Wu is the second daughter of a military commander who was the founding hero of the Tang Dynasty. Her mother is Yang. Her ancestral home was in Wenshui County (now Wenshui County, Shanxi Province) and she was born in Lizhou (now Guangyuan City, Sichuan Province). His real name is unknown. Fourteen years old, beautiful and radiant, he entered the harem as a talent of Emperor Taizong, who gave him the name of Wu Mei. When Emperor Gaozong was Emperor Zhaoyi, he was later made a queen and was honored as the "Queen of Heaven". Emperor collapsed, Zhongzong acceded to the throne, and Wu Shi was the empress dowager, which was renamed Chang after the imperial system [Note 6]. Wu Shi thinks he is as lofty as the sun and the moon, hanging above the sky. After he proclaimed himself emperor, he was honored as "Emperor of the Holy Spirit" and after he abdicated, he was honored as "Emperor of Heaven". Other titles of Wu were abolished, such as Virgin Jade Emperor, Holy Spirit Emperor, Golden Wheel Emperor, Ancient Golden Wheel Emperor, cishi Ancient Golden Wheel Emperor, Heavenly Book Golden Wheel Emperor, and Great Heaven Emperor.
Wu Zetian's basic character Wu Zetian's nature: bold and strong, is a heroine among women.
In the 11th year of Zhenguan (637), Emperor Taizong entered the palace in November. He heard that Wu Shi, a young boy, was beautiful and delicate, with a plump figure, eyes full of autumn water, a rosy face, high hair, clear-cut light and shadow, charming and strong personality, so he took her into the palace, making her a talented person of five talents and being mistakenly called "Wu Mei" by later generations. Before Wu entered the palace, he bid farewell to his widowed mother: "I don't know the blessing of the Heaven Emperor. Why are you crying and acting like a child? " [Note 7]
In 643, Prince Li Chenggan was abolished, and Li Zhi, the king of Jin, was made a prince. From then on, Wu Cairen and Li Zhi, who both worked for Emperor Taizong, got to know each other and had a love affair. In 649, after the death of Emperor Taizong, Wu Cairen followed the example of the Tang harem and went to Ganye Temple for a haircut.
In May of the first year of Gong Yonghui (650), on the anniversary of Emperor Taizong's death, Tang Gaozong went to Ganye Temple to make pilgrimages and met Wu Shi again. On this day, Wu Zetian specially dressed herself. At this time, Wu Zetian looked handsome and beautiful, with a willow-like eyebrow and a peach-like face, graceful and lovable. The two men recognized each other and told each other their thoughts after leaving. At this point, the queen who fell out of favor because she had no children saw it in her eyes and asked the emperor to bring Wu Shi into the palace in an attempt to attack her rival in love, Xiao Shufei. [Note 8] Tang Gaozong had this idea and immediately agreed. In May of the 2nd year of Yonghui (65 1), Tang Gaozong's mourning was full, and Wu Shi entered the palace again. Before entering the palace, Wu Zetian was pregnant. After entering the palace, she gave birth to her son Li Hong. In May of the following year, he became a second-class Zhao Yi.
In June, the sixth year of Yonghui (655), rumors against the king and queen came from the harem. Legend has it that the Queen and her mother Liu Jia invited a wizard. They tried to curse Wu with their winning skills and died. However, after this unfavorable rumor reached the emperor's ears without any evidence, the emperor was furious, listened to it and drove his mother Liu out of the palace, and also wanted to promote Wu Cong as a product (there was no such title among the four ladies in the Tang Dynasty harem, but the original number of four ladies was full, creating a title for Wu). Due to the opposition of prime ministers Han Yuan and Lai Ji, it can't be done soon. Tang Gaozong saw many people supporting him, and the idea of abolishing legislation sprouted again.
10 13, with the support of court officials, an imperial edict was finally promulgated: on the charge of "conspiracy to poison", the queen Wang and Wei were abolished and imprisoned, and her parents and brothers were also dismissed and exiled to Lingnan. Seven days later, he wrote another letter and made Wu the queen. At the same time, the most opposed prime minister, Chu Suiliang, was demoted to the governor of another state.
