The Age of Empress Wu Zetian- The Female Emperor: Part 2- 武則天 | 武周时代 2

Art (Top): 白人阿又

Music: Smoke Rises High

PART 1: READ HERE

In 660, the sickly Gaozong's health deteriorated. His chronic dizziness now frequently became seizures and stroke that render him comatose or barely able to function. Often in such crises, the court was run by Empress Wu. After which Gaozong gave her broad sweeping managerial powers and empowered her as a co-ruler. For a time they were both referred to as the "Two Saints" (二圣, Er Sheng.) Tang fortunes remained on the upswing until by the end of Gaozong's life it became heavily challenged by its rivals such as the Tibetan Empire, and former vassals (Gokturks and Korean states.) When Gaozong passed, the empire was Wu's and the late Emperor instructed that his heirs consult their mother in all critical matters of state. She would inherit an internally prosperous state with wolves circling at most of its frontiers.

 DOWAGER EMPRESS | KINGMAKER

The rebuilt tower: the famous Giant Wild Goose Pagoda of Xian (Chang'An) built during the reign of Gaozong, however the tower eventually collapsed. Wu later rebuilt it and added 5 additional stories to it. The current 7 stories that remained were left behind after a major earthquake from the Ming dynasty that reduced it by 3 stories.

If it was indeed Gaozong that issued the edict, he needn't have insisted the matter, Li Zhe- the future Zhongzong would not have much power to refuse anyway. Li Zhe, the 3rd son by Wu with Gaozong was indeed susceptible to influence, however this proved a double sword in regards to Wu. Li Zhe (we shall from now refer to him by his temple name as Zhongzong Emperor) was also deeply susceptible to his own wife: born from the powerful Wei family. And Wu (by now Empress Dowager) grew to instantly dislike Wei. Not in the least because Wei was in many aspects a miniature version of Wu, she was also beautiful, plotting, and ruthlessly ambitious. Within only weeks after Zhongzong's ascension, he made her father- his father-in-law into the new Prime Minister, and installed a number of her family into unprecedented heights of government. 

Dowager Empress- by now 60, Wu had been exercising executive power for 1/4 of a century by now. She would rule through her 2 weak sons for a decade while consolidating personal power.

Art: 白人阿又

Zhongzong very likely did this as a prepared counterweight against Wu's entrenched position and one day use these assets to maneuver her out of her power. However Wu denied him his chance, with the support of a number of senior ministers, she deposed Zhongzong and forced him into exile, the court then stripped him of his emperorship and demoted the elevated Wei family. Zhongzong, Empress Wei and her family would be banished to the far southern frontiers of modern Vietnam. Instead, Wu transferred the throne to her youngest son Li Dan, who proved to be even more malleable than his predecessors. 

Music: Nonsense

During this time the 2nd son (who was previously placed under house arrest for possession of armor from supposed conspiracy) was forced to commit suicide. Unlike with Zhongzong, when Li Dan ascended the throne (temple name Ruizong) Wu did not try to hide the fact she was the real power behind the throne. Ruizong was not present at imperial functions and it was she who all the ministers consulted with on key matters. No longer was she the matron behind curtains, she was the empire in all but name. During this time Luoyang was made the full eastern capital.

Palace Temple: Mingtang- or "Hall of Brightness" 明堂: built in 688 AD, the centerpiece of Wu's massive Ziwei Palace at Luoyang. The massive round pagoda behind (alternatively to the west) of the Mingtang was the Tiantang (Heavenly Hall.) The structure was built under Wu's instructions and incorporated various architectural philosophy and school of thought. Aside from palatial functions the building was also a temple and held important state ceremonies, including sacrificial rites like those performed from Spring and Autumn. In terms of size Mingtang dwarfed the size of many Sui and Tang palace structures. It's verticality was unique for an East Asian palace.

Top: Photo by Ghrkya. Bottom: Wu's imperial Ziwei Palace in Shendu, (lit. "Sacred Capital") - as Luoyang was known during Wu's era. The Mingtang's pagoda silhouette is prominent in upper right corner. Rising before the inner palace (upper right) is the large Yingtian Gate 应天门 (lit. Gate of Complying with Heavenly Mandate")  which takes up a distinctive concave 凹 shape. For centuries it was the tallest Chinese palace gate and also influence the Meridian Gates of various future East Asian states.

The south pointing 凹 shape with exaggerated rising corner towers gives the foreshortening impression of further grandeur to the visitor on the ground level. An ancient technique since the Han and northern dynasties. The corner towers seemed extra tall as the visitor closed the distance to the massive gate.

