The Reign of Emperor Gaozong and the Foundations of Wu Zetian’s Power

Emperor Gaozong of Tang (Li Zhi) ruled China for 34 years, from 649 to 683, though his later years were marked by prolonged illness that left him largely incapacitated. Despite his physical frailty, his reign saw the Tang Dynasty reach its greatest territorial extent, stretching from the Korean Peninsula in the east to the Aral Sea in the west, and from Lake Baikal in the north to Vietnam’s Hoành Sơn Mountains in the south. This expansion, largely a continuation of his father Taizong’s policies, solidified his posthumous title “Gaozong” (高宗), meaning “High Ancestor”—a designation reserved for rulers of great merit.

Yet, Gaozong’s most consequential decision was elevating his consort, Wu Zetian, to unprecedented political influence. Initially a concubine of his father, Taizong, Wu had maneuvered her way into Gaozong’s favor, eventually becoming empress. By the 660s, she was effectively co-ruler, with officials referring to the imperial couple as the “Two Sages” (二圣). This partnership set the stage for her eventual domination after Gaozong’s death.

The Death of Gaozong and the Struggle for Succession

Gaozong died in December 683, leaving behind a fragile succession plan. His designated heir, Li Xian (posthumously known as Emperor Zhongzong), was inexperienced, having been crown prince for only three years. Gaozong’s will stipulated that Wu Zetian should assist in governance only when necessary, but within days, she had seized control.

The court’s senior ministers, including Chancellor Pei Yan, initially supported Wu’s regency, believing it would ensure stability. However, Zhongzong’s impulsive actions—such as attempting to appoint his father-in-law as chancellor—alienated the bureaucracy. When he infamously declared, “What does it matter if I give the empire to my father-in-law?”, Pei Yan and other officials turned to Wu Zetian for intervention.

Wu Zetian’s Coup and the Deposing of Zhongzong

In February 684, Wu Zetian staged a coup. With the support of the imperial guard and key ministers, she summoned the court to the Qianyuan Hall, declared Zhongzong unfit, and demoted him to the rank of Prince of Luling. His younger brother, Li Dan (Emperor Ruizong), was installed as a puppet emperor while Wu ruled as regent.

This move was not unprecedented—empress dowagers had wielded power before, notably Empress Lü of the Han Dynasty and Empress Dowager Feng of the Northern Wei. But Wu Zetian’s ambitions went further. She systematically dismantled opposition, purging the court of dissenters and rewarding loyalty. When Pei Yan later urged her to return power to the Li family, she had him executed on charges of treason.

The Revolt of Li Jingye and the Consolidation of Power

Later in 684, a rebellion erupted in Yangzhou led by Li Jingye (grandson of the famed general Li Shiji). Claiming to restore Zhongzong, Li issued a scathing denunciation of Wu Zetian, penned by the poet Luo Binwang. The manifesto accused her of usurpation, murder, and tyranny, famously concluding: “Look now upon this land—whose empire is it?”

Wu, recognizing the power of propaganda, reportedly lamented that such talent had been lost to the opposition. Yet Li Jingye’s rebellion collapsed due to poor strategy. Instead of marching on Luoyang, he fortified Jiangnan, allowing imperial forces to crush him swiftly. The failed revolt only strengthened Wu’s position—proving that resistance was futile.

The Road to the Zhou Dynasty

With her rivals eliminated, Wu Zetian accelerated her path to the throne. She renamed Luoyang the “Divine Capital” (神都), altered bureaucratic titles to emphasize feminine symbolism (e.g., renaming the Secretariat the “Phoenix Pavilion”), and promoted her Wu clan. By 690, she formally declared herself emperor of the new Zhou Dynasty, becoming China’s only female sovereign.

Legacy and Historical Assessment

Wu Zetian’s rise was facilitated by Gaozong’s long illness, which allowed her to cultivate political alliances and administrative expertise. Her reign, though controversial, demonstrated remarkable political acumen—she expanded the civil service, patronized Buddhism, and maintained Tang’s territorial gains. Yet her methods—executions, purges, and manipulation—left a mixed legacy.

For Gaozong, history remembers him as a ruler who presided over Tang’s zenith but whose weakness enabled Wu’s ascent. His posthumous honors—enshrined in the imperial temple alongside Taizong and Gaozu—reflect his contributions, yet his failure to secure a stable succession reshaped the dynasty’s future.

Ultimately, the events of 683–684 illustrate how personal ambition, bureaucratic maneuvering, and sheer opportunism converged to alter the course of Chinese history. Wu Zetian’s story remains a testament to the volatile interplay of power, gender, and legitimacy in imperial China.