In April (659) of the fourth year of Xianqing, Wu Zetian reached a consensus with Wu Ji, Yu Zhining, Han Yuan, Lai Ji and others, and expelled them from Beijing.
In the fifth year of Jian 'an (660), Emperor Gaozong suffered from head wind and was dizzy, so he could not handle state affairs, and ordered Wu Zetian to act as an agent for state affairs. In the first year of Linde (664), he negotiated with Shangguan Yi, the prime minister, to abolish the position of Queen Wu. However, before Shangguan Yi's imperial edict was drafted, Queen Wu had got the news. She went directly to the emperor to ask about it. Tang Gaozong had to put the blame on Shangguan Yi. In December, Shangguan Yi was arrested and imprisoned, and was soon beheaded.
In the second year of dry sealing (667), Emperor Gaozong was ordered to supervise the country because of his long illness. In the autumn and August of the first year of Shangyuan (674), Emperor Gaozong was the emperor, and Wuhou was the Tianhou Palace, which was called avoiding the first emperor. I really wanted to respect myself. In December, Wu Hou suggested twelve things in the above table: "First, advise farmers to plant mulberry and not pay attention to it. Second, give it to the third auxiliary place (exempt from the corvee in Chang 'an and its nearby areas). Third, stop fighting and moralize the world. Fourth, the South and North China (handicraft workshop government) still prohibits skillful floating. Fifth, save labor and effort. Sixth, talk extensively. Seven, Dewey mouth. Eight, princes and princes will all learn from Laozi. Nine, the father mourned for his mother for three years (it used to be one year). X. Before Shangyuan's "year number", the meritorious person had given himself (power of attorney) and did not pursue it. Eleven, Beijing official more than eight products, the welfare of the capital (increase wages). Twelve, officials have served for a long time, and those with high qualifications have to apply for advanced (promotion) residency. "The emperor's decree was carried out. Wu Zetian can attach importance to agricultural production and stipulate that people who "reclaim land and have surplus grain at home" will be awarded prizes; Those who "abuse the government and transfer accounts" will be punished. The agricultural books compiled by Zhaoren Benye have been published all over the world, which has a great influence.
In March of the second year of Shang and Yuan Dynasties (675), Wuhou gathered a large number of scholars and wrote a large number of books, including Xuan Lan, Ancient and Modern Internal Rules, Minutes of the Qing Palace, Shaoyang Zheng Fan, Canon of the Acropolis, Zi Shu Shu Lu, New Commandments of Fenglou, Biography of Filial Piety, and. Moreover, in order to carve up the power of the prime minister, this group of scholars were ordered to participate in the proceedings of the court, which was called "North Gate Bachelor". At that time, Emperor Gaozong was even more dazzled, and he planned to make Wuhou a regent. Prime Minister Hao Yue said, "Why did your majesty entrust the world of such immortal descendants as Emperor Taizong to the emperor?" The emperor doesn't want to be a regent. Prince Hong is deeply loved and wants to meditate on him. Wu Hou wanted to take over the power, but he was dissatisfied with Prince Hong. Just as Prince Hong saw his daughters Yiyang and Princess Xuancheng imprisoned in the palace because their mother had offended Wuhou, they were in their thirties and had not married, so they were invited to surrender, and the emperor made a promise. The marquis of Wu was furious, and soon the prince died in Lianbi Palace. People think that Wu Hou poisoned him.
In December of the first year of Hongdao (683), he died of illness. His last words were: The prince succeeded to the throne before Chang, and whether military affairs can be decided is up to Wu Zetian. Four days later, Li Xian acceded to the throne for Tang Zhongzong. Wuhou was honored as the empress dowager.
