The Twilight of Wu Zetian’s Legacy

The year 706 marked a pivotal transition in Tang Dynasty history as the era of Wu Zetian’s “Divine Capital” finally concluded. On the twentieth day of the first lunar month during the second year of the Shenlong era, the funeral procession carrying Wu Zetian’s remains returned to the capital, symbolically closing the chapter on China’s only female emperor’s controversial reign. This moment set in motion a series of events that would expose deep fractures within the imperial court and lead to one of the most turbulent periods in Tang history.

Emperor Zhongzong (Li Xian), recently restored to the throne after his mother Wu Zetian’s downfall, demonstrated remarkable forgiveness toward the woman who had once deposed and imprisoned him. Rather than seeking revenge, his reign paradoxically became a continuation of female political influence, though without Wu Zetian’s administrative competence. The emperor’s approach to governance would soon prove disastrous for imperial stability.

The Rise of Princess Power

In a striking move that demonstrated the unusual gender dynamics of the court, Zhongzong issued an edict on the first day of the intercalary first month establishing official households for seven princesses – including his own daughters and those of Empress Wei. These princesses were granted administrative staff equivalent to imperial princes, an unprecedented elevation of female royal status. The beneficiaries included:

– Princess Taiping (Wu Zetian’s daughter)
– Princess Changning (Empress Wei’s daughter)
– Princess Anle (Empress Wei’s daughter)
– Princess Yicheng (Zhongzong’s daughter)
– Princess Xindu (Zhongzong’s daughter)
– Princess Ding’an (Zhongzong’s daughter)
– Princess Jincheng (raised by Zhongzong, granddaughter of Li Xian)

This extraordinary measure reflected both the lingering influence of Wu Zetian’s precedent and the growing power of Empress Wei’s faction. While appearing progressive, these appointments actually served to concentrate power among a small group of elite women connected to the throne, rather than representing any meaningful advancement for women generally.

The Purge of the Five Princes

The political veteran Zhang Jianzhi, one of the officials who had engineered Wu Zetian’s abdication, recognized the dangerous direction of Zhongzong’s court and chose retirement. His foresight proved accurate as Wu Sansi (Wu Zetian’s nephew) and Empress Wei began systematically eliminating their rivals.

On the tenth day of the intercalary first month, Wu Sansi orchestrated the exile of several key officials who had participated in the coup against Wu Zetian, including Jing Hui, Huan Yanfan, and Yuan Shuji. Within months, these former heroes of the restoration found themselves demoted to provincial posts, their supporters purged from government. The political vendetta reached its climax when Wu Sansi falsely accused the Five Princes of conspiring with Wang Tongjiao (Zhongzong’s son-in-law) in a plot to depose Empress Wei.

The brutal executions that followed shocked the court. Wu Sansi dispatched special envoys to carry out horrific punishments:
– Huan Yanfan was dragged until his flesh peeled away from his bones
– Jing Hui was sliced to death
– Yuan Shuji was forced to drink poisonous wild kudzu juice

Wu Sansi’s triumph proved short-sighted. His declaration that “I don’t know who are good and bad people – only those who are good or bad to me” revealed a dangerous absolutism that alienated even potential allies.

The Crown Prince’s Revolt

The political tensions erupted in 707 when Crown Prince Li Chongjun, marginalized by Empress Wei’s faction and humiliated by Princess Anle and her husband Wu Chongxun (Wu Sansi’s son), launched a desperate coup. Allying with disaffected military officers including Li Duozuo, the prince’s forces:

1. Assassinated Wu Sansi and Wu Chongxun at their residence
2. Stormed the palace through the Suzheng Gate seeking Empress Wei and Princess Anle
3. Failed to secure the strategic Xuanwu Gate
4. Saw their forces disintegrate after Emperor Zhongzong appealed to the soldiers

Though the rebellion failed, it accomplished its primary objective – eliminating Wu Sansi and derailing the Wu family’s political resurgence. However, it also emboldened Empress Wei to accelerate her own path toward imperial power.

Empress Wei’s Ascent

Following Wu Sansi’s death, Empress Wei moved decisively to consolidate power:

– In 708, miraculous signs were “discovered” in her clothes chest (five-colored clouds), used to justify grand ceremonies
– Court officials began comparing her to Wu Zetian, suggesting heavenly mandate
– She participated in imperial sacrifices as “secondary officiant,” breaking tradition
– The bureaucracy swelled with thousands of improperly appointed “oblique seal officials”

The political system deteriorated rapidly as Empress Wei, Princess Anle, and their associates:

– Sold government positions openly
– Constructed lavish palaces rivaling the imperial residence
– Manipulated Emperor Zhongzong through superstition and flattery
– Ignored worsening economic conditions including a severe Guanzhong famine

The Gathering Storm

By 710, the court had fractured into competing factions:

– The Empress Wei faction sought to recreate Wu Zetian’s female-led regime
– Princess Anle ambitiously sought designation as “Imperial Granddaughter,” a unprecedented female heir apparent
– Princess Taiping and Li Dan (later Emperor Ruizong) represented alternative power centers

When officials warned of impending crisis – including food shortages, corrupt appointments, and military vulnerability – Zhongzong remained passive, earning the mocking title “The Mediating Son of Heaven” after he forced two quarreling officials to become ceremonial brothers rather than address their dispute.

The final ominous sign came when Zhongzong visited the Longqing Pool, where his brother Li Dan’s sons resided. After diviners reported intensified “imperial qi” in the area, Zhongzong staged an elaborate ceremony with elephants to “suppress” the threatening energy – a futile gesture against the gathering momentum of Li Longji’s (future Emperor Xuanzong) inevitable rise.

Conclusion: The Legacy of Shenlong’s Chaos

The Shenlong period (705-710) represents a critical transitional phase in Tang history that demonstrated:

1. The difficulty of establishing stable succession after Wu Zetian’s unprecedented reign
2. The dangers of unchecked factionalism in imperial politics
3. How personal rivalries could override state interests
4. The limits of female political power without institutional support

The political chaos stemmed fundamentally from Zhongzong’s weakness as emperor and the court’s failure to develop mechanisms for peaceful power transitions. Rather than consolidating the restoration, the period became a cautionary tale about the consequences when:

– Rulers prioritize personal loyalty over administrative competence
– Corruption becomes systemic rather than exceptional
– Symbolic politics replaces substantive governance
– Military forces become politicized

These failures would culminate in Zhongzong’s controversial death and Li Longji’s rise, setting the stage for the glorious Kaiyuan era that followed – but only after further violent upheavals. The Shenlong period thus stands as a powerful reminder of how quickly imperial stability could unravel when fundamental governance principles were abandoned.