A REBELLION OF EXILED OFFICIALS

However her banishment of Zhongzong was not without challengers. In 684, a deeply spurned demoted official, and grandson of famed Tang founding general Li Shiji-  name Li Jingye rebelled against her rule in what is today's Jiangsu on the eastern coast of China with the stated intention to restore Zhongzong back to the throne. The rebellion proved compelling and within a week picked up some 100,000 rebels. Here Li Jingye hesitated, instead of racing directly toward Luoyang to show his intention to the public, he attacked the prefecture to his south. Ironically the figure in charge of its defense of was none other than his uncle who battled and delayed him for a time but was eventually captured. 

Early Tang dynasty guards carrying halberds. Tang dynasty prince Li Shou's Tomb.

The rebel spared his uncle and mocked him and told him since he dishonored his last name he should change his last name to Wu. When Wu eventually won she did reward him for his service with the last name of Wu and exiled him. Her wrath would be turned on the long dead Li Shiji though. When she was still accumulating power the old general had rebuked her faction and her candidates, how, she destroyed his tomb and slaughtered most of his family for this offense. The rest she made them change back to their original last name of Xu. (the imperial last name was conferred by Gaozu for their service to the Tang at its founding.) During the crisis, her Chancellor suggested that she should step down from power and in order to stabilize the realm return the crown to her sons, enraged, Wu had him executed, and when other ministers tried to intercede on his behalf they were either executed or banished.

SECRET POLICE- FIST OF THE EMPRESS 

Art by Forky Xu. One of the other parallel institutions she established was a secret police that is exclusively loyal to her. Knowing that there are many in the ministry that thought similarly as Li Jingye and did not trust they would be honest with her, she created her own secret police to investigate, prosecute and carryout arrest and executions. Though paranoid, Li Jingye's rebellion showed that there were indeed many blades that were meant for her. To quote Joseph Heller's Catch-22: “Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they aren't after you.” 

Her imperial army eventually tracked down Li Jingye's army and fought for several times with failures, but fearful of the empress's wrath should the rebellion snowball the army continued its offense. The rebellion eventually collapsed and its ringleaders all killed by rebel turncoats.

Apsara dancer and massive sculpture on the far right side of the Longmen Virocana Buddha's assemblage. A devout Buddhist, in order to ingratiate herself to the general populace in her own name she commissioned an extensive expansion of Buddhist temples in the empire.

It was in these years after the age of 60 that Wu began to have relations with a monk named Huaiyi (Xue Huayi.) Tang dynasty was very progressive for women and women were able to remarry and have lovers after windowhood, however the fact the lover in question was a tonsured monk (as well as her previous relations being 1. technically incestuous, and 2. supposedly usurped Gaozong and poisoned him, as well as kept the lawful emperors as puppets) only cemented her reputation for centuries as a transgressive femme fatale. A characterization that had largely remained until 1949.

Music: Stone Vanguard

TANG COUNTERMEASURES AGAINST THE GOKTURKS

On the foreign policy front in this decade Wu reoriented the Tang war machine into defenses against the 2nd Gokturk Khaganate. With the initial success of breaking away from Tang influence, from 684- 685 the Gokturks under the ambitious Ilterish Kaghan embarked a war of conquest to turn most of the other Tang proxies into its own vassals. For this the Gokturks made a vigorous invasion against territories Tang allies in what in Mongolia today.

In 687 having displaced the Tang proxies and drove them southward, the Gokturk turned its attention further southeast and breached into what was northern Shanxi and Shandong in eastern China. However their gains were largely relegated to deep raids and had little successes against fortified Tang positions. Example- model of Tang capital in Hebei at Ye and its citadel. Wu responded decisively appointing the ethnic Korean Baejke general Heukchi Sangji 흑치상지 to lead the counter attack.

It should be mentioned, unlike previous Chinese dynasties which often relied on static emplacements against invasions from the northern steppes (Qin- Han- Sui Great Walls etc) Tang forwent the strategy of defense is the best defense and instead pursued an aggressive strategy against rival steppe power in a manner not so dissimilar to those practiced by such Khaganates themselves. Early Tang had great leverage with deeply connected steppe princes and Khagans and often were able to intervene in proxy wars against rivals.

Some of the finest light horsemen and horse archers. This phase of Gokturk objective focused on exerting influence upon their former vassals that are now cooperating with the Tang. 

In 687 after repelling pinprick Gokturk raids and attacks multiple times, Heukchi Sangji's army caught the Gokturk army enroute against another Chinese position and routed the entire Gokturk host, the victory stabilized the northeastern front prevented the Gokturks from flipping other Tang- proxies under its fold. Gokturk withdraw was also motivated by the fact other steppe polities were not enthusiastic about the return of their former overlords, including the Türgesh and Kyrgyz due west to the Gokturks. However another separate Tang general who was ordered to coordinate in close proximity with Sangji broke off and pursued the Gokturks, leading to his defeat. Wu executed him for failing to adhere to overall strategy. 

