasty (618-907), depict, ‘women playisg musical Instruments. Though women enjoyed greater Freedom wring the Tang era than under previous dynasties. the pats fopen to them were still very resiited™which makes. Wit Zetians fehievenents ll the more remarkable dead emperor. Nonetheless, consignment to a life of obscurity ambitious Wu Zetian, who was just 26 proved unbearable forth ‘years old, She soon made contact with her old lover, Li Zit, who had by now become the new emperor Gaozong (Keo-tsung). Over Saozong frequently visited Wu at Ganye the nest three years, Temple, In 652 he took her back to his palace asa concubine, an ‘act offen condemned by later Confucian historians of China, for ‘Wu Zetian had now served both father and son. vom Cs neubine to Empr ‘Within a year of her return to the palace, Wu Zetlan gave birth to a son and named him Li Hong (Li Hung). Soon she gained aed Howeret, she craved more power and authority ancl started to com- pete with Gaozong’s empress, Wang, anc his other favorite concu: bine, Kiaoshu (Hsiao-shu). Before long the weak-willed Gaozong hhad come under Wu Zetian’s domination. In 654 Wu gave birth to 5 trust by virtue of her intelligence and_ personality Famous People of Chinaa baby gil. She arparently strangled the infant herself but framed Empress Weng for the murdet. Before long, Gaozong, taken in by Wu Zetian’s story, ousted both Empress Wang and Xiaosh, despite song opposition from his court. In 655 Gaozong consulted his court on promoting Wu Zetian to bbe his empress. He met with fierce apposition, The aristocrats, led by his uncle Zhangsun Wufi (Chang-sun Wu-chi), cited Wu's lowly origin (despite her father’s high post, she was nog from one of the great aristocratic clans) and the fact that she had been Taizong’s concubine, But Gaozong proceeded with his plan nonetheless, (Once installed as empress, Wu Zetian immediately put Empress ‘Wang and Xisoshu to death and exiled thelr families and suppott- ‘1s, thus permanertly eliminating her rival. ‘The next year, Wu Zetian’s son Li Hong became Gaozong’s crown, prince, As the mother ofthe future emperor, Wu's power continued to grow. Recognizing thatthe old aristocratic clans were still against hier, she made grect efforts to gain supporters from outside these clans. Meanwhile, she gradually disposed of her political rivals, ‘who iwere removed trom offic, extled or executed one alter anoth- cx. In 659 Wu Zetian finally had her revenge on Zhangsuin Wl, |her major epponen: at court first she banished him and his family, and then she forced him to commit suicide. [mn 660 Emperor Gaozong suffered a severe stroke that left him blind, tn the altermath, he elingulshed control ofall administrative matters to Wu Zetia, making her the virual ruler of the Tang ‘empire forthe next 23 years. In order to closely monitor her subjects, Wu Zetian set up a secret police and an informer system. She appointed cruel officials to climinate any opposition to her authority. These officals employed all kinds of tortures to deal with those accused of plotting against Wu. Many high ministers and aristocrats, as well as commoners, ‘were subject to their brutality. China's Only Female EmperorRuthless as she was, Wu Zetlan proved a very competent ruler, Her great ability san administrator, her courage, ancl her decisive character gradually won her the respect of the court. She moved. ‘Tang’ capital east fo Luoyang (Lo-yang) and named it the “Eastern Capital"—signifying a break with the old aristocratic rule in Tang’ "Westemn Capital,” Xi'an, and a shift toward administration by scholat-oficials. In 668 Tang forees conquered Korea and set up a provincial capital in Pyongyang. In 674 Wu Zetian announced what was called the “Twelve Suggestions,” the fst of a series of policies almed at winning the support of the common people and of officials of lower status. These dozen suggestions, which includ: fed the encouragement of agriculture and silk: production, tax. reduction, and a disbandment of armiles, reformed varlous aspects ‘of economic, miltary, social, and political life. In 674 Gaozong dectared himself the “Heavenly Emperor” and ‘Wo Zetian the "Heavenly Empress." Yet Wu Zettan’s ambition extended beyond such a Ute, which was designed to distinguish hier fom all past empresses. She continued fo remove potential rivals, including her own relatives. In 675 Crown Prince Li Hong. dle suddenly white accompanying his parents on ai. Ts gen- ‘erally beleved that Wu Zetian polsoned her son because of his support for some of her enemies. Wu replaced him with er second son, Li Xian (Li Hsien). ‘ The “Holy and Divine Emperor” Emperor Gaozong