Introducing Wu Zetian, the only female emperor of China.

Emperor Wu Zetian: information

Wu Zetian (624-705), the name of the jiu (zhào), and the state of Wenshui (today's Shanxi Wenshui East) people, the empress of the Tang Emperor Li Zhi, the mother of Li Xian, Ruizong Li Dan, Gaozong after the death of the Emperor, Wu Zetian abolished his two sons, Zhongzong and Ruizong, and became the emperor himself, change the country's name to "Zhou", historically known as "Wu Zhou", and the emperor was the only woman in China. "Zhou", known as "Wu Zhou". She was the first and only female emperor in the history of China. In the early period of Wu Zetian's reign, she made heavy use of cool officials and severely cracked down on the old officials and old clans who opposed her, thus breaking the situation of the big clans controlling the political situation and monopolizing the senior officials. Wu Zetian was the capital of Luoyang and reigned from 690 to 705. The world called him Wu Zetian (武则天) according to his honorific title "Zetian Da Sheng Emperor" (则天大圣皇帝). (Zetian is also known as "Law", which means to take the sky as the law. Zetian means to take Heaven as the law, to learn from Heaven, and to follow the laws and requirements of Heaven). She was a clever and intelligent person with a lot of power and skill. The second daughter of the founding father of the Tang Dynasty, Samurai Kiwan (yue), her birth mother Yang was Samurai Kiwan's continuing wife, the daughter of Yang Da, a member of the great scholarly family of Longyue, prime minister of the Sui Dynasty, and the Duke of Suining.

Wu Zetian (武则天) was the talent of Emperor Li Shimin (李世民) of the Tang Dynasty (唐太宗), and the empress of Emperor Li Zhi (李治) of the Tang Dynasty. She was called "Mei Niang" by Emperor Taizong. She assisted Emperor Gaozong to deal with military and state affairs, and after thirty years of supporting the government, she ascended to the throne in person, claiming to be the Sacred God Emperor, abolishing the throne of Tang once and for all, changing the country's name to Zhou, and becoming the only female emperor unprecedented in Chinese history. From her participation in the government, the self-proclaimed emperor, to the sick to move on the Yang Palace, before and after the reign of nearly half a century, on the inheritance of "Zhen Guan's rule", the beginning of the "Kai Yuan Dynasty", known as "Zhen Guan legacy" history! Achievements, notorious in the world. As Song Qingling's sincere evaluation of her: Wu Zetian is "an outstanding female politician in the feudal era".

Wu Zetian was born at the beginning of the Tang Dynasty into a family of new aristocrats and eunuchs, whose power and extravagance nourished her unlimited desire for power. However, in the early Tang Dynasty, very important to the scholar's clan of the prevailing style, and Wu's commoner's family, low birth, and make her suffer from vulgar contempt, but not willing to be buried. This special situation and encounter, strongly stimulate the youth of wu zetian, cultivated her arrogance to chase and seize the highest power, to achieve the desire to me, and to cold and unscrupulous to retaliate against all the psychological. This point in her later politics and even "the south side of the orphan" in a series of political struggles, especially prominent, and become her life of merits and demerits of the cultivation of the difference. The character, personality and psychological roots.

Zetian was smart and clever since childhood, extremely expressive, bold and superhuman. Her father was y convinced that she was a talent that could be created, so he taught her to read and write, so that she could understand the world. History, Zetian thirteen, four years old, has been a book, learned from the strong memory, poetry and song have laid a certain foundation, and long in calligraphy, the word state eminent.

The eleventh year of the Zhenguan (637 years), 14-year-old Wu's handsome, selected for the palace, was named "talent". After entering the palace, Wu's behavior is competent, understanding, coupled with the posture of the beautiful, quite pleased with Emperor Taizong, and then given the name "Mei Niang". But the same period Xu Xianfei intelligent, Wu's out of favor, has been in the lowest talent grade hovering, after meeting Li Zhi.

The twenty-third year of Zhenguan (649), Taizong died to go, Zetian and all the concubines, sent to Chang'an Sanye Temple as a nun. Emperor Taizong's ninth son Li Zhi after the throne, because of the earlier and Zetian secretly, very interested in her, so often to and from the temple, and two or three years later, re-recall Zetian into the government, promoted to "Zhaoyi". Yong Hui six years (655), extremely favored by Emperor Gaozong Wu Zetian, the struggle in the inner palace, and urged Emperor Gaozong to establish himself as the queen. However, in feudal society, the abolition of the empress was a matter of national importance and had to be agreed upon with important ministers. When Emperor Gaozong explained his intention to abolish the Empress Wang and establish Zetian as the Empress to the loyal ministers, such as Zhu Suiliang and Changsun Wuji, he was immediately met with strong opposition. They believed that Wu's humble origin was not suitable for the queen, and when Emperor Taizong collapsed, he had said that he should not abolish Empress Wang because she was a "good wife". However, Emperor Gaozong's idea was also supported by Xu Jingzhong, Wu Zetian's accomplice, as well as Li Yifu, and some other sycophants in the dynasty. After Wu Zetian personally killed his own daughter, framed Wang Huang, forcing the high emperor finally in the October of this year, categorically issued an edict, the abolition of the queen Wang, formally enrolled Zetian as queen, after the enrollment of the queen, Wu Zetian vicious to the extreme, will Wang Huang, Xiao Shufei hands and feet cut off, drunken bone.