Later that year, Wu forged alliances with the Türgesh and Kyrgyz due west of the Gokturks and they launched a decisive invasion against Gokturk positions. The Gokturks responded by destroying each in detail, crushing one of the tribes, vassalizing them and sending the other to escape and be resettled into Tang territories. In 689 the Gokturks under Ilterish Kaghan's capable brother Ashina Mochuo (later to succeed as ruler as Qapaghan Kaghan) again raided into Tang frontier territories (Chanyu Protectorate: modern Inner Mongolia) and Wu dispatched her lover Huaiyi to lead an army against them. The Gokturk withdrew by that point and Huaiyi built a monument there and also withdrew.

REBELLION OF TANG PRINCES

The Joseph Heller quote applies to the Tang imperial family as well. After all, what usually happen to deposed imperial lineages after they were overthrown? All one need to look at what happened to the members of the preceding dynasties. When Sui toppled Northern Zhou from within all of its imperial male members were exterminated, when Tang toppled the Sui, its male members were killed in the ensuing chaos. Why should they believe otherwise when this ambitious woman how gathers titles, trappings to make herself the sovereign of a new dynasty?

In 688, open conflict again flared up against the Tang imperial loyalists. Fearing that she would use the occasion of summoning all the members of the Li imperial to Luoyang to conduct sacrificial rites as a ruse to exterminate them all, a senior branch of the Tang imperial family~ imperial uncles to Gaozong rose in rebellion in southern Henan and Shandong. By this time many members of the imperial family had likely shared the same fears however the rebellion was premature and did not manage to gain a critical mass. Wu responded swiftly.

The conspiracy was in fact larger in scope, however the premature rebellion did not allow the other princes time and space to put their own plans into action.

Wu responded decisively and crushed both rebellions in detail. Afterwards, she launched a major purge of influential members of the imperial Li clan with her secret police, several senior Li princes and imperial uncles were stripped of their positions and forced to commit suicide. Other members were arrested or purged. For this rebellion 12 imperial sub clans were executed. The next 17 years of her influence, most of her reign would be oriented around arresting, executing suspicious Li imperial members of both sexes. For the imperial clan and their loyal ministers it was 17 years of inquisition and persecution. Having removed all major political obstacles from within and now with a stacked court along with her own prosecutorial arm, Wu made the final bid for power and in 690 made Ruizong step down and declared herself Emperor- not Empress merely, but Huangdi (lit. "Emperor.")

Music: Tribute

NEW IMPERIAL DYNASTY- FOUNDED BY A WOMAN

Art by ★陸曼陀★ LuDanling. Tang dynasty Princess with an elaborate Phoenix Crown.

Phoenix Crown or "Feng Guan" 凤冠 of a Tang dynasty Princess: The bottom of the crown is a circle of pearls with ruby ​​pendants as the fringe of the forehead. In the middle is a pair of peacock shaped flowers made of gold pieces, covered with small gold beads less than 0.015 cm. The sumptuous top layer is inlaid with turquoise, mother of pearls and other luxurious gems. The restored phoenix crown weighs more than 800 grams. More examples [ A ] and [ B ]

In 690 Wu inaugurated her own Zhou dynasty and made Luoyang her imperial capital. Despite her enmity with the sidelined Tang imperial house, by and large, Wu remained popular with the masses of the empire. Standard of living was high, crises were responded with swift responses, and the empire continued to embark on lavish building projects from temples to Wu's own palaces. No famines occurred during her reign as emperor, and the masses- speaking to the influence of their estimation of her (excluding nobles) never joined rebellions against her rule. True to many templates of political outsiders coming into power- Wu elevated alternative power structures to implement her rule and keep her own imperial apparatus functional.

After the inauguration of her own dynasty, on 16 October Wu held the first imperial examination. Wu's first priorities were to guarantee talented and ambitious unknown individuals will find sponsorship in her own system. To circumvent the Tang imperial loyalist bloc. In 3 years Wu's administration further expanded the civil service examination system by allowing certain commoners and gentry previously completely disqualified by their non-elite backgrounds to take the tests. 

Additionally she also enrolled candidates that came from under represented frontier regions. In order to ensure loyalty of these regions to her personally she sponsored expansion of schools in these previously underdeveloped areas so they would be able to produce enough passing candidates. These degree holders would then become a new nucleus of elite bureaucrats around which the Zhou government could center itself. 

