The Life History of Wu Ze Tian Essay Example

ordered the killing of Empress Wang when she opposed her ascension to the throne and assumed the roles of her weak husband. This strategic move propelled her career to great heights. As Emperor Gaozong suffered from a debilitating stroke, Empress Wu Zetian took control of most state affairs, claiming to handle her husband's role to prevent the downfall of the Empire. When Emperor Gaozong renamed himself Tian Huang, meaning Emperor of Heaven, Empress Wu Zetian changed her title to Tian Hou, meaning Empress of Heaven. This name change signified that she possessed similar powers to her husband and was ready to assume the roles given to her as Empress. By changing her name, she gained tremendous power and popularity within the Empire at the expense of her husband. The people referred to them as "two gods," greatly benefiting Wu Zetian's political career.When Emperor Gaozong died in 674, Empress Wu Zetian implemented her plan to declare her two sons, Li Xian and Li Dan, as Emperor Zhongzong and Emperor Ruizong, respectively, to govern the throne. She specifically selected her youngest son, Emperor Ruizong, as the figurehead. Recognizing his relative weakness compared to his elder brother, she used him as a puppet emperor to maintain control over the empire. It is evident that she was the one truly in power, as she dictated her youngest son's actions.

Empress Wu Zetian initially chose her eldest son, Li Xian, to rule as Emperor Zhongzong. However, once she realized his independent and strong-willed nature, she deposed him and promptly installed her weak and dependent youngest son as emperor instead. She proceeded to manipulate him in order to maintain her rule.

To eliminate

preconceived notions about women's ability to govern, Empress Wu Zetian gathered scholars from across the empire to write biographies of accomplished women worldwide. She used this as a means to convince the people of her capability to rule the entire empire and gain respect and adoration. Additionally, she worked tirelessly to elevate the status and role of women in society through various campaigns.

Furthermore, Empress Wu Zetian promoted her mother's family by appointing female relatives to important political positions. She carefully chose those she could easily control and through whom she could administer her rulings.She implemented the transfer of her court away from traditional male dominance and consistently spearheaded the establishment of a more modern dynasty. Her reasoning for these changes was justified by informing her subjects that mothers possessed the most qualifications to rule, as they had already gained extensive experience in governing their own children. Additionally, she asserted that mothers, being protectors, would rule with great care and dignity. Throughout this time, Empress Wu Zetian asserted her power while her son held the position of Emperor. She displayed enough cleverness to patiently bide her time until the opportune moment arrived to overthrow her youngest son. Analysts argue that she took the necessary time to meticulously lay the groundwork for her Dynasty by ensuring that all the pieces fell into place accordingly. Her fervent advocacy for empowering women made her highly popular among her own gender. She understood that gaining the support of women first meant she could attain power without facing a multitude of uprisings, as they constituted the majority of the Chinese population during her reign. The killing of Empress Wang served as

a clear indication of how she viewed competition. Empress Wang had planned to seize power from Empress Wu Zetian's regime by claiming that she was the legal wife of Wu Zetian's late husband and therefore had the rightful authority to govern the empire. However, these claims failed to impress Empress Wu Zetian, who orchestrated the assassination of Empress Wang.In order to achieve her ambitions, Wu Zetian appointed sadistic and cruel officials to search for and kill those who opposed her leadership. Some were innocent victims of her ruthless tactics. Wu Zetian took these measures to suppress any opposition that was growing. She ruled through fear and intimidation. In 690, Emperor Ruizong, Wu Zetian's younger son, decided to give up power because he was tired of his demanding mother. As a result, Wu Zetian became the Empress of China. Despite her ruthless nature, she was adored by her people. She ensured that qualified and capable individuals held important government positions. Those who were loyal to her were rewarded with key roles in the government. She gained favor with her subordinates due to her competence in governing, which resulted in prosperity throughout the empire. Wu Zetian had a strong desire to leave a lasting legacy during her reign, and she finally had the opportunity to exercise her leadership duties when she took full control of the empire. She was prepared to lead and establish her own legacy.She promptly replaced the aristocratic military leaders with scholars, accomplishing this by downsizing the army. The primary motivation behind her decision was to gain more support from her predominantly peasant subjects, who had suffered under oppressive rule for an extended period.