Zetian ascended to the throne of the Empress, witty and shrewd, "through the literature and history, more power" strengths, get a long play and development, so that Emperor Gaozong on her favor, don't look at each other. She also used the identity of the empress, the emperor's favor, and actively participate in government, "a hundred divisions of the matter, sometimes after the decision of the order". From Yong Hui six years (655 years) to the Xianqing four years (659 years) of five years, she wide make wrongdoing, the world Sen Sen, a large number of removal of political opponents, depreciation of the Shangshu Right Servant Zhu Suiliang, so that it died of depression; deposed with the Zhongshu Menxia Changsun Wuji, forcing him to hang himself; dismissed the supporters of Zhu Suiliang, Changsun Yuanjie in the court, consolidated and expanded their influence and power, removed the obstacles on the road to her participation in politics, the legacy of Zhenguan The reign of Yonghui, as it was called, came to an end.

In the fifth year of the Xianqing period (660), Emperor Li Zhi of the Gaozong Dynasty, who was suffering from phoenix dizziness, could not see, so he issued an imperial edict to entrust the Empress Wu with the management of political affairs. Since then, Zetian from the government to step people in power, "deposed and killed, decided to its mouth, the son of God arch hand only", although the people behind the scenes, but remote control of the real power of the court. Later, Gaozong regret, plotting to take back the power, and secretly ordered the Chinese Minister Shangguan Yi draft edict to abolish the queen. I do not know that the machine is not secret, "the plan leaks not fruit", after the ruthlessness of the ruthlessness of the hand, the first to strike, and will be on the official Yi execution. Gaozong's move, a failure, but make the queen more vigilant.

Wu Zetian, the eldest son Li Hong died of illness, the second son (said to be Gaozong and his sister, Mrs. Korea was born) was exiled (killed), the third son was abolished, the fourth son to be Wu Zetian ascension to the throne, renamed Wu Lun.

Gao Zong, although he hated its arbitrary, many national events and can not help but rely on her. In this way, the queen gradually from behind the scenes to the foreground, even with the high emperor with the Zichen Hall, together with the acceptance of the qunchen worship. In the first year of Shangyuan (674), Emperor Gaozong was called Emperor and Empress was called Empress of Heaven, which was called "two saints" in the world. Since then, Gaozong was a virtual virtual nullity, and the power of the Tang dynasty was in the hands of the Empress Zetian.

From the first year of the first year (674 years), Zetian began to rule with the dignity of the "Queen of Heaven", to the first year of Tianjiu (690 years) formally proclaimed the emperor of the 16 years, Wu did a lot of long time to prepare for being the emperor, and took a variety of powerful and effective measures. First of all, in the succession to the throne, Emperor Gaozong wanted to succeed his eldest son Li Hong. The Empress Wu, however, not remembering the love between mother and son, poisoned Li Hong to death and set up her second son, Li Xian, as the crown prince. Li Xian was appointed by Emperor Gaozong to handle the government in a competent manner, but Empress Wu abolished Li Xian as a commoner and set up her third son, Li Xian, as the crown prince. In the first year of Hongdao (683), Gaozong died and Li Xian, the middle son, had just succeeded to the throne, while the Empress Wu was in charge of the court in the name of the Empress Dowager. A year later, he abolished the middle son, and was reappointed king of Luling, and established his fourth son Li Dan as the emperor, who was Emperor Ruizong. Li Xian and Li Dan are both mediocre and incompetent, and are puppets in the emperor's seat, subject to the Empress Wu at every turn.

Secondly, it is the revision of the Clan Records for the Record of Surnames, the original can not even be included in the Clan Records of Wu, in the Record of Surnames, but designated as the first class of surnames, which did not change the concept of the gatekeeper, but only Wu Zetian in order to improve the status of Wu a performance.

Once again, it is to change the official name, change the eastern capital of Luoyang for the divine capital, for their own ascension to the throne as emperor, the establishment of a new order, an important step. It was a sign to the nation of her supremacy as a great monarch. These new political measures of Empress Wu were soon opposed by the royal family Li and many bureaucrats of the scholars. Xu Jingye, Liuzhou's assassin and a descendant of Xu Shijie, a great hero of the early Tang Dynasty, mobilized hundreds of thousands of soldiers and horses to spearhead his campaign in Yangzhou, and his famous "Diatribe Against Wu Jiu" was spread all over the country. The famous "Diatribe against Wuju" was spread all over the region. The royal family of Luangmu, Wang Li Chong, in Bozhou, and Yue Wang Li Zhen, in Yuzhou, also raised their armies to fight against Wuju. Zetian Wu queen of this is not soft, resolute suppression, under her direct command, these rebellions quickly quelled, Xu Jingye, Li Chong, Li Zhen and other major rebels, or died on the battlefield, or arrested and killed, no one was spared.

