Why did Wu Zetian become emperor?

Reason 1: Wu Zetian was born in the Sui and Yang royal families

Wu Zetian was the daughter of the warrior Yu, who was born in a local wealthy family in Shanxi. She devoted herself to it very early in the establishment of Li Tang. He played an important role in the capture of the capital of the Sui Dynasty, and later served as Minister of Industry. The second wife of the warrior Xun came from the Yang family, the royal family of the Sui Dynasty. Wu Zetian was the daughter of this wife, so Wu Zetian was connected to Sui Yang by blood.

Wu Zetian did not represent the interests of Shandong as many researchers believed. In fact, she strongly identified herself with the northwest aristocracy, especially the Sui and Yang royal families.

Wu Zetian was born around 627. She entered the palace as a teenager and became a talented person of Li Shimin. Traditional history books generally imply that she and Gaozong had committed adultery while Taizong was still alive. After Taizong's death (649), Wu Zetian briefly became a nun and returned to the court soon afterwards - her first son was born in 652, and Sima Guang believes that she did not return to the court until 654.

Wu Zetian was initially used by Empress Wang as a tool to offset Concubine Xiao Shu's favor. She humbled herself to serve Empress Wang, and soon became Zhaoyi, ranking first among the nine concubines, second only to Zhengyipin. The virtuous concubine, the virtuous concubine, and the virtuous concubine. Wu Zetian was obviously deeply loved by Gaozong, who was four years younger than her. Of Gaozong's twelve children, four boys and two girls were born to Wu Zetian.

Reason 2: The power struggle behind Wu Zetian’s rise

Wu Zetian’s ability to hold great power must be understood in the context of the political power structure in the early days of Emperor Gaozong. Before Taizong's death, he formally entrusted Changsun Wuji and Chu Suiliang with his funeral affairs. In Taizong's later years, the surviving founding fathers had all withered away, and Changsun Wuji almost monopolized the government as a powerful minister and noble relative.

In the early years of Emperor Gaozong's reign, Changsun Wuji used Fang Yiai's rebellion case to persecute and kill the third son of Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty, Li Ke, the most prestigious king of Wu, and Li Daozong, the king of Jiangxia. The family of Wu King Li Ke finally stood firmly on Wu Zetian's side after Wu Zetian came to power. His son Cheng Wang Li Qianli was one of the few royal children who was not executed by Wu Zetian.

Under the coercion of his uncle Changsun Wuji and others, Gaozong was unable to exert his influence and authority as a monarch. Almost all major events had to be approved by these ministers who cared about life. Including who should be appointed as the prince, it was Changsun Wuji and others who "persistently requested" Gaozong and had no choice but to accept it.

Reason 3: Wu Zetian’s political propaganda

Wu Zetian carried out a series of restructuring, including changing the Eastern Capital to the Divine Capital, changing the titles of the three provinces and various officials, etc., and successively suppressed Xu After the rebellion between Jingye and the kings of Li and Tang, she had basically removed the obstacles to the throne. When Wu Zetian came to power, her political propaganda was dazzling, drawing on symbols and concepts from many political theories and religious beliefs.

For example, she created a large amount of auspiciousness and used the auspicious thoughts induced by heaven and humans to create evidence for her rise to power.

In the fourth year of Chui Gong (688), Wu Chengsi, Wu Zetian’s nephew, ordered a man named Tang Tongtai to present an auspicious stone inscribed with "The Holy Mother is here, Yongchang Emperor's Industry", which was claimed to be obtained from Luoshui. It is the traditional Chinese political tradition of Hetu Luoshu, so Wu Zetian named this auspicious stone "Treasure Map", worshiped Luoshui personally, and honored it with the title "Holy Mother God Emperor", taking an important step towards ascending the throne and proclaiming himself emperor.

In the process of ascending to the throne and after that, he continued to create auspiciousness to consolidate his rule. The Dunhuang document "Shazhou Dudufu Tujing" records many local reports to the central government of Wuzhou. Auspicious events.

In the process of consolidating her power, Wu Zetian inevitably implemented the horrific brutal politics to eliminate clan members and ministers loyal to Li Tang. These ruthless officials even compiled a special book called "Informer Luo Zhi Jing". Most of the prime ministers who were in power before Wu Zetian ascended the throne were massacred.

Reason 4: The improvement of women’s social status in the Tang Dynasty

Wu Zetian’s rise to power demonstrated the social role of women at that time. The Tang Dynasty is often called the golden age of ancient China, and at least for women, it was a relatively tolerant era.

The tradition of nomadic people permeates the blood of women in Li and Tang Dynasties. They actively participate in social activities, and there are even women's association activities.

The status of men and women is relatively fair. In the "Book of Wife Release" (divorce agreement) unearthed in Dunhuang, when the two parties divorced, they also wished each other to "resolve their grievances and resolve their knots, and not to hate each other." , I am happy to be reborn.” Moreover, the south also offered “three years of food and clothing, and then I offered you a kind gift, wishing my wife a long life.”

It was also a common sight for women in the Tang Dynasty to disguise themselves as men, and it was even frequently reflected in the murals of the Tang Dynasty. Women could ride horses and even participate in political and military struggles. The high status of women was of great significance to the healthy development of society in the Tang Dynasty. Women, who accounted for half of the population, gained more initiative, which also increased the quality of the Tang Dynasty as a glorious empire.

In the Tang and Song Dynasties, the biggest change for women was the decline of their status. The most obvious example is that women in the Tang Dynasty did not have their feet bound, but starting from the Song Dynasty, women were restricted to the family. To some extent, although footbinding is a product of changes in aesthetics, it actually causes half of a society's population to withdraw from most social activities.

Reason five: Wu Zetian’s pursuit of power

Wu Zetian herself always pursues the desire for power in her dreams, and has a strong sense of goal that will never give up until the goal is achieved. From the fact that she was able to kill a lion with her own hands when she was young, it is enough to show her strong desire for control. In the later period, her control of government affairs and her rise to the altar were all related to her innate personality and desire for power.

What a powerful goal and desire, a force that never gives up no matter how many difficulties and obstacles it encounters! This is a woman with an extremely strong heart!