She aimed to put an end to the military's use of excessive force against ordinary citizens. By replacing the military with scholars, she displayed her genuine admiration for intellectuals. It was essential to have scholars in charge of the government in order to achieve the success she aspired to. Additionally, she garnered favor from the peasants by reducing the burdensome taxes that had oppressed them for years. Peasants had long been obligated to pay significant taxes from their small yields, thus preventing social mobility. Previous emperors had utilized this method to further marginalize the peasants, but Wu Zetian had different plans. She recognized that success relied on the contribution of all, including the peasant farmers. They were allowed to keep a larger proportion of their produce unlike before when they were obligated to sell nearly all of it. Emperor Wu Zetian advocated for a significant boost in agricultural production throughout the entire empire. Her goal was to achieve a sustainable level of agricultural output that could support the empire for an extended period.Wu Zetian had a focus on the peasant farmers, desiring them to see agriculture as a profitable business. This led to China achieving food independence. To accomplish this, Wu implemented measures that rewarded fair tax impositions on peasants and punished officials who imposed excessive taxes. She also oversaw the construction of irrigation schemes and promoted the publication of farming textbooks to educate peasants on better production methods. Additionally, Wu bolstered public works by appointing individuals who shared her views and ensured that everyone completed government exams before receiving appointments. This approach provided equal opportunities for obtaining government positions. Notably, for the first time

in China, peasants held key government roles, fostering happiness and a fair distribution of the empire's resources. The examination system aimed to prevent social class exclusion from these positions. Wu Zetian was deeply concerned about selecting competent individuals and personally interviewed candidates while combating any hint of corruption during appointments.The practice of identifying raw talents in the political sector led to the discovery of individuals such as Di Renjie and Zhang Jianzhi, who later became popular China Prime Ministers. During her tenure, Wu Zetian aimed to include highly talented individuals in the Government and actively sought skilled and talented volunteers to serve the empire. She encouraged their participation to improve China as an empire. As Empress, Wu Zetian ensured there was a strong and unbreakable link between Emperor Taizong's Zhen Guan and Emperor Xuanzong's Heyday of Kaiyuan. This link symbolized the importance of dependence and co-relationship between the two empires. Wu Zetian sought advice from other successful Dynasties and established ties that facilitated the continuity of her empire. She strived to create a peaceful state in China and had the authority to deal with wrongdoers without any hindrance. Wu Zetian strongly believed in education and valued it as a tool for foreseeing the prosperity of an empire. She dedicated much of her time to improving the educational system, earning her reputation as a reformer in China.Wu Zetian was responsible for the establishment and updating of the "Keju Educational System," which traced its origins back to the Sui Dynasty (581-618). This system aimed to identify future talents and ensure equal access to education for individuals regardless of their social status. She achieved this by reducing fees

for poor peasants, allowing their children to receive quality education alongside their wealthier peers. Wu Zetian also displayed a deep interest in military defense and foreign diplomacy. To safeguard the re-opening of the Silk Road, she established a military administration in the northwest region. Under her rule, a strong centralized government, thriving economy, and stable society were fostered. Wu Zetian promoted Buddhism as the state religion, constructing numerous temples and commissioning sculptures throughout the empire, bringing joy to the common people. However, it is worth mentioning that she was considered one of China's cruelest emperors, removing officials who refused to follow her rulings.She also predicted the deaths of Dynasty founding fathers such as Zhangsun Wuji, Cheng Wuting, and Yu Zhining. The Death of Wu Zetian

Beginning in the year 705, Wu Zetian fell gravely ill and was unable to fulfill her duties effectively. Despite her condition, she refused to abandon her role. After facing immense pressure from Chancellors, she eventually agreed to transfer power to her son, Li Xian. In November of that same year, she passed away at the age of 80, marking the end of a fifteen-year Dynasty. Wu Zetian was laid to rest beside her husband, Emperor Gaozong, in Qian County of Shaanxi Province. In conclusion, Wu Zetian is regarded as a trailblazer for China's current economic stability. She stands as the only woman to have ever ruled China and symbolizes the strength and success that women can achieve. She governed China for fifteen years and succeeded in bringing prosperity to the country.