The horrific beheadings and extensive strains fully exposed the cold decisiveness of Empress Wu.

In 690 A.D., Wu Zetian, believing that the conditions were ripe for her to assume the throne, first borrowed the mouth of the Buddhist monk Fa Ming to create a wide range of public opinion: "Empress Wu is the reincarnation of Maitreya Buddha, and is now the Son of Heaven in the contemporary Tang Dynasty." Then he directed a petition from 60,000 subjects, led by Emperor Tang Ruizong, to change the name of the country. At this point, the water came to an end, Zetian Wu Hou, in the "Heavenly instructions", "obedience to the public opinion" "long live" sound, ascended to the throne, the realization of the long-cherished dream, changed the Tang for the "Zhou", the self-titled "Holy Spirit Emperor". This year, she was already 67 years old.

If said, Wu Zetian in the emperor before more than thirty years in the political career, has shown amazing political strategy and means. Then, in the more than ten years after the emperor, it is more fully demonstrated her in the use of people, deal with affairs, governance and other aspects of outstanding political talent and statesmanlike spirit.

After Zetian became the emperor, she paid more attention to the selection and use of talents. She believes that "the nine domains of the wide, is not a person to strengthen, must stand talent, *** into the wings". Where the "state state", "set the frontier" talent, she does not count the door, not detained qualifications, all the amount of talent to use. In order to solicit talents, she developed and perfected the Sui since the imperial examination system, let go of the recruitment of virtuous, allowing self-examination for the official, test official, and the establishment of the officer outside the official. In addition, she also pioneered the temple examination and martial arts system, for more and more extensive discovery of talent, search for talent to create favorable conditions. For example, Guo Ziyi, the famous general of the Middle Tang Dynasty, was a "different class from the military examination". In this way, in the years of her administration, there are always a number of "Wen like Renjie", "Wu class Huwu" able ministers and generals for its service, strong maintenance of the regime of Wuzhou.

For agricultural production, Zetian also attaches great importance. She said: "the foundation of the state, must be in the agriculture", "agriculture is the field reclamation, field reclamation is more corn, more corn is rich". She stipulated that can make the "fields and open up, the family has more food" of the magistrate promoted; "for the harsh and abusive, the household displacement" of the "lightweight depreciation of the official, and even untimely dismissal". In this way, in the years of her reign, agriculture and handicrafts have been greater development. The population kept increasing. According to the statistics at that time, the number of households in the whole country was 38,000,000 at the time of Yonghui, and then increased to 6,150,000 in the first year of Shenlong, the year when Zetian was dying, which was almost double. This alone shows the development of the agricultural economy during this period.

The Zetian administration also made a lot of efforts to combat foreign invasions, protect the peace of the borders, and improve the relationship between neighboring countries. Zetian gave a firm defense and counterattack to the invasion and harassment of the Tubo nobles. In the second year of Changshou (692), she sent her general Wang Xiaojie to defeat the Tubo, recovered the four towns of Anxi, and reinstalled the Anxi Capital in Guzi. Afterwards, she set up the Beitian Prefecture in Tingzhou to consolidate the northwestern border defense and opened up the once interrupted "Silk Road" to Central Asia. During the years of her administration, she insisted on the policy of keeping the border troops in the fields. Tianjiu years, Lou Shide inspection school Fengzhou Governor "Tuantian accumulation of millions of grain, soldiers to spare give". In the first year of the Dazu era (701), Guo Yuanzhen became governor of Liangzhou, insisting on the cantonment of fields for five years, and "the army's food could be supported for several decades". Wu's this large-scale long-term cantonment. For the development of the border area, alleviate the people's transfer of labor, as well as consolidate the border defense have a positive effect.

Of course, there were many faults in the longer period of nearly half a century of Wuju's power. She reused coolies and rewarded informers. This made a number of corrupt officials rampant for a while. They tortured confessions, killed innocents indiscriminately, and falsely accused people, so that many ministers and military generals suffered injustice. Although the consolidation of the Wuzhou regime played some role, but the ruling group of internal conflicts intensified, everyone is in danger, will certainly affect the governance of the country and the development of production. She let go of the election of the palace, so that the bureaucratic group dramatically. Increase in size, bureaucracy expansion, is bound to aggravate the burden of the people. In her later years, she was so ambitious that she lived an extravagant life, consuming a great deal of money and labor. All these affected and retarded the development of productive forces to varying degrees. However, these mistakes and faults were, after all, tributaries in Wu Zetian's political career. As the only female emperor in the history of China, she was able to overcome all the difficulties, and in the half-century-long reign, she formed a strong centralized power, social stability, economic development, inherited the "Rule of Zhen Guan" from above, started the "Golden Age of Kai Yuan" from below, eliminated the shortcomings of the times, developed production, perfected the imperial examination, broke the rule of the imperial court, and developed the productive forces to a different extent. Production, perfecting the imperial examinations, breaking down the concept of gatekeeper, not stick to one pattern of appointment of talent, in line with the trend of history, bold reform of the historical achievements compared to the merits and demerits of half. Her historical merits and demerits, just as she set up her own piece of "wordless monument", can only be commented and judged by history.

