The first female emperor in the history of China was not Wu Zetian, but Chen Shuozhen.
In 653 AD (the fourth year of Yonghui in Tang Gaozong), a woman from Zhou Mu, Chen Shuozhen, revolted and claimed to be Emperor Wenjia. Soon, she failed and died. In 655 AD (the sixth year of Yonghui in Tang Gaozong), the Empress was abolished and Wu Zetian was appointed as the Empress.
Chen Shuozhen is from Zitong Town, Chun 'an County. Why she is not as famous as Wu Zetian may be because she is not as influential as Wu Zetian, and there are no court secrets and legends like Wu Zetian. But she was indeed the first female emperor in the history of China.
Chen Shuozhen, the female leader of the peasant uprising in the Tang Dynasty, was the first woman in China to be called the "emperor". She calls herself a fairy and is regarded as a god by the people.
There are various legends about her, but it is generally believed that she is just an ordinary rural girl in Zitongyuan. She lost her husband in her early years and her family was poor. Because I couldn't bear to see the villagers being persecuted by officials, I led the uprising and showed great courage and wisdom. After the uprising, she called herself "Emperor Wenjia".
The First Queen of China-Major Events
In 653 A.D., during the reign of Tang Gaozong, the court fought for power and profit, took bribes and perverted the law, and the people were naked, hungry and cold, and complained bitterly. With the support of his brother-in-law and others, Chen Shuozhen secretly publicized the organization among farmers, indicating that only resistance can survive. The poor have long wanted to fight against the government. Now Chen Shuozhen and others come out to organize, and no one is unwilling to participate.
After the uprising, she took Zhang as the servant of Shangshu and Tong Wenbao as the general, and established the peasant regime. He conquered Tonglu, Zhou Mu and other places, and approached Zhangzhou and Wuzhou, and his reputation spread far and wide. When the court heard the news, it sent Yangzhou secretariat to lead troops to suppress it, and Cui, the secretariat of Wuzhou, quickly withdrew his troops and refused. Due to the lack of actual combat experience, the rebels fought bloody battles, causing numerous casualties and being wiped out by the whole army.
Although the uprising led by Chen Shuozhen is not long, she and her deeds of leading the rebel uprising will always be remembered by people. Today, more than a thousand years later, there are still many beautiful legends about the rebel army in western Zhejiang.
China's First Queen-Fate of Characters
As for the death of Chen Shuozhen, there is also a legend. When the rebel army was finally besieged on a mountain, all its comrades fell in a pool of blood, leaving only Chen Shuozhen. Suddenly the sky lit up and a huge phoenix flew in. Chen Shuozhen boarded the Phoenix and flew away. Therefore, this mountain is now called "Luofeng Mountain".
The First Queen of China-Personality Influence
Chen Shuozhen broke the superstition that the emperor was "the only thrill", dared to despise the Li regime in the Tang Dynasty and dared to call himself "Emperor Wenjia". At that time, she really took great pains to live a good life for the people. This shows the courage of a loyal woman. Chen Shuozhen's is great!
The First Queen of China-Character Evaluation
Chen Shuozhen held high the banner of women's liberation. She advocates that women should have the same right as men to participate in the governance of the country. In the long feudal society of China, women were oppressed by political power, clan power, theocracy and husband power. Chen Shuo was indeed a pioneer in women's liberation. In the long feudal society, how can women have the extreme power to speak and do things? However, it was Chen Shuozhen who set this precedent and dared to use women's self-esteem to have the same status as men. She is progressive, and her thoughts are full of progressive thoughts. Chen Shuozhen's is great!
Today, when we talk about liberating women and restoring women's equality, we can't forget Chen Shuozhen.
As the famous historian Jane Bozan said, she was the first female peasant uprising leader in China history and the first female emperor in China history.
Although Chen Shuozhen's uprising did not spread to all of China, judging from her 65 years earlier than Wu Zetian, the influence of the uprising and her thoughts, she was enough to become the first female emperor in the history of China.