An ambitious women’s ascent to obtain the very apex of political power in a patriarchal, Confucian society, Wu Zhao’s humble beginnings as a daughter of a lumber merchant to becoming the emperor of China was a story of deception and murder. Many things contributed to the rise of Wu Zhao, including her education and experience, gaining the affection of the emperor, and how she manipulated others in court. Once she gained a position in court, she was able to stay in power due to her network of spies and informers and her loyal ministers, the worsening health of emperor Gaozong, how she prevented others from rising to power, and her manipulation of prophecies and myths. After she became emperor, she improved communications, increased food supply,
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She commissioned the creations of Buddhist sculptures and patronized Buddhist art. Cities, such as Luoyang, were filled with Buddhist monuments such as the Axis of the Sky and the 880-foot Buddha located in the Bright Hall Complex. Wu also supported Buddhist cults, such as Avalokitesvara and Amoghapasa. She staged Buddhist feasts and invited all sorts of people from rich to poor families and also held veneration ceremonies. She set up storehouses to invite the faithful and also for almsgiving. She also bought scholars from India to translate Buddhist scripture from Sanskrit to Chinese. Her patronage of Buddhism allowed her to project an image of a benevolent, compassionate, and merciful empress. Wu’s tolerate government appealed greatly to her ethnically diverse empire. During the first few years of her reign, there were harmonious relations with the minorities and the Chinese people. More than one million non-Chinese, such as Turks and Tibetans, settled within her borders and on the periphery of the empire. Empress Wu promoted interactions between the non-Chinese peoples in these border states, and also expected tribute from these states in return for the Chinese titles and bureaucratic offices given to their kings to legitimize their rule. Also during Wu’s reign, there were more career opportunities and recognition available for women. Wu would honor women for their services to their country and award them titles, such as when a peasant woman led a resistance against the Turks and was honored as District Mistress of Xunzhong County.
In 704, Wu grew ill and often didn’t attend court meetings. Her son Zhongzong, the deposed Crown Prince, took the opportunity to gather his supporters to rise up in revolt. Wu, who was too ill to run the state, abdicated a few days after the revolution and Zhongzong was
She commissioned the creations of Buddhist sculptures and patronized Buddhist art. Cities, such as Luoyang, were filled with Buddhist monuments such as the Axis of the Sky and the 880-foot Buddha located in the Bright Hall Complex. Wu also supported Buddhist cults, such as Avalokitesvara and Amoghapasa. She staged Buddhist feasts and invited all sorts of people from rich to poor families and also held veneration ceremonies. She set up storehouses to invite the faithful and also for almsgiving. She also bought scholars from India to translate Buddhist scripture from Sanskrit to Chinese. Her patronage of Buddhism allowed her to project an image of a benevolent, compassionate, and merciful empress. Wu’s tolerate government appealed greatly to her ethnically diverse empire. During the first few years of her reign, there were harmonious relations with the minorities and the Chinese people. More than one million non-Chinese, such as Turks and Tibetans, settled within her borders and on the periphery of the empire. Empress Wu promoted interactions between the non-Chinese peoples in these border states, and also expected tribute from these states in return for the Chinese titles and bureaucratic offices given to their kings to legitimize their rule. Also during Wu’s reign, there were more career opportunities and recognition available for women. Wu would honor women for their services to their country and award them titles, such as when a peasant woman led a resistance against the Turks and was honored as District Mistress of Xunzhong County.
In 704, Wu grew ill and often didn’t attend court meetings. Her son Zhongzong, the deposed Crown Prince, took the opportunity to gather his supporters to rise up in revolt. Wu, who was too ill to run the state, abdicated a few days after the revolution and Zhongzong was