In 705, Chancellor Zhang Jianzhi took advantage of Wu Zetian's old age and illness, embraced the resurrection of Emperor Zhongzong, and honored Wu as "Zetian Da Sheng Emperor". In the winter of the same year, Wu died at the age of 82, his will edict "to the emperor's name, called Zetian Da Sheng Empress." Li Bai listed Wu Zetian as one of the "Seven Saints" of the Tang Dynasty.

1 year old, Tang Gaozu Wude seven years (624 years) on the twenty-third day of the first month, was born in Lizhou (now Guangyuan City, Sichuan Province). His father, Samurai Ki, aged 48, was a minister of the Ministry of Public Works and a judge of the Six Cao Shangshu Affairs. His mother, Yang, was 46 years old. Half-brothers Yuanqing and Yuanshuang were slightly older, and one sister was still young.

At the age of 2, on the fourth day of the sixth month of the eighth year of Wude (625), Li Shimin staged the Xuanwumen Incident, killing his brother Jiancheng and his brother Yuanji. On the seventh day of the sixth month, Li Shimin was established as the crown prince. On the eighth day of the eighth month, Li Yuan, the founder of Gaozu, passed on the throne to Crown Prince Li Shimin. On the ninth day, Crown Prince Li Shimin assumed the throne as Emperor Taizong. Samurai warriors were appointed as governors of Yuzhou.

At the age of 5, on the 15th day of the 6th month of the 2nd year of Zhenguan (628), Li Zhi (Emperor Gaozong of Tang) was born. In this year, Yuan Tiangang was a face reader for Wu, leaving behind local legends such as Chaotianguan and Wangyunpu.

At the age of 12, on the sixth day of the fifth month of the ninth year of Zhenguan (635), Gaozu died in the Hall of the Hanging Arch of the Daan Palace in Chang'an. Samurai warriors in mourning Gaozu fell ill and died at the age of 59. On October 27, Gaozu was buried in the Dedication Mausoleum in Sanyuan, Shaanxi, under the temple name of Gaozu, and was buried together with Empress Tai Mu. Afterwards, he and his mother Yang returned to Wenshui (Luliang City, Shanxi) to bury his father.

At the age of 14, in the 11th year of the Zhenguan period (637), Emperor Li Shimin heard that the daughter of Samurai warrior was beautiful, intelligent and talented, so he called her into the palace and made her a talent, giving her the name of "Wu Mei Niang".

16 years old, the thirteenth year of Zhenguan (639 years), the country has 358 state capitals, 1551 counties. Goryeo, Silla, Western Turkestan, Tufaluo, Kang, Anguo, Persia, Shule, ütepe, Yanqi, Gaochang, Linyi, Kunming and other chieftainships have sent envoys to pay tribute.

At the age of 20, on the seventh day of the fourth month of the seventeenth year of Zhenguan (643), Emperor Taizong made Li Zhi the crown prince.

At the age of 23, on the ninth day of the third month of the twentieth year of the reign of King Zhenguan (646), Emperor Taizong became seriously ill and ordered that all military and state affairs be entrusted to Crown Prince Li Zhi. Thereafter, the Prince every other day to listen to politics, the court, into the service of medicine and food, Wu and the Prince began to contact, the two together in the side of the Emperor to serve the sick.

At the age of 25, in the first month of the twenty-second year of the reign of Zhenguan (648), Emperor Taizong made 12 articles of the Imperial Model and gave them to Crown Prince Li Zhi.

At the age of 26, on the 26th day of the 5th month of the 23rd year of the reign of Zhenguan (649), Emperor Taizong issued an edict to Changsun Wuji and Chu Suiliang to assist Prince Li Zhi. Taizong died. According to the law at that time, after the death of the Emperor, consorts who did not give birth to the Emperor's royal son were to become nuns. On the 28th of June, Wu became a nun at the Temple of Feeling. June 1, the crown prince Li Zhi on the throne for the high emperor, was 22 years old. August 28, buried Taizong in Zhaoling mausoleum, buried with Empress Changsun.

At the age of 27, on the sixth day of the first month of the first year of the Yonghui reign (650), Emperor Gaozong made his consort Wang the Empress. On May 26, the anniversary of the death of Emperor Taizong, Emperor Gaozong went to the Temple of Feeling to perform incense and saw Wu. Wu was crying, and Emperor Gaozong shed tears of sadness. Empress Wang hinted that Wu kept her hair long and urged the Emperor to receive her back to the palace.

At the age of 28, in August of the second year of Yonghui (651), Wu entered the palace as a general courtesan, beside Empress Wang.

29 years old, Yong Hui three years (652 years) on the second day of the seventh month, the establishment of Li Zhong (i.e., Chen Wangzhong) as the crown prince. twelfth, the Ministry of households played: the country has 3.8 million households. In the winter of this year, Wu gave birth to his eldest son Li Hong.

