Wu Zetian, the unique empress in Chinese history, rewrote the history of the feudal dynasty with her extraordinary political wisdom and courage. She set up her own Zhou dynasty and tried to start a new dynasty, however, in the long course of history, she was still counted in the sequence of Tang emperors. What is the reason for this? Today, we will unravel this historical mystery.
In the political arena of the Tang Dynasty, Wu Zetian gradually emerged with his unique political skills and ingenuity. After many power struggles, she finally succeeded in usurping the throne and established herself as the empress of the Zhou Dynasty. This move was undoubtedly a huge challenge to the feudal etiquette system at that time. However, despite her independent Zhou dynasty, she is still considered part of the Tang emperor in the historical records.
So, why was Wu Zetian still included in the Tang Dynasty emperor sequence after he established himself in the Zhou Dynasty? There are historical complexities and multiple factors involved. Next, we will delve into this issue and reveal the historical truth behind it.
1. Wu Zetian's political rise and his power struggle in the Tang Dynasty
Wu Zetian, whose real name is Wu Cao, was born in a prominent aristocratic family. During the period of Tang Taizong and Tang Gaozong, she gradually emerged in the court with her talent and wit. Through clever political means, she gradually climbed to the core of Tang power. In the later years of Tang Gaozong, Wu Zetian had actually grasped the power of the imperial court and became the de facto ruler.
In her political career, Wu Zetian has shown great political wisdom and skill. She strengthened her power base by promoting cronies and cracking down on dissidents. At the same time, she also actively implemented a series of reform measures, such as attaching importance to the imperial examination system, selecting talents, and building water conservancy, which made the Tang Dynasty a relatively prosperous situation under her rule.
However, Wu Zetian's path to power was not all smooth sailing. In the power struggle with the Tang Dynasty clan and courtiers, she experienced many twists and turns and crises. But with her tenacity and political skill, she managed to defuse these crises and further consolidate her rule.
2. Analyze the reasons and motives for Wu Zetian to establish himself in the Zhou Dynasty
The reasons and motives for Wu Zetian's self-reliance on the Zhou Dynasty are manifold. First of all, from the perspective of personal ambition, Wu Zetian, as a woman with a great desire for power, aspires to go down in history like a male emperor. By establishing herself as emperor, she was able to satisfy her lust for power and vanity.
Secondly, from the perspective of political needs, Wu Zetian had achieved an absolute advantage in the power struggle of the Tang Dynasty. She needs to consolidate her dominance in a more direct and thorough way. Establishing herself as emperor allowed her to free herself from the shackles and restrictions of the Tang dynasty and exercise her power more freely.
In addition, Wu Zetian also hoped to demonstrate his political achievements and legitimacy by establishing himself as a Zhou dynasty. She believed that her ruling philosophy and policies were more advanced and reasonable than those of the Tang Dynasty, so she hoped to demonstrate her political ideas and statecraft by establishing a new dynasty.
3. The political structure, ruling policies and influence of the Zhou Dynasty
Wu Zetian established herself as the empress of the Zhou Dynasty and carried out a series of reforms to the political structure. She abolished the Tang Dynasty's three-province and six-ministry system, and set up two sets of teams, the inner and outer courts, which made power more concentrated in her hands. At the same time, she also attached importance to the selection of talents and implemented the imperial examination system, so that more talented people could enter the imperial court to serve.
In terms of ruling policy, Wu Zetian focused on developing the economy and improving people's livelihood. She promoted the equalization system to encourage agricultural production; The construction of water conservancy and the development of transportation promoted the prosperity of commerce. In addition, she also attaches great importance to cultural education, advocating Confucianism, Buddhism and other ideas, so that the cultural cause has made great progress.
Wu Zetian established himself and the influence of the Zhou Dynasty was far-reaching. Her ruling philosophy and policies laid the foundation for the prosperity and development of the Tang Dynasty. At the same time, she also set an example for the only female emperor in Chinese history. Although her reign was fraught with controversy and twists and turns, her historical status and influence cannot be overlooked.
1. Analyze official records and documents in history
When it comes to the question of why Wu Zetian was included in the sequence of emperors of the Tang Dynasty, it is first necessary to refer to official records and documents in history. Tang Dynasty history books, such as the Book of the Old Tang Dynasty and the Book of the New Tang Dynasty, have detailed accounts of Wu Zetian's reign. In these documents, although Wu Zetian established herself as the empress of the Zhou Dynasty, he still placed it within the framework of the Tang Dynasty when narrating the historical context.