From the founding of Tang- the imperial examination had a strong personal component to enrollment of talented candidates. Examiners were encouraged to conduct personal interviews with the enrollment candidates. Though it was framed as impartial- this process heavily favored those who are well connected and with illustrious pedigrees. Additionally the candidates were encouraged to meet with their examiners before test to present works they had already written to impress their potential future sponsors. Wu broke up these mechanisms for civil exams. By the later part of her 15 year long reign- after 702 she forbade prior meeting of examiners for the sake of increased impartiality. In the military front after 702 Wu also implemented exams and all officers must pass the military exams. The criteria would be solely based on merit. 

Wu's Zhou dynasty was an upswing of women's power and influence in China. During this era Wu appointed her own Female Prime Minister 巾帼宰相, education was encouraged in the frontier reaches of the provinces^ and women were also encouraged to be educated. Wu herself was attributed to have written many poems- some almost certainly ghost written by her talented Female Prime Minister. 

Afrasiab murals depicting Tang Empress and noble ladies in a boat with dragon's head. The mural was rendered during Gaozong's era when Wu was his empress. The hierarchical proportion indicated the central figure was the empress. Strong Central Asian influence are seen in the style the dragons are depicted with extended wings.

Reenactor: 长乐未央汉式婚礼中式婚礼

Traditional roles were at times changed as well. The weddings during this era had the groom of the ceremony bow down while the female remaining upstanding.

THE FEMALE PRIME MINISTER- THE HOUND OF THE EMPRESS

Reenactor: 金角大魔王

One of the key aspects about Wu Zetian's long political career is the fact that for the most part she was able to recognize talented individuals and make use of them. Her rewards and punishments were often decisive and if needed~ ruthless. Both side of that were exemplified in the personage of Shangguan Wan'er, Wu's Female Prime Minister. Beautiful, capable, with boundless literary and administrative talents, Shangguan Wan'er was often the brain of the Empress. Ruthlessly loyal, ruthlessly bound to her path, she often exemplified both the Empress's benevolence and also severity. 

Music: Lamplight

Reenactor in the robe of a Zhou era female official. Reconstructed from tomb mural

Gilded Tang dynasty sachet with chain

Despite her beauty, according to the "New Book of Tang" the side of her face was tattooed 墨刑 like that of a criminal. Once while serving the empress, Shangguan Wan'er had disobeyed her orders and would be executed for the offense. However Wu took pity on such a talent and spared her life- ending with only tatooing Wan'er's face. In more than one way, Shangguan Wan'er was branded to be Wu's loyal hound.

They were made slaves inside the imperial palace, but still given an education. 

In a way, Shangguan Wan'er's life was inextricably riveted to her mistresses' - despite whatever her preferences. Her origin began with extreme tragedy. When she was only a child, her grandfather was Gaozong Emperor's influential Chancellor Shangguan Yi, the Shangguan were a clan of talented scholars and greatly favored by Taizong. Shangguan Yi attained his position after Wu's own previous recommended Chancellor was caught with massive corruption. In those years Gaozong began to share power with Wu as co-rulers and transferred great power upon her. However in 664, when Gaozong was angered by her meddling and her outreach and sulked on the matter, Shangguan Yi suggested that Gaozong depose Wu. 

Thus Gaozong had Shangguan draft an edict to put into effect. However disastrously, Wu caught Gaozong red handed with edit in hand and tearfully protested her innocence. The indecisive Gaozong then hastily blamed everything on Shangguan Yi- resulting the extermination of most of the Shangguan clan except Shangguan Wan'er and her mother. They were made slaves inside the imperial palace, but still given an education. 

When Shangguan Wan'er was 14, her great literary talents were recognized and she was listed as a soaring talent. Her literary wit were formidable and she was able to perform secretarial functions with great efficiency. She also proved to be a great poet and was able to assume the persona of various figures and ghostwrite in their voice with profound eloquence. In time she rose to become the perfect servant of the woman that had executed her whole family. It was also in those decades she received her branded tattoo. Later, despite her beginnings as as slave, she rose to be the prime minister of the empire.

Reenactor: 曾嚼子

In time, Wu trusted Wan'er with increased power, and she not only would draft imperial edicts but also could publish policies on her own volition. As Prime Minister, she fostered popular policies by advising Wu to reduce administrative bloat and reduce days of corvee labor and reduce severe corporal punishments. Shangguan Wan'er also implemented the broad outlines of increased meritocracy and the elevation of a new scholar- bureaucracy risen from talented but less privileged position into power. Because on the domestic front Wu continued the general prosperity and rising living standard realized from the early Tang periods achieved by Taizong and Gaozong, and because of the perception that upward mobility was possible and those rose in great power due to proven skills were well rewarded with exorbitant salaries, for the commoners Wu maintained popular support.

Mural of woman in an official's robe bearing a document and a brush ink pen.

Music: See These Flames?