31 years old, Yong Hui five years (654 years) in March, sealed Wu as Zhaoyi. March 14, Tang Emperor Gaozong at the request of the Wu, plus the Wude merit Qu Tutong, Samurai Keng and other 13 people official. In June, Wang Huang Huang's uncle saw the reality of the empress's favor decline, asked to be removed from his post, and was appointed as the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue. December 17, King Gaozong left the capital to visit the mausoleum of Zhaoling, Wu from the line, the birth of the second son Li Xian on the way.

At the age of 32, in March of the sixth year of the Yonghui reign (655), Wu wrote an article entitled "Internal Discipline". In June, the Empress Wang and her mother Liu's "aversion to victory" incident, the high emperor was furious, so Liu's not allowed to enter the palace, after the uncle dismissed the political affairs. At this time, on the issue of the abolition of the queen courtiers are divided into two factions: changsun wuji, chu shuiliang, Chaowon, lai ji, etc. opposed to the establishment of wu zetian for the queen; Xu jingzong, Li yifu, Cui yixuan, Yuan Gongyu, etc. support the establishment of wu zetian for the queen. October 13, Queen Wang, Xiao Shufei abolished as concubine. On the 19th, Emperor Gaozong issued an imperial decree to establish Wu Zhaoyi as Empress. on the first day of November, held a grand ceremony of enthronement of the Queen, civil and military officials and chiefs of tombs and barbarians towards the Empress in suyi gate. On the seventh day of the first month, posthumously awarded the Empress Wu father Samurai Keng as the Secretary of the Treasury. this month, Empress Wu executed Queen Wang, Xiao Shufei.

33 years old, the first six days of the first month of the first year of the Hianqing yuan (656), demoted Prince Li Zhong as the King of Liang, the assassin of Liangzhou, the establishment of the Queen Wu's son Li Hong as the Prince. February 17, posthumously awarded the Empress Wu's father Samurai Kiwan as the Secretary of the Department of Justice, given the title of Duke of Zhou. March 17, Queen Wu worship first silkworm in the northern suburbs. April 14, Emperor Gaozong and Queen Wu in the Anfu Gate Tower view of Xuanzang welcome Imperial Ci'en Temple inscription. Since the Wei and Jin dynasties, Buddhist activities have never been so grand. September 12, Queen Wu made "Commandments of the Relatives" offered in the dynasty. November 5, Queen Wu gave birth to the third son Li Xian in Chang'an.

34 years old, the second year of Xianqing (657 years) on the 12th day of the 2nd month, Li Xian was appointed as the king of Zhou.

36 years old, Xianqing four years (659 years) June 22, Gaozong issued an edict to change the "Clan Records" to "Surname Records" to the royal family and the descendants of the first class, the imperial family to get the fifth-grade officials are published in the stream of the scholar. In July, he killed Changsun Wuji and Liu Shi. in September, Emperor Gaozong issued an edict to stone, rice, Shi, Daan, Xiaoan, Cao, Bakhanna, worry, Shule, Zhu Ju half of the country to set up state and county government 127, the national territory to further expand.

37 years old, Xianqing five years (660 years) in the first month, Gaozong, with the Empress Wu and the Prince in the eastern capital of Luoyang over the Spring Festival. On the 23rd, he left Luoyang and went to Hezhou. On the tenth day of the second month, he arrived in Jinzhou. On the 15th, he met with the accompanying officials, the relatives and the fathers and mothers of the officials of the state. On the fifth day of March, Empress Wu hosted a banquet for her relatives and neighbors in the court hall, and a banquet for women in the inner sanctum. On the eighth day of the month, Emperor Gaozong lectured on martial arts in the west of the city of Hezhou, cited the group of ministers parade. April 8, King Gaozong, Queen Wu and his entourage left and returned to the East. on October 9, changed the queen of Wu's mother Mrs. Yang's generation for the Rongguo Lady, the first product. this month, high emperor first suffered from wind and vertigo, commissioned Wu Hou to deal with some of the political affairs, from now on, Wu Hou to participate in government, everything in line with the will of high emperor.

38 years old, the first year of Longshuo (661 years) in the first month, after the Queen asked to prohibit the women of the world for haiku theater (ancient refers to the performance of burlesque artists), Emperor Gaozong adopted and issued an imperial decree. In April, Emperor Gaozong wanted to personally lead the army to attack Goryeo, Queen Wu resisted the table to advise that it is not acceptable, was adopted.

39 years old, Longshuo two years (662 years) on the first day of June, Queen Wu gave birth to the fourth son of Li Dan in the Palace of Penglai Palace, the Hall of Hanyang, in the Hall of the Buddha, for the jade statue. the first day of July, to the Emperor's son Li Dan full moon, amnesty for the whole world, give feast for three days.

41 years old, the first year of linde (664 years) in December, the west platform Shangguan Yi failed to plan the abolition of the Empress in prison. Thirteenth, kill Shangguan Yi, etc., give the abolition of Prince Zhong died. Thereafter, Emperor Gaozong view of the dynasty, Empress Wu curtain in the back, China and foreign countries called "two saints". In about this year, Empress Wu gave birth to Princess Taiping.

42 years old, linde two years (665 years) on October 28, Gaozong, Wu Hou and the Prince went to Taishan Zen, from driving the civil and military honor guards for hundreds of miles, from Goryeo in the East, the West as far as Persia, all the countries follow the pilgrims. This year, another good harvest.

