Wu Zetian’s achievements:
1. Politically clear and clear
This is mainly reflected in Wu Zetian’s promotion of science and her ability to employ people in an exceptional manner.
During her reign, the scientific system was further developed and the imperial examinations and martial arts examinations were established.
He also ordered civil servants of rank nine or above to be promoted for a hundred years.
Wu Zetian selected a group of outstanding talents through imperial examinations, bootstrapping and recommendations from others, who became the mainstay of the Wu Zhou regime, such as Di Renjie, Yao Chong, and Song Jing, who later became A wise prime minister in the Kaiyuan period.
Lu, the prime minister in the mid-Tang Dynasty, praised Wu Zetian for being good at employing people and making clear rewards and punishments.
Sima Guang, a historian of the Northern Song Dynasty, also believed that Wu Zetian "managed politics by herself, with clear observation and good judgment."
Therefore, the view that Wu Zetian placed great emphasis on cruel officials, relatives, and male favorites, and that politics was dark, is worth questioning.
2. Economic development
Wu Zetian attached great importance to agricultural production.
It is believed that "the foundation of a country must lie in agriculture" and "when a family has enough people, the country will be safe."
He ordered people to compile the agricultural book "Zhao Ren Ben Ye Ji" and publish it throughout the world.
She continued to implement the equalization system.
The implementation of military farming and field camps in remote areas has achieved remarkable results.
Attaching importance to and promoting the construction of water conservancy projects, there were 19 local water conservancy projects in the 21 years since he took power alone.
The quality of farmland within the territory was also used as a criterion for rewarding and punishing landowners and officials.
These measures taken by Wu Zetian promoted the development of agricultural production.
First, the national warehouses are full of grain; second, local grain stores are also very rich; third, household registration has increased significantly.
The handicraft industry also developed during Wu Zetian's era.
Mainly in the mining industry, foundry industry and textile industry.
The development of agriculture and handicrafts also promoted the prosperity of commerce.
Mainly manifested in the increase of "cities" or the development of urban trade.
During the Wu and Zhou Dynasties, the trade business also developed accordingly.
(For the above details, please see my work "Socioeconomics during the Reign of Wu Zetian", included in "Wu Zetian and Luoyang", Sanqin Publishing House, 1988 edition)
3. The national power is very strong
China has been a unified, multi-ethnic country since the Qin and Han dynasties.
Unification is the mainstream of history and the common aspiration of all ethnic groups.
Therefore, to measure and evaluate the merits and demerits of any emperor depends on how he handles the relations between various ethnic groups and whether he can maintain the country's territory and democracy.
During the reign of Wu Zetian, she inherited Tang Taizong's national policy of tolerance and the strategy of "pacifying them if they surrender, and attacking them if they rebel", and dealt with the intrusions and rebellions of the Tubo, Khitan, Tujie and other nobles. They adopted a resolute attitude of resistance and crusade and achieved great success.
Mainly manifested in the fact that in the first year of Changshou (692), Wu Zetian approved the request of Tang Xiujing, the governor of Xizhou, to regain the "Four Anxi Towns", and recognized heroes with a keen eye, and promoted Wang Xiaojie among many generals. The commander-in-chief of the Wuwei Army and the commander-in-chief of the Wuwei Army led the army to defeat Tubo and recaptured the "Four Anxi Towns" (Qiuci, Yutian, Shuqin, and Suiye) in one fell swoop. He established the Anxi Protectorate in Qiuci and sent troops to guard it, strengthening the control of the Western Regions. rule.
In December of the second year of Chang'an (702), Wu Zetian established the Beiting Protectorate in Tingzhou (the old city is in Jimusar County, Xinjiang today), which together with the Anxi Protectorate governed the north and south of the Tianshan Mountains respectively. It has maintained national integrity and territorial integrity, promoted economic and cultural exchanges between China and foreign countries, and enhanced friendship with the people of Central Asia.
4. Culture has been developed
During her reign, Wu Zetian cut down literature and history and made literature and history shine.
Attaching importance to the construction of ancient buildings, the more famous ones include Chang'an Big Wild Goose Pagoda, Songshan Shaolin Temple, Luoyang Longmen Grottoes and Qianling Mausoleum.
Be compatible with the three religions and enable their development.
Wu Zetian herself followed Confucianism, favored Taoism, and believed in Buddhism. She sent people to compile the essence of the three religions into a book called "The Heroes of the Three Religions".
Develop the imperial examination, improve the cultural quality of the bureaucratic team, open up the imperial examination, increase the number of examinations and the difficulty of regular examinations.
Wu Zetian’s faults:
1. In order to consolidate her rule, Wu Zetian reused various talents.
At the beginning, she advocated informing and promoted ruthless officials such as Suo Yuanli, Zhou Xing, and Lai Junchen, and killed many innocent people indiscriminately, causing public outrage.
Wu Zetian in turn killed the cruel officials "to avenge the anger of the common people". In fact, the cruel officials acted according to her orders.
On the surface, this seems like a power play and is not worthy of appreciation.
However, it must be admitted that most of the people killed at that time were relatives of the Li Tang clan and distinguished ministers of the old dynasty, which objectively weakened the decadent gentry power.
However, in order to maintain her power and status, Wu Zetian also had a cruel side.
She did not hesitate to kill Sun Wuji, a loyal minister of her generation, and killed her eldest son Li Hong with poisoned wine; she demoted the famous calligrapher Chu Suiliang, her second son Li Xian, her third son Li Xian, and her fourth son Li Dan.
She severely punished the important ministers Lai Ji, Han Yuan, Liu Bi, etc. who dared to disobey her; for "sisters" like Queen Wang and Concubine Xiao Shu, she first falsely accused them of many crimes, and then They were subjected to inhuman torture and finally put to death, even their daughters were not spared.
Therefore, there is some basis for saying that Wu Zetian is a tyrant.
2. The most derogatory thing about her in history is that she once had several male favorites. This has become an eternal scandal for her and a topic that has been talked about by literati and writers, so much so that together with her outstanding achievements, Political achievements were also submerged.
The main people favored by Wu Zetian include Xue Huaiyi, Shen Nanliao, Zhang Yizhi, Zhang Changzong, etc.
In general, Wu Zetian is not only an outstanding female politician, but also an outstanding female military strategist.
"Government initiated Kaiyuan and governed Zhenguan". She developed the rule of Zhenguan in all aspects and laid the foundation for the prosperous age of Kaiyuan.
Of course, Wu Zetian also had a dark side politically, and she also had financial difficulties in the economy and so on.
But compared to her historical achievements, these are secondary after all.
It should also be pointed out that the economic development and national strength at that time were not due to Wu Zetian's personal contribution.
Due to the land equalization system and the rise of the imperial examination system, the power of hereditary aristocrats declined rapidly, the small and medium-sized landowner class rose sharply, and a large number of literati and bachelors entered the political arena. This historical trend pushed Wu Zetian to the throne of empress.
Wu Zetian conformed to the historical era and played a role in promoting the development of Chinese history