FOREIGN POLICY- CONTINUED TIBETAN, GOKTURK WARS

Golden plaque of a mounted Tibetan noblewoman. Hunting scene, the style shows striking Sassanian and Central Asian influences. The nobleman wears a distinctive turban and riding coat with Central Asian influences. His arrows are secured in a tubular arrow case. The Chinese called these cases húlù 胡禄. Al- Thani collection. The native residents of the Tarim Basin referred to the Tibetans as the "Red Faced Ones" and the Chinese as "White Faced Ones" because of the tradition of Tibetans to paint their faces deep red.

Tibetan nobles- note the turbaned nobles and Central Asian styled riding coats. At this time the Tibetan Empire was highly centralized with the Emperor wielding immense political and religious powers. Because of its centralized religious- driven framework the empire was staunchly Buddhist at the exclusion of other competing religions.

In matters of foreign policy Wu's Zhou largely inherited the previous struggles the Tang had with its regional competitors. The Tibetan empire still proved itself an aggressive rival with the broader aim of trying to align with the Gokturks to snip the Tang Hexi Corridor shut thereby completely isolating the Anxi Tang western regions (Tarim Basin in Xinjiang and Ferghana Valley) to fend for themselves. In 690 at what is today's Kazakhstan the Tibetans managed to defeat a Tang army near Issyk-Kul. The Zhou returned with a great army led by general Wang Xiaojie in 692 and repelled the Tibetan- Gokturk alliance and retook all of the the Anxi Protectorate lost from Gaozong's reign. Tang would hold on to the Tarim Basin for a century after.

Respective Goals: the Tibetan Empire greatly contested the former reaches of Tuyuhun (A-zha to the Tibetans) in Qinghai as a buffer. Tibetan aims attempted to cut off the Hexi neck weak point of the Zhou which formed the narrowest point of the ∞ shape and snatch up most of Anxi (Tarim Basin.) Meanwhile the Gokturk and Zhou aggressively contested for various proxies on the steppes. During Wu's rule much of the foreign policies were redirected toward the northwest of the empire. 

Haloed Tibetan warrior in heavy lamellar armor- Jokhang Temple. He wears an elaborate belt bedecked with multi- colored inlays and at his side straps a highly ornate jewel- encrusted straight cutting sword.

The Tibetans would continue to pressure Zhou (and Tang) territories for the next 150 years, reaching its apex after the An Lushan Rebellion. The empire would reach its zenith after Tang power waned. The majority of their aims were directed with the goal of snatching the Hexi Corridor and isolating the Zhou + Tang Tarim holdings. Tibetan cavalry were especially formidable and rode in battle with heavy armor. 

In 694 Qapaghan Kaghan (Ashina Mochuo~ brother of the founder of the 2nd Gokturk Khaganate and heir) raided Tang defenses in the north. Like the previous occasion 5 years prior in 689, Wu dispatched her lover Huaiyi to lead an army against them. The Gokturk withdrew and Huaiyi's punitive response was not launched.

DOMESTIC: AGRANDIZEMENT, SUCCESSION CONTROVERSY 

AND LI | WU CLAN RIVALRY

Mogao Cave murals depicting various famous Tang temples and monasteries. Tang architecture was heavily adopted by other East Asian states. 

Japanese scroll painting of a Tang dynasty master Kuiji

In matters of domestic politics, Wu focused her efforts on shoring up her own clan's imperial prestige. In order to enhance the illustriousness of her own family she had many of her ancestors entombed in great monasteries and shrines around the empire. She honored them as high as those befitting emperors. Although she also continued to honor the Tang ancestors including the likes of Gaozu, Taizong, and Gaozong. Wisely she also coupled this with a general expansion of monasteries: a popular policy that garnered favor with the increasingly Buddhist subjects. 

The duo- honorifics of Wu and Li ancestors would cause controversy in regards to the question of the empress' heir. Despite having ushered Li Dan (Ruizong) away from power, he remained her heir after she made herself emperor- she also changed his last name to Wu so as to legitimize his position. This lingering attachment, as well as her own choice to honor the Li founders soon inspired her own Wu clan to action. Soon the empress's nephew Wu Chengsi made his bid for the claim and indirectly tried to convince ministers to let her give him the position of crown prince since he is literally from the Wu clan and not technically a "Wu." The empress considered this but a number of influential ministers sternly protested this move and she executed them. Despite this she did not fully trust to give her nephew power. 

Vexed, he tried to press the matter until the empress was convinced by another official that if Wu Chengsi would be invested with crown prince status then she would forego all of legitimacy she still has from the Li clan (including her own rise to power.) Furthermore that her own son is much closer than a nephew. She was convinced of this and kept Li Dan as her heir while promoted Wu Chengsi away from real power.

