Wu Zetian: Who Was China’s Only Empress?
Through Her Intellect and Assertiveness, She Ruled China Like No One Else
China has been ruled by countless leaders, so many that most are forgotten by history. However, one stands out, not only in China but also internationally, as the ONLY female ruler in the country’s history!
To the delight of the feminist movement, she may have been China’s only female ruler, but she is also regarded as one of the greatest, having achieved more in her lifetime than the majority of her male counterparts!
Let’s learn more about her and the era she lived in.
The Tang Dynasty: China's Golden Age and the Empowerment of Women
唐代社会风气开放，女性地位较高。唐代，特别是唐前期，是一个“开放型”的社会，充满生机与活力，新生事物层出不穷。在这样的大环境之下，唐代女性社会地位相对较高，所受束缚相对较少，社会活动空间相对较大，这对武则天称帝时所面对的社会氛围相对有利。而武则天自身也充分利用了唐代女性相对自由的有利条件，为后来当皇帝做好了铺垫。例如她读书习文，“素多智计，兼涉文史”，所以有能力参决政事；她能够结交外臣，所以可以争取到一大批支持者；唐代社会上层的婚姻受礼教约束相对较少，所以她从父亲（太宗）的妃嫔变成儿子（高宗）的皇后。
社会风气 (shèhuì fēngqì) - Social customs or atmosphere.
开放型 (kāifàngxíng) - Open or liberal type.
生机与活力 (shēngjī yǔ huólì) - Vitality and vigor.
新生事物 (xīnshēng shìwù) - New phenomena or emerging trends.
层出不穷 (céngchū bùqióng) - Emerge in endless streams, indicating continuous occurrence.
束缚 (shùfù) - Restraints or limitations.
铺垫 (pūdiàn) - Preparation or groundwork.
素多智计 (sù duō zhìjì) - Naturally intelligent and resourceful.
兼涉文史 (jiān shè wénshǐ) - Also involved in literature and history.
参决 (cānjué) - Participate in and decide
外臣 (wàichén) - External officials.
礼教 (lǐjiào) - Confucian ethical code or traditional morality.
妃嫔 (fēipín) - Concubines or imperial consorts.
During the Tang dynasty, society was open-minded, and women enjoyed relatively high status. The Tang dynasty, especially the early Tang period, was an "open" society, full of vitality and vigor, with new phenomena constantly emerging. In this environment, women in the Tang dynasty had relatively high social status, faced fewer restrictions, and enjoyed greater social mobility. This atmosphere was relatively favorable for Wu Zetian when she ascended to the throne as emperor.
Wu Zetian herself also took full advantage of the relative freedoms available to women during the Tang dynasty, paving the way for her later role as emperor. For instance, she studied extensively, demonstrating "innate intelligence and resourcefulness, with expertise in literature and history," which enabled her to participate in and make decisions on state affairs. She was also able to build alliances with external officials, securing a large group of supporters. Additionally, marriage among the upper echelons of Tang society was less constrained by Confucian ethics, allowing her to transition from being a concubine of her father (Emperor Taizong) to becoming the empress of his son (Emperor Gaozong).
She Was a Pioneer of Feminism
值得一提的是，武则天还大力提高妇女地位。据悉，当年武则天当上皇后后，亲自主持“先蚕”礼，以大唐“第一夫人”的身份祭祀先蚕。同时，她还鼓励天下妇女养蚕织布，承担重要的经济责任。武则天还将嫔妃名衔中性化，如将“夫人”改为“赞德”，将“美人”改为“承旨”。名衔的变动体现了女人身份意义的变化。另外，武则天曾在《建言十二事》中明确提出，父在世，子女为母服丧的年限由1年变为3年，并得到采纳。
值得一提 (zhídé yī tí) - Worth mentioning
据悉 (jùxī) - According to reports
先蚕礼 (xiān cán lǐ) - The ritual of worshipping the silkworm goddess, an important agricultural ceremony.
祭祀 (jìsì) - Offer sacrifices or perform rituals to honor deities or ancestors.
第一夫人 (dì yī fūrén) - First Lady; here, referring to the highest-ranking woman in the Tang dynasty.
养蚕织布 (yǎng cán zhī bù) - Rearing silkworms and weaving cloth.
嫔妃 (pínfēi) - Imperial concubines.
名衔 (míngxián) - Titles or appellations.
