Wu Zetian

Wu Zetian^{[note 9]} (624^{[note 10][note 11]} – 16 December 705),^[2] personal name Wu Zhao, was an empress of the Tang dynasty through her husband Emperor Gaozong and later an empress dowager through her sons Emperor Zhongzong and Emperor Ruizong, holding de facto power during these periods.^[3] She subsequently founded and ruled as emperor of the (Wu) Zhou dynasty from 16 October 690 to 21 February 705.^[2] She was the only female sovereign in the history of China who is widely regarded as legitimate.^[4] During her 45 year reign, China grew larger, its culture and economy were revitalized, and corruption in the court was reduced. She was eventually removed from power during a coup (Shenlong Coup) and died a few months later.

In early life, Empress Wu was a concubine of Emperor Taizong.^[4] After his death, she married his ninth son and successor, Emperor Gaozong, officially becoming Gaozong's empress, the highest-ranking of his consorts, in 655.^[5] Empress Wu held considerable political power even before becoming empress, and began to control the court after her appointment. After Gaozong's debilitating stroke in 660, she became administrator of the court, a position with similar authority to the emperor's, until 683.^[6] History records that she "was at the helm of the country for long years, her power no different from that of the emperor".^[7] On Emperor Gaozong's death in 683, rather than entering retirement, and not interfering in the government, Empress Wu broke with tradition and took acquisition of complete power, refusing to allow either of her sons to rule. She took the throne in 690 by officially changing the name of the dynasty from Tang to Zhou, changing the name of the imperial family from Li to Wu, and holding a formal ceremony to crown herself as emperor.^[8]

Empress Wu is considered one of the great sovereigns in Chinese history due to her strong leadership and effective governance, which made China one of the world's most powerful nations.^[9][10][11] The importance to history of her tenure includes the major expansion of the Chinese empire, extending it far beyond its previous territorial limits, deep into Central Asia, and engaging in a series of wars on the Korean Peninsula, first allying with Silla against Goguryeo, and then against Silla over the occupation of former Goguryeo territory. Within China, besides the more direct consequences of her struggle to gain and maintain power, her leadership resulted in important effects regarding social class in Chinese society and in relation to state support for Taoism, Buddhism, Confucianism, education and literature.^[12]

Empress Wu played a key role in reforming the imperial examination system and encouraging capable officials to work in governance to maintain a peaceful and well-governed state. Effectively, these reforms improved the nation's bureaucracy by ensuring that competence, rather than family connections, became a key feature of the civil service.^[13] She also had an important impact upon the statuary of the Longmen Grottoes and the "Wordless Stele" at the Qian Mausoleum, as well as the construction of some major buildings and bronze castings that no longer survive. Besides her career as a political leader, Empress Wu also had an active family life. She was a mother of four sons, three of whom carried the title of emperor, although one held that title only as a posthumous honor. One of her grandsons became the controversial Emperor Xuanzong, whose reign marked the turning point of the Tang dynasty into sharp decline.

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