From Concubine to Sovereign: The Ascent of Wu Zetian

Wu Zetian’s rise to power was unprecedented in Chinese history. Beginning as a concubine of Emperor Taizong of Tang, she navigated the treacherous waters of imperial politics to become the only female emperor in China’s long dynastic history. After the suppression of Li Jingye’s rebellion in 684, her grip on power tightened. By the first day of 685, she proclaimed the new era name Chuigong (“Hanging Sleeves”), signaling her unchallenged authority. The era name carried multiple meanings—ranging from effortless governance to the illusion of peace—each carefully chosen to project her legitimacy.

Her political maneuvers were relentless. The death of Liu Ren’gui, a Tang loyalist overseeing the western capital, removed another obstacle. With no significant opposition left, Wu Zetian began reshaping the empire in her image.

Legal Reforms and the Illusion of Meritocracy

In March 685, Wu Zetian promulgated the Chuigong Code, a revision of existing Tang laws infused with her own policies. This was more than legal reform—it was a symbolic assertion of dominance over the legacy of her predecessors, Gaozong and Zhongzong.

Her next move was audacious: in May, she decreed that all officials and commoners of rank could self-recommend for government positions. On the surface, this appeared to be a meritocratic reform, but in reality, it was a tactic to flood the bureaucracy with her supporters. The system, stripped of rigorous scrutiny, soon became riddled with corruption. Critics warned of the consequences, but Wu Zetian cared little. Her goal was not good governance but absolute control.

The Machinery of Terror: The Rise of the Secret Police

Wu Zetian’s paranoia grew with her power. Fearing dissent, she institutionalized surveillance and repression. In March 686, she introduced the Tonggui—four bronze boxes placed in the court to collect petitions. Ostensibly, these allowed citizens to submit grievances, policy suggestions, or reports of injustice. In reality, they became tools for denunciation.

The system was rigged: submissions were strictly实名制 (real-name), ensuring that only flattery or accusations reached her ears. Rewards for informants were lavish—commoners who provided useful intelligence were granted official posts, while false accusations went unpunished. The result was a society gripped by fear, where neighbors betrayed neighbors and officials lived in constant dread.

The Reign of the Cruel Officials

To enforce her will, Wu Zetian empowered a cadre of ruthless enforcers. The most notorious were:
– Suo Yuanli: A foreign-born opportunist who specialized in extracting confessions through torture, ensuring each arrest implicated dozens more.
– Zhou Xing and Lai Junchen: Masters of judicial manipulation, they authored the Manual of Entrapment (Luozhi Jing), a guide to fabricating evidence. Their methods included horrific tortures like “Phoenix Spreading Wings” (stretching limbs until dislocation) and “Jade Maiden Ascends the Ladder” (suffocation by hanging).

Wu Zetian encouraged their brutality, using it to purge real and imagined enemies. Even her own allies were not safe—Liu Yizhi, a trusted advisor, was executed after privately questioning her refusal to relinquish power.

The Road to Divine Legitimacy

By 688, Wu Zetian’s ambition turned to sacralization. She constructed the Wanxiang Shen Gong (“Hall of a Myriad Deities”), a colossal wooden edifice symbolizing her cosmic authority. Its height (98 meters) and grandeur dwarfed all previous imperial projects, a physical manifestation of her supremacy.

Simultaneously, she orchestrated a campaign of divine propaganda. A “magical stone” inscribed with “The Holy Mother shall rule mankind eternally” was “discovered” in the Luo River. She declared herself “Holy Mother Divine Emperor”, while Buddhist monks circulated the Great Cloud Sutra, proclaiming her the incarnation of the future Buddha Maitreya.

The Final Purge and the Zhou Dynasty’s Birth

The years 689–690 saw the systematic extermination of Tang loyalists. Prominent princes like Li Zhen and Li Chong were executed, their families massacred. The surviving Tang clan members were exiled or forced to adopt the humiliating surname Hui (“viper”).

On September 7, 690, Wu Zetian yielded to “popular demand” and ascended the throne as emperor of the Zhou Dynasty. The Tang was officially abolished; even the puppet emperor Li Dan (now renamed Wu Lun) bowed to her will.

Legacy: A Reign of Contradictions

Wu Zetian’s rule was a paradox. She expanded the bureaucracy, patronized Buddhism, and stabilized the empire, yet her methods—terror, nepotism, and judicial murder—left a stain on her legacy. The Tonggui system, while innovative, became synonymous with tyranny. Her reliance on cruel officials like Lai Junchen demonstrated the fragility of law under autocracy.

Modern historians debate her impact. Was she a visionary leader who broke gender barriers, or a despot who prioritized power over principle? What remains undeniable is that her reign reshaped medieval China, proving that even the most entrenched dynasties could be overturned—by will, wit, and ruthless determination.

### Final Thought
Wu Zetian’s story is a cautionary tale about the costs of absolute power. Her brilliance in statecraft was matched only by her capacity for cruelty, leaving a legacy as complex as the woman herself.