The Unraveling of an Extraordinary Reign

In the winter of 699 CE, the Tang Dynasty’s most controversial ruler, Empress Wu Zetian, faced an unsettling omen. At 76 years old, she grew new eyebrows—arched in the shape of the character “八” (eight)—an event her courtiers hastily celebrated as auspicious. Yet this peculiar incident marked the beginning of her final years, a period defined by desperate bids for longevity, political theatrics, and the unrelenting grip of a ruler unwilling to relinquish control.

Wu Zetian’s reign (690–705 CE) had already defied norms: a woman seizing the imperial throne, restructuring bureaucracy, and ruling with a blend of Confucian pragmatism and Buddhist mysticism. But as mortality loomed, her strategies grew erratic—shifting from religious patronage to Daoist elixirs, from brutal purges to calculated reconciliations. This article explores her twilight years, revealing how history’s only female emperor navigated decline while shaping her legacy.

The Desperate Quest for Immortality

By 700 CE, Wu’s health faltered. She turned to Daoist alchemy, consuming a longevity potion concocted by the monk Hu Chao—a three-year project costing vast resources. Temporarily revived, she declared a general amnesty and adopted the reign title Jiu Shi (“Long Vision”), quoting Laozi’s Dao De Jing:
> “To nurture the roots of the state ensures longevity; this is the path of enduring vision.”

Yet her pursuit of youth took darker turns. She expanded her harem with young male consorts, igniting scandals. When the censor Zhu Jingze admonished her—”Your Majesty already has the Zhang brothers; must you invite more ridicule?”—Wu, uncharacteristically chastened, rewarded his bluntness with silk. The episode exposed her vulnerability: even the ruthless sovereign feared historical judgment.

The Balancing Act: Securing the Succession

Wu’s greatest fear was posthumous vengeance. In 699, she forced her sons (Li Xian and Li Dan), daughter (Princess Taiping), and Wu clan nephews to swear a blood oath in the Mingtang temple, engraving their pledge onto iron tablets: no retribution against each other. Marriages sealed the pact—her granddaughters wed Wu heirs, blending the rival clans.

But symbolism wasn’t enough. Wu rehabilitated exiled Li princes, signaling a return to Tang legitimacy. In 701, however, she executed her own grandson Li Chongrun for gossiping about her lovers, the Zhang brothers. The message was clear: her authority remained absolute.

The Rise and Fall of Political Allies

Wu’s final years hinged on two key figures:

### Di Renjie: The “State Elder”
Appointed chancellor at 68, Di became Wu’s moral compass. He halted her extravagant Buddhist projects, arguing:
> “Temples dwarf palaces, yet Buddha didn’t save Emperor Liang from rebellion. Feed the living before funding statues!”

Wu, who called Di “State Elder”, tolerated his critiques, using him to soften her image. Before his death in 700, Di recommended future leaders like Zhang Jianzhi—men who would later overthrow her regime. Their dynamic was symbiotic: Di gained influence; Wu laundered her legacy.

### The Zhang Brothers: Favorites and Scapegoats
Zhang Yizhi and Zhang Changzong, Wu’s youthful consorts, amassed power but feared her death. In 703, they accused officials of plotting with Crown Prince Li Xian. When scholar Zhang Shuo exposed their perjury in court, Wu exiled the accusers—yet spared the Zhangs, revealing her priorities.

The Final Reckoning: Death and Rehabilitation

By 704, Wu was bedridden. The Zhangs controlled access to her, sparking outrage. In a last act of political hygiene, she pardoned all non-“rebellion” prisoners—preemptively cleansing her record.

### The Coup of 705
In February 705, Di Renjie’s protégés—led by 80-year-old Zhang Jianzhi—stormed the palace. They executed the Zhang brothers and forced Wu to abdicate in favor of Li Xian (Emperor Zhongzong). Her reign ended not with vengeance, but a negotiated exit.

Legacy: The Master Strategist’s Blueprint

Wu Zetian died in December 705, aged 81. Her self-written epitaph bore a blank stele—a final enigma. Yet her maneuvers ensured survival:
– Dynastic Continuity: By restoring Tang heirs, she avoided posthumous damnation.
– Cultural Footprint: Patronage of Buddhism and education endured.
– Precedent: No woman would rule China again, but her tactics influenced future emperors.

Historian Sima Guang later wrote:
> “She judged men like a deity, employed them like a sage, yet slaughtered them like a wolf.”

In the end, Wu Zetian’s twilight was her masterpiece—a lesson in retaining power while rewriting one’s narrative. Even in decline, she dictated the terms.