The Rise of the Zhang Brothers in Wu Zetian’s Court

In the final years of Empress Wu Zetian’s unprecedented reign as China’s only female emperor, two brothers—Zhang Changzong and Zhang Yizhi—rose to extraordinary prominence. Known for their youth and beauty, the Zhang brothers became Wu Zetian’s favored companions, wielding influence far beyond their official titles. Their ascent was emblematic of the aging empress’s shifting priorities: having consolidated power and reformed the government, she increasingly turned to personal indulgence and cultural patronage.

The Zhangs were not merely decorative figures. Zhang Yizhi headed the Fengchen Palace, a hub for literary elites, while Zhang Changzong collaborated with scholars to compile the Three Teachings Pearl Treasury, a prestigious cultural project. However, their proximity to power bred resentment, particularly among the Tang imperial family and bureaucratic factions loyal to the Li lineage.

The Fracturing of the Court: Pro-Zhang vs. Anti-Zhang Factions

By the early 8th century, Wu Zetian’s court had split into two irreconcilable factions. The Pro-Zhang faction included:
– Literati-Officials: Many were tied to the Zhangs through the Fengchen Palace or cultural projects. Figures like Li Jiongxiu—a chancellor who became the lover of the Zhangs’ mother under imperial orders—epitomized the moral compromises made for advancement.
– The Wu Clan: Despite past rivalries, Wu Zetian’s nephew Wu Sansi allied with the Zhangs, calculating that they could block Crown Prince Li Xian’s succession.

The Anti-Zhang faction coalesced around:
– The Li Family’s Allies: Officials affiliated with Li Xian (the exiled heir) and his brother Li Dan viewed the Zhangs as threats to the Tang restoration.
– The Judiciary: Led by the iron-willed censor Song Jing—later a key architect of the Tang’s golden age—this group saw the Zhangs as corrupt and dangerous. Song famously snubbed Zhang Yizhi at a banquet, refusing to address him by the flattering title “Fifth Lang” (郎), a breach of protocol that electrified the court.

The Legal Onslaught and Wu Zetian’s Dilemma

In 704 CE, the Anti-Zhang faction struck through legal channels. The first target was Li Jiongxiu, convicted of embezzlement during the construction of the Xingtai Palace. His downfall was a warning to the Zhangs, but the brothers escalated their graft, leading to their arrest for extorting 40 million coins.

The trial exposed Wu Zetian’s conflicted loyalties. When Zhang Changzong claimed “great merit” to avoid punishment, Chancellor Yang Zaisi absurdly credited him with improving the empress’s health through alchemy. Wu Zetian pardoned him, but the judiciary, led by Song Jing, refused to relent.

The Turning Point: Accusations of Treason

The crisis deepened when anonymous posters accused the Zhangs of plotting rebellion. A whistleblower, Yang Yuansi, revealed that a fortuneteller had prophesied Zhang Changzong’s rise to the throne—a capital offense. Song Jing demanded execution, but Wu Zetian, torn between justice and personal affection, ordered a last-minute pardon. A furious Song lamented, “I should have killed him with my own hands!”

Legacy and the Road to the Shenlong Coup

Wu Zetian’s protection of the Zhangs alienated both the bureaucracy and the military. Within months, a coalition of ministers and generals launched the Shenlong Coup (705 CE), forcing her abdication and restoring Li Xian as Emperor Zhongzong. The Zhang brothers were executed, marking the end of an era.

The Zhangs’ saga underscores the fragility of power built on personal favoritism. Their excesses hastened Wu Zetian’s fall, while Song Jing’s defiance became a model of bureaucratic integrity. Modern parallels—from court politics to the dangers of unchecked influence—resonate in their story, a cautionary tale of hubris and the limits of imperial protection.