On this day in 690 AD Wu Zetian ascended the Throne of Heaven to become the only female emperor of China. She was a minor (5th rank) concubine of Emperor Taizong who died in 649. As a low rank concubine it is unlikely that she was ever even in company with Taizong, although in her own account she claimed to have had sexual relations with him. In the complex politics of Chinese court society she may have made this claim to exaggerate her importance in the Tang dynasty.
What is true is that she had relations with Taizong’s son Li Zhi, the future emperor Gaozong, while Taizong was still alive. When Taizong died the custom was for childless concubines to become nuns and live a life of seclusion. Li Zhi rescued her from this fate and elevated her to a second rank concubine. From this position she rose in power gradually.
Gaozong suffered health problems and Wu became de-facto ruler in his reign. She played court politics to perfection having crown prince after prince exiled until her own son became heir apparent. Upon the death of the Emperor she ruled through her own son as Empress Dowager until 690 when she declared herself Empress and founded Zhou dynasty.
Subsequent administrations re-wrote the history of Wu Zetian to paint her from the male chauvinist perspective as a monster, claiming that she killed her own children. Much of the greatness of the Tang dynasty can be attributed to her rule, the stability she established, her sound management of the state and support of the arts. Many of the subsequent Tang rulers were her progeny. She presided over the Golden Era of the Golden Age Dynasty of China.
In her poem below, clearly tongue in cheek, she reminds me of King Canute ordering the Tide. Truly powerful people recognize their own limits.
Proclaiming an Imperial Visit to Shanglin Park; by Wu Zetian
Tomorrow I will visit Shanglin Park,
I order the spring not to delay:
flowers must bloom now in the dark,
so the morning breeze makes the petals sway!
Mindship 