In February of the first year of Guangzhai (684), Zhongzong wanted to be assisted by Wei's stepmother Wei, but Pei did not listen. The marquis of Wu was abolished as the king of Luling and moved. Yu Wang's fourth son, Li Dan, became emperor for Tang Ruizong and Wuhou. They lived in the palace and taught themselves to govern the country. In September of the same year,, joined hands with Tang and Du to help and help King Luling, sent troops to Yangzhou to fight against Wu, and gathered 100,000 people in more than ten days. Wuhou immediately took the left general Li Xiaoyi as the general leader of Yangzhou Road and led 300,000 troops to conquer. 1 1 month, Xu Jingye defeated and committed suicide.
In March of the second year of the vertical arch (686), marquis Wu ordered to make a copper coffin (a small box made of copper) and put it in front of Luoyang Miyagi, ready to be paid tribute by his liegeman. At the same time, open the door to informers and stipulate that anyone can tell them. The state should provide all informers with chariots, horses and food. Even the farmer firewood, marquis of Wu has personally seen. If the content is in line with the wishes, it can be promoted without exception. If the accusation is not established, there will be no guilt. At the same time, the marquis of Wu appointed a large number of brutal officials such as Suo Yuanli, Zhou Xing, Lai Junchen and Hou Sizhi to take charge of the prison system. If the defendant is once put into this prison, cruel officials will use all kinds of torture interrogation, and there is no doubt that they can get out of prison alive. In this way, with the trend of more and more informers, more and more people are tortured to death by cruel officials. So a terrible political atmosphere was formed inside and outside the imperial court, so that ministers had to say goodbye to their families every time they went to court and lived in fear all day. In order to reward the informer, Wu Hou made an exception and awarded the informer an official position. Hou Sizhi, who sells cakes for a living, is a hooligan. Pei Zhen, who falsely accused Shu of rebelling against Hengzhou, was appointed as a guerrilla general and counselor. Known for his immorality, Wang sued the village for rebellion and appointed guerrilla generals and imperial advisers to the temple. In that year, he killed Annan, Wang Ying and so on 12 members of the imperial clan, and flogged the second son of the late prince Li Xian. The imperial clan of the Tang Dynasty was completely annihilated, and its young and weak survivors also flowed to Lingnan, killing hundreds of pro-Party people.
Wu Houmou seized Li Tang and wiped out the imperial clan of the Tang Dynasty. The kings felt uneasy and wanted to fight with each other. Before a consensus was reached, Li Chong, the evil king of Bozhou, sent troops in August (688) in Bozhou (now northeast of Liaocheng, Shandong Province). Li Zhen, King of Yue in Yuzhou, sent troops to Yuzhou (now Runan, Henan) to respond. Wu Hou sent Qiu and Wei to attack him. The evil king Li Chong rose up and died on the 7th. In September, Li Zhen, the king of Yue, committed suicide after his defeat. Wu Zetian tried her best to make Zhou Xing and others interrogate him, forcing Li Yuanjia, Li Lingkui, Li Chuan, Princess Li Rong of Dongguan and others to commit suicide, and her cronies were all punished.
This year, the monk Xue Huaiyi was ordered to command more than 10,000 people to destroy the Yuan Hall and build the Ming Hall, which took nearly a year to complete, with a height of 294 feet and a width of 300 feet. There are three floors, with a round cover on the top and Kowloon supporting it. There is an iron phoenix on the mountain, ten feet high. Decorated with gold, it is called "Vientiane shrine". After the completion of Tang Ming, the monk Xue Huaiyi was ordered to cast a colossus. The little finger of the colossus can hold dozens of people, and a five-story paradise has been established in the north of Tang Ming to receive the colossus. The cost is trillions, and the government finances are exhausted. At that time, Wu Ming-ren carved a white stone as a text, saying, "The Virgin is a human being, and Yongchang is an emperor." It is said that it was found in Luoshui and dedicated to Wuhou. The marquis of Wu was overjoyed and ordered people to call this stone a "treasure map". Later, Wuhou was honored as the "Virgin Jade Emperor".