Music: It Will Fit Me Just as Well

Wu's own secret police still had great influence in this era and its Chiefs including Suo Yuanli, Zhou Xing, and Lai Junchen, were power hungry and were deeply hated- not only by the deposed Tang imperial clan but also by enough of the citizenry as well. Like inquisitors through torture they would extract false confessions then carry out opportunistic (wrongful) executions. This included blackmailing powerful ministers and if they refused to comply and payout a bribe would then have the ministers and their families arrested and tortured to the point they would condemn themselves. Aside from being chosen to arrest and execute a number of high Li clan members a very recent example were the influential ministers who protested passing the throne to Wu Chengsi, who were arrested and then forced to sign treasonous confessions. 

Their overreach was caught when one of the captains Lai Junchen tried to eliminate a group of 7 innocent but influential talented ministers including Di Renjie by forcing them to falsely confess and damn themselves. Di anticipated treachery from Lai beforehand and secretly had a petition snuck away by his son and submitted bypassing Lai. At the urging of a trusted advisor Wu personally crossed examined each of the 7 and separately whereby they disavowed the forged confessions. The nephew Wu Chengsi and Lai urged the empress to executed the 7. Wu exiled them but became suspicious of her police chiefs. 

CRUEL TRIALS FOR LI DAN'S CLAN

Li Dan's coveted position would invite further machinations from across the political spectrum. In 693, a trusted lady-in-waiting of Wu: Wei Tuan'er framed Li Dan's wife Princess Liu and Consort Dou for having practiced witchcraft against Wu. In the Tang dynasty curses and witchcraft were capital crimes and Wu had both women summoned to the palace and slain. The bodies were buried in secret areas within the palace. Historians attributed lady Wei Tuan'er's accusation as having been born from resentment when Li Dan rebuffed her advances in the years before. Despite these injustices, Li Dan held his tongue and did not dare to protest at all. Wei Tuan'er then tried to frame Li Dan for treason and have him executed. However when another of Wu's trusted aides exposed Wei Tuan'er's treachery, Wu had her executed instead. Li Dan's sons were demoted in their princely titles.

Despite whatever unrecorded personal loss Li Dan endured. The death of Princess Liu would likely have shaped her orphaned son's outlook. For her son was none other than the young Li Longji- in time, the Xuanzong Emperor who would usher in Tang's second golden age in a period known as "High Tang." What he endured here and what he will soon experience will make him far more proactive than his father and personally lead his own sub division of the imperial clan to a new future.

Li Longji learned very early on that he cannot afford to wait until fate spell evil for his family. Because of his painful childhood, he actively took up the leadership of his father's household- often dragging his own shy and inept father to political victories over the other branches of the Tang imperial clan until his father- then him respectively became Emperors. 

Trouble would find Li Dan again in short notice. New rumors began to churn that Li Dan was plotting to commit treason. Again, the secret police went after Li Dan and the police Chief Lai had all of Li Dan's servants arrested and tortured with the aim of extracting a useful confession. The torture was such that many of them were ready to falsely implicate themselves and Li Dan. One of Li Dan's servants, An Jincang, proclaimed Li Dan's innocence and cut his own belly open to swear to that fact. The act was so shocking that it was nearly unheard of (this would be 400 years before the first documented case of seppuku by Minamoto no Tametomo in Japan) and when Wu heard of this extreme act, she had doctors attend to An and barely saved his life, and then ordered Lai to end the investigation, saving Li Dan and likely by extension all of his children and servant's lives. 

In 695, Wu began new relations with another lover, causing the monk Huaiyi to spiral into deep jealousy. He had the both massive palaces of Mingtang and Tiantang burned. Infuriated by this tantrum, Wu had Huaiyi executed. 

CRISIS: THE GREAT KHITAN REBELLION

In 696 Chinese troops led by generals Wang Xiaojie and Lou Shide invaded the Tibetan Empire in 696, but was beaten by the dynamic Tibetan generals Gar Trinring Tsendro and his brother Gar Tsenba. After this battle, Trinring earned high promotions in the Tibetan Empire. After this victory, the victor Gar Trinring Tsendro went to Chang'an in 696 to try to negotiate peace with Empress Wu Zetian, with demands that the Zhou remove all troops from Central Asia, Wu refused to negotiate. 

Top: Later Tibetan armors from the Guge Kingdom in the 10th century.

The Gar clan was already highly influential in Tibetan politics and had served as Prime Minister of the state (Lönchen) their famous ancestor was Gar Tongtsen Yulsung who personally conducted diplomacy with Taizong Emperor. Despite the astounding victory, the victory became a manticore's tail for the victors. The unpredicted outcome of which Wu would make use of to her favor. However in the opposite direction of the empire's north, a sudden major threat exploded.

