Here are 10 interesting facts that shine a light on Wu Zetian, the trailblazing woman who shattered centuries‑old conventions to become China’s first female emperor. From secretarial duties to mystical self‑deifications, her story is a roller‑coaster of ambition, intrigue, and undeniable impact.
10 Interesting Facts Unveiled
10 She Was Emperor Taizong’s Secretary
Born around AD 624 into a prosperous, high‑ranking clan, Wu Zhao benefitted from a father who prized education—a rare privilege for women of her era. When the teenage Wu caught Emperor Taizong’s eye at fourteen, he bestowed upon her the title of cairen (fifth‑ranked concubine) and dubbed her Mei‑Niang, meaning “charming” or “beautiful.”
Despite her concubine status, Wu pursued the arts and music within the palace walls. Her keen intellect and artistic flair attracted Taizong’s attention, eventually earning her a ten‑year stint as his personal secretary. In that role she handled state documents and absorbed the mechanics of governance, knowledge she later wielded to steer her own reign.
9 She Had An Affair With Taizong’s Son To Get Back Into The Palace
When Emperor Taizong passed away in 649, court protocol dictated that his concubines shave their heads and become nuns. Wu, however, refused to disappear. She had already captured the heart of Li Zhi, Taizong’s son who would later ascend as Emperor Gaozong. During a ceremonial visit to Ganye Temple, Wu seduced Li Zhi, urging him to bring her back into the imperial fold.
Empress Wang, Gaozong’s wife, sensed the maneuver. Because Wang could not produce an heir, she urged Wu to abandon the nun’s shaven look, allowing her re‑entry into the palace. Wu’s comeback earned her the rank of second concubine, the zhaoyi.
8 She Used The Death Of Her Daughter To Become Empress
After birthing two sons—Li Hong in 652 and Li Xian in 653—Wu gave birth to a daughter in 654, only to discover the infant strangled in its crib. Wu swiftly blamed Empress Wang, accusing her of jealousy‑driven murder and even leveling witchcraft charges against Wang and her mother.
With Wang and Consort Xiao expelled from the court, Wu ordered their execution. Some accounts claim they suffered brutal mutilation before being drowned in barrels of wine. While the true culprit behind her daughter’s death remains a mystery, many historians suspect Wu herself orchestrated the tragedy to clear her path to the throne.
7 She Killed Anyone Who Was Against Her Position As Empress
Once solidified as empress, Wu unleashed a covert police force to silence dissent. Notably, she targeted Zhangsun Wuji, the brother‑in‑law of Taizong and a trusted ally of Gaozong. When Wuji opposed her rise, she persuaded Xu Jingzong to accuse him of treason, forcing Wuji into suicide.
Later, when Emperor Gaozong suffered a stroke that left him partially blind, Wu assumed many of his duties. Alarmed by her growing influence, Gaozong recruited senior minister Shangguan Yi to depose her. Wu learned of the plot in time and ordered Yi’s execution, cementing her grip on power.
6 She Deposed Her Eldest Son And His Wife To Become Emperor
Following Gaozong’s death in 683, Wu installed her firstborn, Li Hong (Emperor Zhongzong), on the throne. However, Zhongzong’s wife, Lady Wei, quickly began appointing her relatives to high posts, mirroring Wu’s own power‑play tactics.
Unwilling to tolerate another strong‑willed empress, Wu replaced Zhongzong with his younger brother, Ruizong (Li Dan), and later forced Ruizong to abdicate in 690. She then proclaimed herself “Zetian” (Ruler of the Sky) and adopted the surname “Wu,” meaning “military” or “weapon,” thereby founding her own Zhou dynasty.
5 She Considered Herself A Living Buddha
Beyond political dominance, Wu sought divine legitimacy. She commissioned statues of the Maitreya Buddha fashioned in her likeness and proclaimed herself the earthly incarnation of this future savior. In doing so, she also adopted the title Empress Shengsen, meaning “Holy Spirit.”
4 She Was Superstitious And Paranoid
Even as ruler of the second Zhou dynasty, Wu remained deeply wary of officials who might challenge her. She employed an extensive network of secret police to imprison or replace any perceived threat, a practice that some historians label both irrational and strategically shrewd.
Wu also placed great emphasis on omens. When an earthquake raised a mountain, a minister warned it signaled her downfall. Wu dismissed the warning, declaring the mountain a favorable sign, and subsequently exiled the dissenting official.
3 She Had Sexual Relationships With Several Men In The Palace
Even in her twilight years, Wu’s personal life remained lively. She engaged in a liaison with a counterfeit monk named Huaiyi, stirring controversy at court. Later, she became involved with the infamous Zhang brothers, whose companionship distracted her from governing duties.
Eventually, court officials grew fed up with the brothers’ influence. In 705, they were assassinated, Wu was compelled to abdicate, and her son Zhongzong was restored as emperor. Wu spent her final months in retirement, passing away at age 80 or 81.
2 She Was Respected By Women And The Common People
Wu’s policies endeared her to the masses. She championed irrigation projects, reduced taxes for impoverished farmers, and generally improved the livelihood of commoners, earning widespread admiration.
She also championed women’s rights, appointing females to court positions and encouraging scholars to record the deeds of notable women. Her reign opened doors for women to participate in politics and inspired future generations of female leaders, writers, and artists.
1 Her Tombstone Is Blank
Despite her monumental achievements, history remembered Wu primarily as a dowager empress rather than a sovereign ruler. The scandals that shadowed her name led to an unusual posthumous honor: a tombstone left entirely blank.