The imperial examination system was further developed during the reign of Wuhou. During the Zhenguan period, 205 scholars were admitted, and more than 0/000 people were admitted in the post-Gao Zongwu period. The average number of students admitted each year is more than double that of Zhenguan. In the first year of Wuhou (690), Wuhou personally asked the palace master at the Los Angeles Temple, which was the beginning of the "entrance examination". 1989, ten governors were sent to recommend talents. One year later, 100 people were recommended. The marquis of Wu, regardless of his background, interviews all the time, and tries to be promoted on merit, or tries to be appointed by the cabinet (Zhongshu Province), or tries to be a foreign minister, official, scholar and proofreader. Since then, the trial officer system has always existed. The language. Although the marquis of Wu used his official position to buy people's hearts, he also deposed incompetent people. Seeing clearly and judging well, people at that time were also happy to play for Wuhou.
In July of the following year, when he proclaimed himself emperor, the monk Faming and others wrote four volumes of the Great Cloud Sutra, saying that Wuhou was the incarnation of Maitreya Buddha and should be the master of the world, and Wuhou ordered it to be promulgated. Ordered two Beijing to build a Dayun Temple to store the Dayun Sutra, and ordered monks to explain it, raising the status of Buddhism above Taoism. In September of that year, Fu Youyi, an imperial envoy, led 900 people to the table in Guanzhong. Please change the country name to Zhou and the emperor's surname to Wu. As a result, more than 60,000 officials, the emperor's clansmen, ordinary people, the leaders of Siyi, shamans and Taoists also submitted their names. The marquis of Wu must invite him to change the Tang Dynasty to Zhou Dynasty and Yuan Tiancai. Wuhou is called the Holy Spirit Emperor, with Zong Rui as the heir, Wu Shi as the surname, and the Crown Prince as the grandson. After the establishment of the seventh samurai temple, Zhou Wenwang was honored as the ancestor of Wendi. Wu was appointed as Wang Wei, Wu Sansi was, and the rest of the Wu people were Wang and princess royal.
In September of the same year, Wu Shi sent Wang Xiaojie, the general of Xingyang Weiyou, as the general of Wuwei Army, and led the troops to the western regions with Ashina, the general of Wuwei, to conquer Tubo. In October, Tang Jun won a great victory. Even the four towns of Anxi, such as Khotan, Shule, Qiuci and Broken Leaf, still set the capital of Anxi in Qiuci and sent troops to defend it.
After three years of longevity (694), Wu Sansi led the leaders of Siyi to cast Shu Tian with copper and iron, and stood outside the city gate to celebrate the merit of the marquis of Wu. The marquis of Wu wrote in his own handwriting: "All countries in the Zhou Dynasty praised Shu Tian". Shu Tian was elected in August. It is shaped like a column, with a height of 105 feet and a diameter of 12 feet. It has eight sides, five feet on each side, iron mountain at the bottom, circumference of 170 feet, and bronze dragons and Kirin around it. At the top, Yun Teng's exposed dish is three feet in diameter, and the four dragons on it stand upright, holding fire beads and one foot high. Worker Mao Polo made a model, written by Wu Sansi, engraved with the names of Guan Bai and the leader of April 1st. With 2 million Jin of copper and iron, "please gather millions, copper and iron are not enough, and it is not enough for folk farm tools."
Long live the first year of Tian Tong (696). In May, Khitan leaders Li Dezhong and Sun Wanrong led an uprising, captured Yingzhou and killed the local governor Zhao. Wu Shi sent generals Cao, Li Duozuo, etc. Because Tubo was ambushed by mistake, the whole army was wiped out. Then, Wu Shi sent Wu Yousi, Wang Xiaojie and other soldiers to crusade, and they were all defeated. In April of the first year (697), Wu Zetian sent Wu, Lou Deyi and He Zhong to attack Qidan. In June, Sun Wanrong was defeated and killed, and the rest of the Khitans defected to the Turks.