43 years old, Qianfeng first year (666 years) on the first day of the first month, Emperor Gaozong sacrificed Hao Tian God in the south of Mount Tai. On the second day of the first month, he was sealed on top of Mount Tai. On the third day, Zen in the social head of the mountain, Queen Wu for the sub dedication. On the fifth day, after the ceremony, Emperor Gaozong Royal Haji altar to receive congratulations, pardon the world, changed the name to Qianfeng. Sixth, the feast of ministers. 19th, away from Mount Tai. on the 24th, to Qufu, presented Confucius as Master. February 22, returned to Bozhou, Gaozong and other offerings Laojun Temple, honored as Emperor Taishang Xuan Yuan. March 11, Gaozong, Wu Hou back to the eastern capital of Luoyang. Order engraved "Dengfeng mark text", standing on Mount Tai.

At the age of 44, on the third day of the ninth month of the second year of the Qianfeng era (667), Gao Zong, who had been ill for a long time, ordered Prince Hong to supervise the state, and reappointed King Yin, Li Dan, as the King of Xiang.

45 years old, the first year of the General Chapter (668) leap February, Gaozong wanted to build the Hall of Brightness. On the 25th, the division of Chang'an, Wannian two counties to set up Qianfeng, Mingtang two counties, in order to clarify. September 12, Li Ji attacked Pyongyang, captured Goryeo King Gaozang and his ministers, such as male Jian, completely conquered Goryeo.

At the age of 46, in the first month of the second year of the General Chapter (669), all the first sons of the kings were appointed as county kings. On the third day of the twelfth month, Li Jie fell ill and died.

At the age of 47, on the seventh day of the first month of the first year of Xianheng (670), Liu Renkui resigned from his post due to old age. On March 19, Xu Jingzong retired to his old age. On the second day of August, Yang, the mother of Empress Wu, died of illness in Jucheng Palace at the age of 92.

48 years old, Xianheng two years (671 years) on the seventh day of the first month, Gaozong and Empress Wu left the capital Chang'an to the eastern capital, leaving the crown prince Li Hong supervise the state, so that Dai Zhide, Li Jingxuan, and other auxiliary government.

49 years old, Xianheng three years (672 years) in the first month, with Liang Jishou as commander, sent troops to discuss the rebel "barbarians. Kunming barbarians 14 surnames and 30,000 households submitted to the government, and set up three states, namely Yin, Dun and General.

50 years old, Xianheng four years (673 years) in August, Emperor Gaozong suffered from malaria, seriously ill, Prince Li Hong in Yanfu Hall by the Secretary to play things. November, Emperor Gaozong supervised the production of music, there are "on the first", "two Yi", "three talents", "four times", "five elements", "six rhythms", "seven political", "eight winds", "nine officials", "ten continents", "to get a", "Qingyun" and other songs.

At the age of 61, on the first day of the first month of the first year of Guangzhai (684), the Yuan was changed to Si Sheng, the whole world was amnestied, and Emperor Zhongzong made Wei the Empress. Empress Dowager Wu wrote the Overflow of Emperor Gaozong Tianhuang Daji and the Record of Describing the Succession. February 6, Empress Dowager Wu and Pei Yan and other abolition of the King of Luling, secluded in a separate place. on the 7th, established the phase of King Li Dan as Emperor, as Ruizong, changed the name to civilization, political affairs by Empress Dowager Wu. on the 8th, the abolition of the Emperor's grandson Chongzhao for the common people, the flow of Wei Xuanzhen in Qinzhou. on the 9th, made Qiu Shenjie to Bazhou to monitor the abolition of the Prince Li Xian, in order to prepare for the outside world. To Wei wait for price for the mausoleum repair work, rate of soldiers and people to create Qianling. March 5, the abolition of Prince Li Xian in Bazhou suicide. April 22, moved Luling King Li Xian in Fangzhou, 26th moved uniform state. May 15, the coffin of Emperor Gaozong to Chang'an, Empress Dowager Wu made "Emperor Gaozong Tianhuang Daji Lamentations", stayed in Luoyang. August 11, burial of Emperor Gaozong in the Qianling Mausoleum, the temple name of Emperor Gaozong, engraved in front of the mausoleum of the Sacred Records monument. September 6, Empress Dowager changed her name to Guangzhai and changed Dongdu to Shendu. 21, Empress Dowager Wu Wang memorial king of his ancestors: five generations of ancestor Kegi for the Lujing Duke, high ancestor Juchang for the lieutenant, Beiping Gongsu Wang, great-grandfather Jian for the lieutenant, King Jincheng Yikang, ancestor Huawei, Taiyuan Ancheng Wang, the father of Shijian for the King of Wei Zhongxiao. He set up a five-generation shrine in Wenshui. On the 29th day of the 10th lunar month, Xu Jingye started an army in Yangzhou under the name of Kuangfu. On the 6th day of the 10th lunar month, Empress Dowager Wu ordered Li Xiaoyi and others to lead an army of 300,000 to crush Xu Jingye. On the 18th, she beheaded Pei Yan at Duting. On the 4th day of the 11th lunar month, Empress Dowager made General Hei To Chang, General of the Left Eagle and Yangwei, the military governor of the Jiangnan Road to crush Xu Jingye. On the 18th, Xu Jingye fled in defeat and his general Wang Naxiang killed Xu Jingye and surrendered. Li Xiaoyi ordered to hunt down the remnants and pacify Yangzhou.

