Wu Zetian

Wu Zetian was China’s only woman to rule as emperor in her own right. She reigned from 690 to 705, founding the Zhou dynasty between periods of Tang rule.

Tang dynasty: A Chinese imperial dynasty that ruled from 618 to 907, interrupted briefly by Wu Zetian’s Zhou dynasty. Its court gave Wu her first political position and remained the state she displaced and restored.
Zhou dynasty (690–705): The short-lived dynasty proclaimed by Wu Zetian, which interrupted Tang rule from 690 until 705. It gave Wu’s sovereign authority a distinct dynastic and ceremonial form.
Shangguan Wan'er: A Tang court poet and official who served Wu Zetian and later held influence under subsequent rulers. She became a trusted secretary and political intermediary in Wu’s court.
Chinese imperial succession: The transfer of supreme political authority between rulers in China’s hereditary imperial system. Wu’s accession broke the usual expectation that the emperor would be a man of the ruling lineage.
Empress Wang: The first wife of Emperor Gaozong of Tang, deposed as empress in 655 amid a palace struggle involving Wu Zetian. Wu replaced her as empress consort after a conflict central to Wu’s rise.
Imperial examination: A system of examinations used in imperial China to select officials on the basis of mastery of canonical texts. Wu expanded recruitment and promotion through examinations to strengthen her hold on the bureaucracy.
Di Renjie: A Tang official and judge remembered for capable administration and service under Wu Zetian. Wu relied on his judgment and promoted him despite his earlier imprisonment.
Empress Lü: A Han dynasty empress dowager who wielded extensive power as regent but never ruled as emperor. She shows the difference between dominating government and claiming the imperial title in one’s own right.
Emperor Gaozong of Tang: A Tang emperor who ruled from 649 to 683 and relied increasingly on Wu Zetian in government after suffering illness. Her authority expanded during his reign, when she shared influence over imperial decisions.
Secret police: Covert state agents who monitor, investigate, and suppress perceived threats to a government. Wu used informants and investigative officials to uncover opposition and intimidate rivals.

Linked from 11 pages