In the first year of Shengong (697), Wu Rang went to judge Liu's rebellion. Wu Shuo, as long as Liu points out which courtiers participated in the rebellion, he can be exempted from capital punishment. So Liu falsely accused Prime Minister Li, Sun and other 36 "celebrities at home", all of whom were beheaded and killed, and more than a thousand people were exiled. At that time, people thought that Wu's cruelty was second only to Zhou Xing and Lai Junchen.
That year, Lai Junchen wanted to sue the kings of the Wu family and Princess Taiping (the younger sister of Zhongzong, the only biological daughter of Wu Zetian), and also wanted to falsely accuse the imperial heir (ornaments) and the king of Luling (ornaments) of conspiring with the northern and southern officials, with the intention of catching them all. The king of Wu and Princess Taiping were so afraid that they jointly exposed their crimes and went to prison to be executed. The enemy is fighting for their meat, and soon they will eat it up. Lai Junchen is fierce, cunning, greedy and violent, netting innocent people and weaving them into opposites, killing people is even more incalculable. "Bribery is like a mountain, and ghosts are in the way." Wu Hou, also aware of the resentment of the world, ordered him to count his crimes and confiscate his property.
In the first year of the holy calendar (698), Wu and Wu Sansi conspired to be princes, and several times they made people say to the marquis of Wu: "Since ancient times, the son of heaven has never taken a different surname as an heir." The marquis of Wu hesitated, and the emperor said to the marquis of Wu, "Who is closer, aunt, nephew or mother and son? (Wu and Wu Sansi are both nephews of the marquis of Wu, sons of Wu Hou Zhongzonghe) If your Majesty sets up a son, he will live a long life and worship his ancestors in the ancestral temple; Those who set up nephews have never heard that nephews are sacrificed to the ancestral temple. " Also advised Wuhou to recall Luling Wang (Zhongzong). Wu Hou has no intention of establishing Wu Chengsi or Wu Sansi. It is said that the king of Luling returned to the eastern capital, and the imperial heir () invited Xun to be stationed in Luling King. Wu Hou, the king of Luling was appointed as the Crown Prince, and was appointed as the Marshal. Di Renjie led the troops to attack the Turks as a deputy marshal. After Wu Xin became emperor, he often called him "Guo Lao" instead of calling him by his first name. De is good at persuasion, and Wuhou does it every time. When Ren Jie died, Wu Hou cried, "The imperial court is empty!" I often sigh: "It is too early for God to take away our country!"
Zhang Yizhi and Zhang Changzong are young and beautiful. They joined the army. They often wear rich vermicelli and gorgeous clothes. Wu, Wu Sansi, etc. Everyone is vying to pursue them, even holding a whip for them.
Li Zhongrun, the eldest son of Zhongzong, was named Wang Shao when he was a prince for the second time. He secretly discussed with his sister, Princess Yongtai, and her husband, Wu Yanji, why the Zhang Yizhi brothers entered the palace at will. Yi complained to Wuhou, who ordered Li Zhongrun, Princess Yongtai and Wu Yanji to die.
See abdication: the dragon revolution and the silent monument
In the first month of the first year of Shenlong (705), Wuhou was seriously ill in bed, and only his minions Zhang Yizhi and Zhang Changzong were around him. Prime Minister Zhang Jianzhi and his ministers Jing Hui, Cui Xuanyong, Huan and Yuan launched the Dragon Revolution, led more than 500 imperial troops, rushed into the palace, killed He brothers, and Wu Shi abdicated to the prince, which is known in history. Emperor Zhongzong was honored as "Emperor Zetian". After the end of the Wu and Zhou Dynasties, the Tang Dynasty was restored, officials, flags, costumes and figures were all restored to the old system, and God was restored to the East Capital.
In the first year of Shenlong (65438+ 16, February, 705), Wu died in the palace on November 26th, at the age of 82. The system left to the emperor is called "Great Sage Queen". In May of the second year of Shenlong (706), he was buried with Emperor Gaozong in Ganling, leaving no inscription.