Wu Zetian (武 Zetian), courtesy name Zhao (later changed to 曌), and a native of Wenshui (present-day Shanxi), whose father, Wu Shiyan, was a timber merchant in his early years, who later became acquainted with Li Yuan and participated in the Taiyuan Rebellion. After the establishment of the Tang Dynasty, he was appointed as a founding hero, an official to the Ministry of Works Shangshu, the governor of Jingzhou, and the duke of Yingguo. Wu Zetian's appearance was outstanding and quite clever, and the history books also called him "involved in literary history", and at the age of fourteen, he was selected by Emperor Taizong Li Shimin to be a "talented person" in the palace and given the title of "Wu Mei". After the death of Emperor Taizong, he entered the Temple of Ganye as a nun. After Emperor Gaozong ascended the throne, he summoned him to the palace and was given the title of "Zhaoyi".
"Wu Zetian"
Wu Zetian took advantage of the contradiction between Empress Wang and Concubine Xiao to consolidate his position in the palace and was given the title of "Concubine Chen". Yonghui 6th year (655). After Emperor Gaozong decided to depose Empress Wang and establish Wu Zetian as empress, the "elderly and important ministers" such as Changsun Wuji and Chu Suiliang vigorously opposed it, and Xu Jingzong and Li Yifu expressed their support, which essentially reflected the contradictions and struggles within the ruling clique. Wu Zetian was made empress, and because of Emperor Gaozong's illness, he was able to participate in political affairs, and the courtiers also called the emperor and the empress "Second Sage".
Wu Zetian and Emperor Gaozong of Tang "Two Holy Dynasties"
Wu Zetian had four sons with Emperor Gaozong, the eldest son Li Hong, the second son Li Xian, the third son Li Xian, and the fourth son Li Dan. The eldest son died early, and the second son was forced to die by Wu Zetian. In the second year of Yongchun (683), Emperor Gaozong fell ill and died, and Li Xian took the throne as Emperor Zhongzong, but within half a year he was deposed by Wu Zetian and made Li Dan emperor, that is, Ruizong, but the power of the dynasty was in the hands of Wu Zetian. In the first year of the zaichu dynasty (689), Wu Zetian established himself as emperor, changed the name of the country to Zhou, and made Luoyang the capital of the gods, becoming the only female emperor in China's history.
Wu Zetian reigned for a total of 15 years, and the actual reign was 50 years (655-705 years), so it had a major influence and role in the history of the Tang Dynasty. She undoubtedly played a role in the rule of The Tang Dynasty Zhenguan and the Kaiyuan Shengshi, and her main deeds have four aspects:
1. Crack down on and suppress political enemies such as the Li Tang Clan and the Guanlongshi clan. Wu Zetian's participation in politics, especially the title of emperor on behalf of The Tang Dynasty, caused strong dissatisfaction and resistance from the Guanlongshi clan represented by Li Tangzong. In the first year of Guangzhai (684), Xu Jingye, Luo Binwang, and others raised troops in Yangzhou in the name of supporting the restoration of Emperor Zhongzong; pei yan, the chancellor of the dynasty, demanded that Wu Zetian return to power; and then the patriarch Li Zhen and Li Chong raised an army against Zhou. Wu Zetian immediately sent troops to suppress the armed rebellion, and the opposition forces in the DPRK and China often used cool officials to punish opponents with capital punishment or degrade officials. During the reign of Wu Zetian, a number of cool officials like Zhou Xing and Lai Junchen emerged, and the wind of whistle-blowing was greatly promoted, and all kinds of unjust imprisonment were caused for a while, and in order to calm the anger of the government and the public, Wu Zetian killed Zhou Xing, Lai Junchen and other cool officials.
2. Develop the examination system and expand the basis for rule. On the one hand, Wu Zetian attacked the elders and important subjects, and on the other hand, he also actively recruited talents and enriched the ruling institutions of Wu Zhou. She pioneered the temple test and martial arts, and increased the number of jinshike. In the 23 years of The Reign of Emperor Taizong, a total of 205 jinshi were recruited, while in the 55 years of Gaozong and Wu Zetian, more than 1,000 jinshi were admitted, which greatly expanded the number of admissions and the basis of rule. Wu Zetian also created the "self-recommendation" and "trial official" system, she made officials above the nine pins and the people can recommend themselves, and all those who were elected were allowed to try to become an official. Famous politicians such as Di Renjie, Yao Chong, and Zhang Jiuling were all talents promoted by Wu Zetian. Wu Zetian's system of electing officials provided a broader way for Shu landlords to participate in politics, and further weakened the power of the shi clan represented by the Guan Long clique.
3. Attach importance to agricultural production. As the ruler of the feudal dynasty, Wu Zetian learned the importance of developing agricultural production and stabilizing the peasants on the land. As early as the reign of Emperor Gaozong, Wu Zetian "suggested twelve things" to Emperor Gaozong, the first of which was to "persuade Nongsang and Bo to enlist". She cited agricultural development and the loss of hukou as an important basis for rewarding and punishing state and county officials. The socio-economic development continued during Wu Zetian's reign, which was reflected in the increase in hukou, which was only 3.8 million households during Emperor Gaozong's reign and increased to 6.15 million households in the last year of Wu Zetian's reign.
4. Pay attention to consolidating border defense. Tubo slave-owning nobles controlled the western region and often harassed the Hexi region, and during the reign of Wu Zetian, he sent troops twice to repel Tubo, and in the first year of Changshou (692), he recaptured the four towns of Anxi, and set up an Anxi Capital Protectorate in Guizi, sent troops to garrison, and also carried out Tuntian in the Hexi area, developing and consolidating the northwest frontier.
Wu Zetian's 50 years in power basically inherited and continued the policies and measures implemented during the reign of Emperor Taizong, which further developed the society of the Tang Dynasty and played a historical role in the inheritance between the "rule of Zhenguan" and the "Kaiyuan prosperous era". Guo Moruo once commented: Zheng Qi Kaiyuan Zhi Hongzhen Guan, Fangliu Sword Pavilion Guang was LiZhou.