Introduction: The Golden Age of Women’s Status in Imperial China

The Tang Dynasty (618-907 CE) stands out in Chinese history as an era when women achieved unprecedented influence in politics, culture, and society. While imperial China was largely patriarchal, the Tang period witnessed several extraordinary women who shattered glass ceilings, wielded political power, and left indelible marks on history. From the legendary “Female Prime Minister” Shangguan Wan’er to the ambitious Princess Taiping and the scholarly Song sisters, these women navigated treacherous court politics while contributing to Tang’s cultural flourishing.

The Rise of Shangguan Wan’er: From Orphaned Slave to Power Broker

### A Family Destroyed by Political Intrigue

Shangguan Wan’er’s life began in tragedy. Born in 664 CE, she was the granddaughter of Shangguan Yi, a prominent chancellor and literary figure who had advised Emperor Gaozong to depose Empress Wu Zetian. When the plot failed, both Shangguan Yi and his son (Wan’er’s father) were executed by Wu Zetian. The infant Wan’er and her mother were consigned to the palace servitude—a fate that typically doomed women to obscurity.

### A Literary Prodigy Recognized by Wu Zetian

Defying expectations, the young Wan’er displayed extraordinary intellect. By age 13, her literary talents caught Wu Zetian’s attention. The empress, seeking capable women to strengthen her administration, tested Wan’er with an impromptu composition. Wan’er’s brilliance secured her position as Wu Zetian’s personal secretary—a role she maintained for over two decades.

Remarkably, Wan’er harbored no resentment toward the woman who had destroyed her family. Historians speculate that Wu Zetian’s charisma and the opportunities she provided overshadowed past grievances. For Wan’er, survival and ambition outweighed familial loyalty to figures she never knew.

### The Pinnacle of Power Under Emperor Zhongzong

After Wu Zetian’s fall in 705 CE, Wan’er’s career reached new heights. Emperor Zhongzong appointed her as Zhaorong (a high-ranking consort), granting her unprecedented political influence. Archaeological discoveries from her 2013 tomb excavation reveal she had previously been a concubine to both Gaozong and Zhongzong—a fact omitted in official histories, likely due to its scandalous implications.

As de facto chancellor, Wan’er:
– Advocated for women’s rights, including equal mourning periods for mothers
– Promoted Wu Zetian’s political legacy through symbolic gestures
– Cultivated alliances with Empress Wei and Princess Anle

However, her support for the controversial “Imperial Heiress” movement (Princess Anle’s bid to become crown princess) and her romantic entanglement with Wu Sansi (Wu Zetian’s nephew) ultimately led to her downfall.

### A Tragic End in the Tanglong Coup

During the 710 CE Tanglong Coup, Prince Li Chongjun targeted Wan’er and her allies. Though she survived this initial revolt, her political maneuvering between Empress Wei’s faction and Li Longji’s (future Emperor Xuanzong) faction proved fatal. Despite Princess Taiping’s attempts to protect her, Li Longji ordered Wan’er’s execution—eliminating a potential rival to his absolute power.

Princess Taiping: The Last Daughter of Wu Zetian

### A Princess Forged in Political Fire

As Wu Zetian’s youngest daughter, Princess Taiping enjoyed privileges denied to her brothers. Unlike them—two killed, one exiled, one intimidated into abdication—Taiping became her mother’s political heir apparent. Her marriage strategies (first to a nephew of Empress Wang, then to Wu Zetian’s cousin) reflected Wu’s dynastic ambitions.

### The Power Struggle with Li Longji

Following the Tanglong Coup, Taiping and Li Longji initially cooperated to eliminate Empress Wei. However, their alliance quickly dissolved. Taiping:
– Controlled five of seven chief ministers
– Maintained extensive spy networks
– Attempted to replace Li Longji as heir using astrological omens

Her overreach backfired when Emperor Ruizong, interpreting her celestial warnings as divine mandate to abdicate, unexpectedly crowned Li Longji in 712 CE.

### The Final Reckoning

As emperor, Li Longji moved decisively against his aunt. In 713 CE, he accused Taiping of treason, forcing her suicide. Her death marked the end of Tang’s era of politically dominant women—a trend Li Longji deliberately suppressed to prevent another Wu Zetian.

The Song Sisters: Literary Luminary and Political Pawns

### A Family of Female Scholars

The five Song sisters—Ruoxian, Ruozhao, Ruolun, Ruoxian, and Ruoxun—descended from the poet Song Zhiwen. Recognized for their literary talents, they were summoned to court during Emperor Dezong’s reign (779-805 CE). Their critiques could make or reputations of male poets, earning them the nickname “The Five Songs.”

### Ruoxian’s Rise and Fall

By Emperor Wenzong’s reign (827-840 CE), Ruoxian emerged as a key palace official. Her downfall came during the notorious Sweet Dew Incident (835 CE), when reformist ministers accused her of accepting bribes from the eunuch Yang Chenghe. Though evidence was likely fabricated, Ruoxian was executed in the anti-eunuch purge.

Her posthumous rehabilitation in 836 CE reflected shifting political winds rather than justice—a reminder of how even accomplished women remained vulnerable to court factionalism.

Legacy: Why Tang Women Matter

The stories of these women reveal broader historical truths:

1. Cultural Openness: Tang’s hybrid Sino-nomadic culture allowed greater female participation than later dynasties. Practices like levirate marriage (seen with Wu Zetian and Yang Guifei serving father-son emperors) stemmed from steppe traditions.

2. Political Precedents: Their careers established models for female governance that later dynasties suppressed but never fully erased.

3. Literary Contributions: From Shangguan Wan’er’s poetry to the Song sisters’ critiques, these women shaped Tang’s literary golden age.

4. Archaeological Revelations: Recent discoveries (Wan’er’s tomb, the Yang Chenghe stele) continue rewriting our understanding of their roles.

While later Confucian historiography minimized their achievements, modern scholarship increasingly recognizes these Tang women not as anomalies, but as products of an exceptional era when talent could trump gender—a legacy that still resonates today.