Traditional Khitan pate: Liao dyansty

In the summer of 696, the northeast of the empire (in what is today's Liaoning) exploded in rebellion. Angry over the mistreatment of the Khitan people by the Zhou prefect of Yingzhou, 2 Chieftains Li Jinzhong and Sun Wanrong, the two managed to rally the Khitans and defeat the army Wu sent to dislodge them. 

Having secured Yingzhou, Li declared himself Supreme Khagan 无上可汗, and ruled over the area that corresponded to modern Liaoning. However Li died soon after, leaving Sun Wanrong in charge of the rebel state. Sun then launched new invasions into Zhou interior.

Various Khitan hairstyles.

Amarsaikhan Baljinnyam as Ariq Böke from Netflix's "Marco Polo"

Instead of opting for another military solution, Wu turned to diplomacy and joined diplomacy with Qapaghan Kaghan (Ashina Mochuo.) The Gokturks were not impressed with the Khitans and had already had clashes with the Khitans, Wu managed to persuade the Gokturks to attack the Khitans with extremely expensive gifts of silk and valuables along with raw materials. Satisfied, in 697 the Gokturks made a headlong attack at the Khitan capital. Khitans were crushed by the Gokturks and Sun Wanrong was slain, the Khitans thereafter became (disgruntled) vassals of the Gokturks. Yingzhou was recovered for the time being. A generation later the Khitans would rebel against the Gokturks and return to become Tang vassals.

SACKING OF THE SECRET POLICE 

After his early period of prominence, one of the major chief of the secret police Lai Junchen (the same one who tried to frame and opportunistically execute the Di Renji and had spent over a decade framing and killing important officials and executing Tang clan members) lost his power then came back to power. In 697 he tried to frame many of the prominent Wu princes and Li Dan (deposed Ruizong,) Li Zhe (the deposed 3rd son Zhongzhong) and Princess Taiping- Wu Zetian's favorite daughter for treason.

However the princes and Princess Taiping joined together and accused him first. Wu had Lai executed, there after the prominence of the secret police greatly faded. In the wake of Lai's death, waves of the wrongfully accused and executed victims of the secret police were posthumously exonerated. 

During this time Wu took the 2 Zhang brothers as her lovers. In age gap they were far younger than her and were described as handsome- and later on very ambitious. Wu honored them greatly and elevated them to become Dukes. For a time they formed their own power bloc.

In 698, Di Renji- whom Lai once tried to execute, had became Wu's new trusted chancellor persuaded Wu to ignore her Wu clan claimants for the imperial throne and pass the crown prince's status back to her 3rd exiled son Li Zhe. Wu agreed and trusted his reasoning, and recalled Li Zhe from his exile and made him crown prince.

At this time Qapaghan Kaghan made a proposal that one of the Tang dynasty princes marry his daughter. However Wu was suspicious of his motives. If the marriage would be forged between a Tang bloc and the Gokturks it would thereby bypass the Zhou- and give the Gokturks a pretext and also a perfect figure head to rule through if he can somehow invade and then make the prince a restored Tang emperor to have the empire's subjects rally around. Instead Wu sent one of her grandnephews with a proposal to marry a Gokturk princess instead. When he arrived Qapaghan Kaghan detained him and revealed he had no intention for marriage to secure peace. The Gokturks launched a major attack on the Zhou north into what is modern Hebei, then retreated.

Music: Perilous Path

A HUNT OF MAN FLESH IN THE TIBETAN EMPIRE

The next year an unexpected turn of even happened in the Tibetan Empire. The insecure Emperor Tridu Songtsen, was greatly threatened by the monopolization of power under the Gar clan. By 699 the clan had extensive military authority and were independently in charge of various sectors of the empire, making them as strong as regional warlords, and if they should act in conspiracy displace the imperial throne. That year, the emperor pretended to organize a great hunt with many of the Gar family invited for the event. However during the trek he had the soldiers turn on the Gar and their supporters and massacred them. The Gar clan was then exterminated. 

The emperor then personally led the imperial army northward into the sand sea of Qinghai and confronted Gar Trinring Tsendro's army there. Despite his attempt at resistance, Gar Trinring Tsendro's army turned on him and he was forced to commit suicide. 

After hearing about this, his other brother Gar Tsenba surrendered to Zhou together with Trinring Tsendro's son/ Tsenba's nephew Mangpoje- or Lun Gongren (论弓仁) as known by Chinese- the Gar would then take Lun "论" as their Chinese last name. Wu Zetian welcomed the Gar generals, met him personally and heaped lavish titles upon him, including the title of Tejin (特进), Right Guard Senior General (右卫大将军) and Prince of Guide Commandery (归德郡王). He and his Tibetan troops were sent to Changsong (昌松, in modern Wuwei, Gansu) in the Hexi Corridor as a bulwark against the Tibetans. 