中性化 (zhōngxìng huà) - Neutralization of gender; making something gender-neutral.
赞德 (zàndé) - Title introduced by Wu Zetian, replacing "夫人" (lady).
承旨 (chéngzhǐ) - Title introduced by Wu Zetian, replacing "美人" (beauty).
身份意义 (shēnfèn yìyì) - The significance of identity or status.
建言十二事 (jiànyán shí'èr shì) - A set of twelve proposals or suggestions made by Wu Zetian.
服丧 (fúsāng) - Mourning period; traditional filial duty of wearing mourning attire and observing rituals.
采纳 (cǎinà) - To adopt or accept (a proposal or suggestion).
It is worth mentioning that Wu Zetian made significant efforts to elevate the status of women. According to reports, after becoming empress, she personally presided over the "First Silkworm" ceremony, offering sacrifices to the silkworm goddess in her role as the "First Lady" of the Tang dynasty. Additionally, she encouraged women across the empire to raise silkworms and weave cloth, taking on important economic responsibilities.
Wu Zetian also neutralized the titles of imperial concubines, such as changing "Lady" (夫人) to "Zande" (赞德) and "Beauty" (美人) to "Chengzhi" (承旨). These changes in titles reflected a shift in the meaning of women's status. Furthermore, in her "Twelve Proposals for Reform," Wu Zetian explicitly suggested extending the mourning period for children upon the death of their mother from one year to three years, even if the father was still alive—a proposal that was adopted.
武则天的一生可谓传奇多彩。在男尊女卑的古代社会，她崭露头角，以惊世之才将王朝治理得井井有条。她翻手为云覆手为雨，平乱掌大权，尽显政治家手腕。
今天，我们研究武则天仍具有许多现实意义。尤其是她向传统“男尊女卑”的社会观念发出挑战，突破制度界限与敢为人先的精神，具有跨越时代的意义。她的存在，对当时以及后世的女性地位有着深刻的作用。至今，千古第一女帝的影响力仍然不曾消退。
传奇多彩 (chuánqí duōcǎi) - Legendary and colorful; referring to a life full of remarkable and diverse events.
男尊女卑 (nánzūn nǚbēi) - Male superiority and female inferiority; a traditional societal concept.
崭露头角 (zhǎnlù tóujiǎo) - To show one's talent or ability; to stand out.
惊世之才 (jīng shì zhī cái) - Extraordinary talent that amazes the world.
井井有条 (jǐngjǐng yǒu tiáo) - In perfect order; well-organized and methodical.
翻手为云覆手为雨 (fān shǒu wéi yún, fù shǒu wéi yǔ) - Literal: To turn the hand for clouds and turn it back for rain. Metaphorically: Capable of great power and influence, changing situations as one wishes.
平乱 (píng luàn) - To quell rebellions or restore peace during times of chaos.
政治家手腕 (zhèngzhìjiā shǒuwàn) - Political skills or tactics; the ability to maneuver in political situations.
现实意义 (xiànshí yìyì) - Practical significance; real-world importance.
制度界限 (zhìdù jièxiàn) - Institutional boundaries or limitations.
人先 (rén xiān) - Pioneer
跨越时代 (kuàyuè shídài) - Transcend the times; have relevance or impact across different eras.
千古第一女帝 (qiāngǔ dì yī nǚdì) - The first empress in history; refers specifically to Wu Zetian.
Wu Zetian's life can truly be described as legendary and colorful. In a patriarchal society where men were superior to women, she stood out, using her extraordinary talents to govern the dynasty in an orderly and efficient manner. She wielded immense power, quelled rebellions, and showcased remarkable political acumen.
Today, studying Wu Zetian still holds significant practical relevance. Notably, her challenge to the traditional patriarchal societal norms, her breaking of institutional boundaries, and her pioneering spirit carry timeless significance. Her existence profoundly impacted the status of women in her era and in generations to come. To this day, the influence of the first and only empress in Chinese history remains undiminished.
Fun Fact: Wu Zetian Created a Unique Chinese Character to Name Herself
When taking the trone, Wu Zetian renamed herself and created her own character “曌”. The character is made out of the componant 明 and 空, together sharing the exact same meaning and pronunciation with the character 照 (Zhào), meaning “bright”.
曌 was one of 18 characters Wu Zetian personally designed and officially introduced during her reign.
Were you familiar with Wu Zetian before?
Antoine & Dorota