At the age of 62, on the first day of the first month of the first year of the reign of King Xu Jingye (685), Li Xiaoyi changed his name to King Xu Jingye and granted amnesty to the whole country. On the seventh day of the second month, Empress Dowager Wu issued an edict: "The lung stone and the dengwen drum placed in the courtroom are not prevented from being guarded. There are on the court of justice, the royal historian by the petition to hear." March 21, moved again Luling Wang Li Xian in Fangzhou. in April, under the "system of seeking wisdom", the system of ordering self-evidence. in November, the Empress Dowager made "square vast solemn scripture preface", wrote "ministerial rules" two volumes, universal courtesy of ministers, to teach the way of the minister.

At the age of 63, in the first month of the second year of her reign (686), Empress Dowager Wu wanted to return to the rule of Emperor Ruizong Li Dan, who gave in and asked Empress Dowager Wu to continue to administer the country. Empress Dowager Wu began to employ coolies. On the eighth day of the third month, Empress Dowager Wu ordered the casting of the Copper Box, a fully functional suggestion box. In December, she exempted the people of Bingzhou from the two taxes, namely, the mediocrity tax and the transfer tax, and ended her life.

At the age of 64, on the second day of the first month of the third year of the reign (687), Empress Dowager Wu conferred on her grandson Chengmei the title of King of Heng, Longji the title of King of Chu, and Longye the title of King of Zhao.

65 years old, the first five days of the first month of the fourth year (688), Empress Dowager Wu in the divine capital of Luoyang, Gaozu, Taizong, Gaozong three temples, so that the four times of enjoyment of sacrifices, such as the rituals of the Imperial ancestral temple in the capital. Eleventh, the destruction of the Hall of Qianyuan, the construction of the Hall, supervised by Xue Huaiyi. in April, Wu Cheng Si to create a stone, let Tang Tongtai offer, its text says: "the mother of God in the people, the emperor's career forever." Empress Dowager Wu named it "Bao Tu". May 18, Empress Dowager Wu added the title of "Holy Mother of God". On the first day of July, Empress Dowager Wu renamed "Bao Tu" as "Heavenly Sheng Tu", changed Luoshui for Yongchang Luoshui, "Bao Tu" out of the "Shengtuquan "and set up Yongchang County on the side of the spring. The god of Luoshui was named "Marquis of Hian Sheng", and Songshan Mountain was named "King of Shenyue Tianzhong". He also changed the name of Bishui to Guangwu because he got the Rui Shi in Bishui first. On August 17, Li Chong, King of Luangshi, rose against Empress Dowager Wu. Empress Dowager Wu ordered Qiu Shenjie to suppress him, but before he arrived, Li Chong was defeated by the local army. On the 23rd, Li Chong was killed by his old troops. On the 25th, King Li Zhen of Yue started an army in Yu Prefecture and captured Shangcai. On the first day of September, Empress Dowager Wu made Chong Yu, General of the Left Leopard Towers Guard, as the Generalissimo of the Central Army, and Cen Changqian as the Generalissimo of the Rear Army, to crusade against Li Zhen, and changed Li Zhen's belonging to the Vicious Clan. Eleventh, the soldiers under the city, Li Zhen suicide, flat Yuzhou. thirteenth day, kill the king of Han, King Lu and other participants in the rebellion. December 27, the Hall of Fame was completed, the number of "Wanxiang Palace of God", opulent, allowing the public to visit. Empress Dowager Wu also ordered to set up a heaven in the north of the Hall of Brightness, in order to store the image of the folder. Awarded the "pro-heung Mingtang system".

66 years old, in the first year (689 years) on the first day of the first month, the Empress Dowager Wu served the Emperor's imperial crown, the great feasts of all the gods and goddesses, boarded the heavenly gate, changed the yuan yongchang, amnesty. On the third day of the first month, in the hall to receive congratulations. On the fourth day, in the Hall of Government, issued nine articles to train all officials. On the fifth day of the first month, in the Hall, entertained the ministers, Tubo and other envoys to congratulate. February 14, Empress Dowager Wu honored her father Wei Zhongxiao Wang as Zhou Zhongxiao Tai Huang, his mother as Zhou Zhongxiao Empress Dowager, Wenshui mausoleum as Zhangde mausoleum, Xianyang mausoleum as Mingyi mausoleum. Set Sounxianfu official. fifteenth, Empress Dowager Wu again after the King of their ancestors: Lu Jing Gong (Kegi) for King Jing of Taiyuan, King of Beiping (Juchang) for King Sukong of Zhao, King of Jincheng (Jian) for King Yikang of Wei, King of Taiyuan (Hua) for King Ancheng of Zhou. On the first day of the eleventh month, Empress Dowager Wu made a great enjoyment of the Magi of Wanxiang, changed her name to Zaichu, and began to use the Zhou Zheng (Zhou calendar), i.e., November as the first month, December as the waxing month, and the first month as the first month.