finally ded in 683, after ullng mostly in name for 30 years, According to his final instructions, all important mat~ tets of slate were 10 be decided by the Heavenly Empress However, Crovn Prince Lt Xian ascended the throne as Zhongzong (Chung-sung) Within two years Wu Zetia had deposed him anc laced er oth son, Ruzong ul-sung).on the throne. Rulzong ‘was merely & puppet emperor atual power rested completely in 50 Famous People of ChinaChina's Only Female Ein the hands of Wu Zetian Soon Fang loyalists ‘omented a revolt, but it took Wu Zetian barely three months t quell the Another revolt by the broke out a few uprsin ing. prine ‘years later, after Wu Zetlan had declared herself the “Holy Mother Divine Empress,” but it ‘was crushed even ‘aster Wu used this second Fevolt as an many of Tang’ imperial family embers, and her aithorty as the supreme ruler of the empire was fer strengthened, By the year 650, all of Wu Zetianspolical rivals had. been cineca enna reno ex of putt death, fhe tong Goto nt aang and her rule had been solidified rc through years of effecive adimin- made Buddhism the state religion and ils frdeted the construction of many Buds tmples. Jstation, The 65-year-old empress was now ready to ascend the divone hetsell. She declared the stait of a new empire of her own called Zhou (Chou), set her capital in Luoyang, and conferred upon herself the ttle “Holy and Divine Emperor.” She would reign forthe rnext 15 years, the only female emperor in Chinese history to rule in her owen right Judging that her position was secure, the "Holy and Divine ror’ turned against the crue! officials she had earlier appoint ed. One by one they were put to death, and the focus ofthe admin istration shifted to economic and cu ral development.Determined to break the dominance of the miltary and political aristocracy, Wu Zetian enlisted talented! people from lower ranks ‘who would in tum remain loyal 10 het. She revised the imperial civil service examinations and personally Interviewed candidates for various government posts, which became the practice of emper- ‘ors in all coming dynasties. Many of her excellent ministers, such ‘as Yao Chong (¥a0 Chung) and Song fing (Sung Ching), were rectulted in this way. They remained in court after her death and through thelr capable administration ensured continuing greatness for the Tang dynasty. Wu Zetian also encouraged talented people to volunteer their services, As some historians have noted, while her motives were to secure her own authority, these policies had great historical significance: they promoted the transformation of CChirese society from one dominated by the aristocracy to one gov- cemed by a class of scholar-administrators. ‘Wit Zetian also attached great importance to the development of agriculture. She ordered the construction of irrigation systems, encouraged people to cultivate new farmland, hacl textbooks on agriculture complied, and reduced taxes, Under the reign of Wu Zetian, Chinese Buddhism achieved its highest development. She established Buddhism as the state reli {gon and had numerous Buddhist temples built. Many ofthe finest Budhist cave sculptures were created during this time. The most famous are at Longmen (Lung-men), near Luoyang, where a colos sal statue ofthe Vairocana Buddha stands more than 55 feet high. lis faceds said to have been modeled after that of Wu Zetian, |As she grew older, Wu Zetian felt the pressure to select an helt In 698 she restored her second son, Li Xian—whom she had sent Intoexlle 14 years earler—as crown prince, but she continued 10 rule the emple, In 70S she was forced by her coutt to relinquish the throne to 1 Xian, who resumed his reign as Zhongzong and changed the name of the dynasty back to Tang, 52 Famous People of Chine,‘These sfone sttendants stand watch fefore the burial mound of Empress ‘Wa and her hushand, Emperor Gaovong, ‘Wu Zetian was now 82 years old, and her health quickly deterio- rated. She died at the end ofthe year A Blank Tombstone ‘Wu Zetian was buried with her husband, Gaozong, in the Qianling (Ch'ien-ing) Tomb, located west of Xtan. Following her wishes, her tombstone was left blank. Some interpreted this as a symbol of her absolute power, which went beyond words; others believed that Wu wanted future generations to decide for them- selves how she should be evaluated, Confucius had said that having a woman rule would be as unnat ‘ral as “having a ten crow lke a rooster at daybreak.” Wu Zetian proved to the Chinese that, in the intricate and difficult world of statecraft, @ woman could be every bit as effective as a man—if given the opportunity China's Only Female Emperor 53