A Childhood Shattered by Loss

Wu Zetian’s early life was marked by privilege and tragedy. Born into the aristocratic Wu family during the Tang Dynasty, she enjoyed a comfortable upbringing—until her father’s untimely death as an official in Jingzhou. At just twelve years old, Wu found herself thrust into hardship. Her father’s passing left her and her mother vulnerable to mistreatment from her half-brothers, who treated them with disdain. Forced to relocate to Chang’an, the Tang capital, the pair endured years of marginalization. This period of adversity forged Wu’s resilience, a trait that would later define her reign.

The Imperial Summons: A Fateful Turning Point

In 637 CE, at the age of fourteen, Wu’s life took a dramatic turn. News of her beauty and intellect reached Emperor Taizong, who ordered her to join his harem as a cairen—a mid-ranking concubine. The position, though prestigious (equivalent to a fifth-rank official), came with risks. The imperial harem housed thousands of women, few of whom ever gained the emperor’s lasting favor.

Wu’s mother, Lady Yang, wept at the prospect of her daughter entering such a perilous environment. Yet Wu herself saw opportunity. As she departed for the palace, she famously reassured her mother: “To meet the Son of Heaven—how could this not be fortune?” This defiant optimism hinted at the ambition that would later reshape China’s history.

Life in Taizong’s Court: Ambition Meets Resistance

Emperor Taizong initially took notice of Wu, dubbing her “Wu Meiniang” (“Enchanting Lady Wu”)—a playful reference to a popular song. However, this superficial affection soon faded. Unlike the emperor’s favored consorts, Wu failed to align with his ideals of womanhood.

### The Lion Horse Incident: A Glimpse of Ruthlessness

One episode, recounted by Wu herself in her later years, became emblematic of her unyielding nature. When Taizong struggled to tame a ferocious horse named Lion Steed, Wu boldly declared she could subdue it—with a whip, hammer, and dagger. Her chilling solution: “First lash it; if it resists, smash its skull; if it still resists, slit its throat.” The emperor, unsettled by her brutality, dismissed the display.

### The “Female Emperor” Prophecy and a Narrow Escape

A more sinister threat emerged when astrologers warned Taizong of a prophecy: “After three generations of Tang, a woman with the surname Wu will seize the empire.” The emperor, paranoid, ordered investigations. Though Wu narrowly avoided execution—thanks to the intervention of court astronomer Li Chunfeng—an unlucky general named Li Junxian, whose titles and nickname (“Fifth Daughter”) coincidentally echoed the prophecy, was executed in her stead.

Why Wu Failed to Impress Taizong

Wu’s 12-year stagnation as a cairen contrasted sharply with the rise of Consort Xu Hui, a scholar-poet who gained Taizong’s favor by offering political counsel. Taizong’s ideal woman, epitomized by his late Empress Zhangsun, embodied three traits Wu lacked:

1. Submissiveness: Empress Zhangsun avoided overt political involvement, once stating, “A hen crowing at dawn brings ruin to the household.”
2. Political Acumen: She subtly influenced Taizong, such as defusing his anger toward advisor Wei Zheng by praising his openness to criticism.
3. Grace Under Pressure: Her diplomacy balanced firmness with tact—a stark contrast to Wu’s confrontational style.

Wu, by comparison, was seen as brash and overly ambitious. Her attempts to impress—through horsemanship or calligraphy—missed the mark; Taizong valued advisors, not entertainers.

The Strategic Pivot: Targeting the Next Generation

By her mid-20s, Wu recognized Taizong’s court as a dead end. Undeterred, she shifted her focus to his heir: Crown Prince Li Zhi (the future Emperor Gaozong). Their clandestine relationship, begun while Taizong lay dying, would become the foundation of her unprecedented ascent.

Legacy of a Political Survivor

Wu’s early struggles reveal the calculated pragmatism that later enabled her to break centuries of patriarchal tradition. Her ability to adapt—from defiant teenager to neglected concubine to master manipulator—foreshadowed the ruthlessness and vision that would define her 15-year reign as China’s only female emperor.

The Tang Dynasty’s relative openness to female agency (evidenced by equestrian court ladies and literate consorts) provided fertile ground for her rise. Yet it was Wu’s singular will that transformed possibility into reality—a lesson in how adversity can forge empires.