Early Tang general's armor. Figure: JiaoZong Model Tang Dynasty Gaozu Emperor 

Li Jing 1/6 Action Figure. Other contemporary armors: Tomb Guardian (General's Armor) from Wu Zetian's Zhou: Tomb relief from Li Wukui, Governor of Shazhou (Dunhuang- Hexi Corridor) 

One year later in the fall of 700, the Tibetan general Khu Mangpoje Lhasung 麴莽布支 invaded Hexi with a massive well- armored army and put Changsong under siege in order to vanquish him. However the siege was resoundly crushed by Zhou general Tang Xiujing. 

The Tibetan defeat was serious, 2 of the subordinate Tibetan generals were slain in the battle and the general had the bodies stacked into a pile for display. Gar Tsenba would then faithfully serve his patrons, with his family adopting the last name of Lun 论. The date of Gar Tsenba's own eventual death was not recorded. However he was posthumously titled protector general of Anxi (安西大都护), the highest commandant of Protectorate General to Pacify the West, by Tang court after his death. Also after his great victory general Tang Xiujing eventually became a chancellor during Zhou and after a long career in politics (well after Wu Zetian) later retired with a high salary, and was later buried with full honor due a war hero. Tsenba's nephew Lun Gongren (forced suicide brother Trinring Tsendro's son) also became a famous Chinese general and was rewarded the title of Prince. 

THE END OF THE FEMALE EMPEROR

The end of Wu's Zhou dynasty came rather swiftly, though not unexpectedly. Wu was very long lived even by her age's standard, living to over 80 year old- while still having the 2 Zhang brothers as lovers and confidants. However with advanced age, Wu's health began to deteriorate. In the winter of 704, Wu's health faltered and she fell seriously ill for some time. By this time the Zhang brothers were attending to her regularly, which bred deep distrust from ministers whom the 2 brothers were in cold war with. 

Despite numerous petitions for their removal- or at least distance from her, Wu refused. Initially she relented to allow an anti- corruption probe into the holdings of the brothers but intervened and ended it. Also going as far to pardon the outright brothers. And while they were the only 2 who tended to her other ministers requested that Wu's own 2 princes, Li Zhe and Li Dan tend to her but she rebuffed it. 

Fearing that if Wu dies the Zhang would take over the court, and also fearing that the Zhang brothers would persuade Wu to wrongfully execute them, they began to levy charges of corruption and treason against the 2 brothers. For a time all the major parties began to plan for contingencies after Wu's death, and many, from Wu's sons Li Zhi, Li Dan, and Princess Taiping, to the Wu princes, to other ministers all feared that should the Zhang took over after the empress's death they might all be purged.

Music: The Everlasting Chang'an

After a brief recovery, Wu fell sick again on February and by this time the group of ministers and generals acted, they accosted and slew both Zhang brothers in Luoyang's palace with blessing from Li Zhe. 3 other less prominent Zhang brothers were also slain and the 5 of their heads were exposed. After this the mutinying soldiers surrounded Wu's compound and informed her that the 2 brothers had been dispatched with for treason. Realizing that she had been outmatched and the rein of power is no longer in her hands she yielded the throne to Li Zhe and an edict in her name elevated Li Zhe Emperor on the 22th- ending the Zhou and restoring the Tang. 

Outplayed and stripped of her power, Wu was retired into a subsidiary palace but still honored with the title and respect due an empress (imperial wife of the emperor.) She died that year in the December at the age of 81. Though once an emperor only less than a year prior, she was buried as that of an empress and entombed with her late husband Gaozong at Qianling Mausoleum. 

Reenactor: Chen Xi Yue (陈喜悦) Lady from the Wu Zhou period. 

Bottom: Tomb mural from sub complexes at Qianling Mausoleum. 

Could you believe it? Who trained her? To play an orchestra of all the king's men for 40 years? emerging from a den of vipers, then hold the rein of an empire that's 1/4 of the planet's population? To midwife Tang's first zenith and shepherd it through crisis after crisis? All those spinning plates, for 40 years? Does it sound like any politicians you know? And even if it does, does that person live in our age?

Tang women's polo match, Tang women enjoyed athletic outdoor sports, including equestrian ones like polo. Tang women could retain property on to themselves but also pass them on at their choosing. They conducted social activities and carried on business independently. Some also cross-dressed and ventured as scholars and students- while others took jobs as Daoist abbesses and practiced martial arts. 

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Modern Luoyang: with reconstructed Yingtian Gate 应天门 (lit. Gate of Complying with Heavenly Mandate")  in the front and the pagoda Tiantang 天堂 (lit "Heavenly Halls) in the back. Note the size of the spectators on the top image at bottom right. Additional views.