67 years old, the first year of the first month of the first year of Tianjiu (690 years), the Empress Dowager Wu Buzheng in Mingtang. On the eighth day, she issued an edict to implement the newly created characters, including the newly created character "曌 (or 瞾)" as her name. She also changed the name of the imperial edict to "制書". On February 14th, Empress Dowager Wushu conducted a test for the Tribute Students at the Palace of Luocheng, which lasted for several days. Tribute to the temple test since the beginning. April 11, Fan Cubing died in prison. The wind of informers. in July, set system prison in lijingmen, specializing in cases of rebellion to eliminate political enemies. In September, more than 60,000 people from near and far, chiefs of the four barbarians and Taoist priests petitioned to change the name of the state to Zhou and to give the emperor the surname Wu. Emperor Ruizong also petitioned to give himself the surname Wu. On the 9th, Empress Dowager Wu solemnly ascended the throne as emperor, amnesty, down Emperor Ruizong as heir to the throne, given the surname Wu, changed Tang to Zhou, changed the name to Tianjiu, 12th, the group of ministers on the honorary title "Shengshen Emperor". October 14, changed Wenshui County for Wuxing County, county magistrate rank with the red county (Chang'an, capital), the people of generations of tax exemption.

68 years old, Tianjiu two years (691) January 23rd, killed Qiu Shenjie. On the 28th, he killed Shi Wuzhi. February, began to punish the cool officials, kill Zhou Xing, Suo Yuanli. On September 25, Fu Youyi died in prison. Wei Wang Wu Cheng Si authorization, Fengge Sheriff Zhang Jiafu Wang Qingzhi rate hundreds of people on the table, please set up Wu Cheng Si for the Prince, the emperor did not allow, Wang Qingzhi that is to die sobbing please, the emperor had to give his seal paper for the entry and exit credentials, and only then make him leave. After Wang Qingzhi many times to meet with the special mention of this matter, the emperor's anger, ordered Fengge Zhaode Li Zhaode give cane. Li Zhaode guided Wang Qingzhi out of the Guangshun door, immediately caned to death, the remaining party dispersed. After that, Li Zhaode, Di Renjie advised Wu Zetian to set up his own son as the crown prince, no one dares to beg for Wu Cheng Si and so on.

69 years old, Changshou first year (692 years) on the first day of January, the emperor summoned the people recommended by the Cunfu Envoy. All the trial, the senior test phoenix pavilion sheriff, to the minister, the second test member of the foreign ministers, the service of the royal historian, fill in the queue, pick up, the school of the book of Lang. Trial officials since then began. On the third day of the second month, more than ten thousand people from the Tubo and Danghang tribes submitted to the government, and ten states were established. In March, the Five Heavenly Kingdoms sent an envoy to pay tribute. In May, the chief of the Tubo, Hao Su, led a group of tribes to invite them to surrender. In June, the chief of Beibu, Gueluo, led more than 8,000 Qiang barbarians to surrender. In August, the female emperor asked Yan Shan Si to investigate the old prisons, and vindicated the wrongful conviction of more than 850 people, the wind of weaving began to subside. in October, Di Renjie please give up the four towns of Anxi, the emperor does not accept. On the 25th, the Wuwei army chief Wang Xiaojie broke the Tubo, recovered Guzi, ütepe, Shule, broken leaves four towns. Set the Anxi Dufu in Guzi, sent troops to guard.

70 years old, Changshou two years (693 years) January 24, the former Shangfang Director Pei Bandi bow, inside the Standing Service Fan Yunxian private visit to the heir Li Dan, was beheaded in the city. Some people told Li Dan that he wanted to plot against the Emperor. The emperor ordered to interrogate his entourage, too often workers An Jinzang dissected his chest to prove that Li Dan does not rebel. The emperor personally visited, sighed: "I have a son can not self-explanatory, so that you to this." Ordered to stop reviewing the matter. This was the first time the Holy Spirit Emperor admitted his mistake in front of people. On the ninth day of the ninth month, Wu Cheng Si and 5,000 others submitted a petition to add the honorific title of "Golden Wheel Holy Spirit Emperor". The emperor received the title at a ceremony held at the Mansho Shrine.

71 years old, the first year of Yanzai (694) January 10, the emperor Lou Shide as Heyuan, Jishi, Huaiyuan and other military camping field ambassador, so that good border camping field. in February, Wang Xiaojie defeated Tubo, Turkic 30,000 people each. Han Sizhong defeated mud Shu Qi jin more than 10,000 people. On the 16th, the emperor ordered Xue Huaiyi as a retrograde road marching general, rate of 18 generals to crusade against Murmur. August 17th, tomato Hu Muyi, donate money millions of billions, please set up the heavenly center, in order to celebrate the achievements of the female emperor. The emperor ordered the casting of the heavenly pivot outside the Duanmen.