Wu Zetian, daughter of Wu Shihuo, from Shaanxi, and Wu Shihuo participated in the establishment of Li Tang very early. She played an important role in the process of seizing the capital of Sui Dynasty, and later served as Minister of Industry. Wu Shihuo's second wife came from the Yang family of the Sui Dynasty, and Wu Zetian was his wife's daughter, so Wu Zetian was related to Sui Yang.
Wu Zetian does not represent the interests of Shandong as many researchers think. In fact, she very much agrees with her origin with the northwest nobles, especially the Sui and Yang royal families.
Wu Zetian was born in about 627, and a teenager entered the palace. She is a talented person in Li Shimin. Traditional history books usually imply that when Emperor Taizong was alive, she had adultery with Emperor Gaozong. After the death of Emperor Taizong (649), Wu Zetian became a nun for a period of time, and then returned to the court soon-her first son was born in 652, and Sima Guang thought that she did not return to the court until 654.
Wu Zetian was originally used by the Queen as a tool to offset Xiao Shufei's favor. She condescended to serve the queen and soon became a Zhao Yi, ranking first among the nine concubines, second only to Shu Fei, De Fei and Xian Fei, who just ranked first. Wu Zetian is obviously deeply loved by Gaozong, who is four years younger than her. Among the twelve children of Emperor Gaozong, four men and two women were born to Wu Zetian.
Reason 2: The power struggle behind the rise of Wu Zetian.
Wu Zetian's ability to be in power should be understood in the early political power structure of Emperor Gaozong. Before the death of Emperor Taizong, he entrusted the funeral to Sun Chang Wuji and Chu Suiliang. In the later years of Emperor Taizong, the surviving founding fathers died one after another, and Sun Chang Wuji, as a powerful minister and noble family, almost monopolized the state affairs.
In the early years of Emperor Gaozong, Sun Chang Wuji persecuted Li Ke, the third son of Emperor Taizong, and Li Daozong, king of Jiangxia, and died. After Wu Zetian came to power, the Li Ke family in Wu Wang finally stood firmly on her side. His son Li is one of the few emperors who was not killed by Wu Zetian.
The emperor was surrounded by his uncle Sun Chang Wuji and others, unable to exert his influence and authority as a monarch, and almost all major events had to be approved by these ministers. Including the prince, and Sun Chang and others "invited", the emperor had no choice but to accept.
Reason three: Wu Zetian's political propaganda.
Wu Zetian carried out a series of reforms, including changing the eastern capital to the divine capital, changing the names of the three provinces and officials, and so on. After successively suppressing the uprisings of King Xu Jingye and King Li Tang, she basically removed the obstacles to the throne. During Wu Zetian's coming to power, her political propaganda was dazzling, with the help of many symbols and concepts of political theory and religious belief.
For example, she created a lot of auspicious feelings, and used the auspicious feelings of heaven and man to create evidence for her coming to power.
In 688, Wu Zetian's nephew ordered a man named Tang Tongtai to present a Ruishi engraved with "Goddess, Yongchang Diye", claiming to be from Luoshui, which is the political tradition of China's traditional Hutuluo. So Wu Zetian named this stone "Treasure Map", kissed Luoshui, and added the title of "Jade Queen Mother", which was an important step for her to become an emperor.
During and after his accession to the throne, he continued to create auspicious symbols to consolidate his rule. The Dunhuang document "Shazhou Dufu Tujing" records that many places reported auspicious events to the central government of Wuzhou.
In the process of consolidating political power, Wu Zetian inevitably carried out horrible and cruel official politics to sever the imperial clan and ministers loyal to Li Tang. Among these brutal officials, Lai Junchen even wrote a book "Whispering and Weaving Sutra", and most of the prime ministers who were in power before Wu Zetian ascended the throne were slaughtered.
The fourth reason: the improvement of women's social status in Tang Dynasty.
Wu Zetian came to power, showing the social role of women at that time. The Tang Dynasty is usually called the golden age of ancient China. At least for women, it is a relatively tolerant era. The tradition of nomadic people permeates the blood of women in Li Tang, who actively participate in social activities and even have women's associations.
The status of men and women is also relatively fair. When the two sides divorced, the "Divorce Letter" (divorce agreement) unearthed in Dunhuang also wished each other "to end their grievances and stop hating each other." If you don't have two widths, you will be happier. "Moreover, in the south," three years of food and clothing, tender instrument, may his wife live forever. "
Dressing up as a man is also a common scene in the Tang Dynasty, even reflected repeatedly in the murals of the Tang Dynasty. Women can ride horses and even participate in political and military struggles. The high status of women is of great significance to the healthy development of Tang society. Women, who account for half of the population, gained more initiative and increased the quality of the Tang Dynasty as a brilliant empire.
In the Tang and Song Dynasties, as far as women are concerned, the biggest change is the decline of women's status. The most obvious example is that women did not bind their feet in the Tang Dynasty, but since the Song Dynasty, women have been confined to the door. To some extent, although foot-binding is the product of aesthetic changes, it actually makes half the population of a society withdraw from most social activities.
Reason 5: Wu Zetian's pursuit of rights.
Wu Zetian herself always pursues the power desire in her dream and has a strong sense of purpose that she will never give up until she reaches her goal. This can be seen from the fact that she was a lion when she was young, which shows that she has a strong desire for control. Her control of state affairs in the later period and her ascent to the altar are all related to her innate personality and desire for power.
What a powerful goal and desire this is, a force that will not give up no matter how many difficulties and obstacles it encounters! This is a woman with an extremely strong heart!