When writing history, official historians are often influenced by the political environment and official ideology of the time. In the Tang Dynasty, although Wu Zetian established herself as the Zhou Dynasty, her reign did not change the basic political structure and cultural traditions of the Tang Dynasty. Therefore, when recording history, official historians may be more inclined to consider Wu Zetian as a part of the Tang Dynasty in order to maintain historical coherence and stability.
In addition, a series of policies and reforms implemented during Wu Zetian's reign had a profound impact on the continuation and development of the Tang Dynasty. She attached great importance to the imperial examination system, the selection of talents, and the promotion of economic development, which laid the foundation for the prosperity of the Tang Dynasty. Therefore, from this point of view, the inclusion of Wu Zetian in the sequence of emperors of the Tang Dynasty by official historians is also a recognition of his historical contribution.
2. The evaluation and views of later historians on Wu Zetian and his Zhou Dynasty
Later historians' evaluations and views on Wu Zetian and his Zhou dynasty are more diverse and in-depth. Some historians believe that Wu Zetian's independence from the Zhou Dynasty was a challenge and breakthrough to the traditional feudal etiquette system, and that she became emperor as a woman, creating a precedent for female rule in Chinese history, which is of epoch-making significance.
However, some historians believe that although Wu Zetian established himself in the Zhou Dynasty, he did not completely get rid of the influence and shackles of the Tang Dynasty in terms of politics and culture. Her ruling philosophy and policies were still influenced and constrained by the Tang traditions, so it made sense to include her in the Tang Dynasty emperor sequence.
In addition, when later historians studied Wu Zetian and his Zhou dynasty, they were also influenced by political and cultural factors in different historical periods. In some historical periods, Wu Zetian's reign was seen as a "heresy" or "abnormality", while in others it was seen as a form of progress and change. These different evaluations and perspectives also reflect the complexity and pluralism of historical research.
To sum up, there are many reasons why Wu Zetian was included in the sequence of emperors of the Tang Dynasty, which was influenced by both official records and documents, as well as by the evaluation and opinions of later historians. In any case, Wu Zetian, as the only female emperor in Chinese history, her political career and ruling achievements cannot be ignored.
Summary of the reasons why Wu Zetian established the Zhou Dynasty on his own but was still included in the sequence of emperors of the Tang DynastyThe reasons why Wu Zetian established himself as the Zhou Dynasty but was still included in the sequence of emperors of the Tang Dynasty can be attributed to the following points:Wu ZetianFirst of all, from the perspective of historical continuity, Wu Zetian's Zhou dynasty actually rose within the political framework of the Tang Dynasty. Although she established herself as emperor and established a new national title, in terms of politics, economy, culture, etc., the Zhou Dynasty did not completely get rid of the influence and shackles of the Tang Dynasty. Therefore, from the point of view of historical continuity, it is reasonable to include Wu Zetian in the sequence of emperors of the Tang Dynasty.
Second, from the perspective of official records and documents, the history books of the Tang Dynasty often place Wu Zetian within the framework of the Tang Dynasty when recording history. This is both because Wu Zetian's reign was part of the history of the Tang Dynasty, and because official historians were influenced by the political environment and official ideology of the time when compiling history. This way of inheriting official records and documents also made it a common practice for Wu Zetian to be included in the sequence of emperors of the Tang Dynasty.
Finally, judging from the evaluation and views of later historians, Wu Zetian, as the only female emperor in Chinese history, cannot be ignored in her political career and ruling achievements. Although there are differences in evaluation and opinion about her, most historians agree that she made important contributions and influences in politics, economics, culture, etc. Therefore, the inclusion of Wu Zetian in the sequence of emperors of the Tang Dynasty is also a recognition and respect for her historical status.
Wu Zetian's important position in Chinese history and his influence on the Tang and Zhou dynasties
Wu Zetian has an important place in Chinese history, she was not only the only female emperor, but also an outstanding statesman and ruler in the history of the Tang Dynasty. Her self-reliance and reign of the Zhou dynasty had a profound impact on both the Tang and Zhou dynasties.
In the Tang Dynasty, Wu Zetian consolidated the foundation of Tang rule through a series of political reforms and measures, and promoted economic development and cultural prosperity. Her emphasis on the imperial examination system and the selection of talents laid the foundation for the prosperity and development of the Tang Dynasty. At the same time, her ruling philosophy and policies were also borrowed and inherited by later Tang emperors.
In the case of the Zhou dynasty, although Wu Zetian's reign was relatively short, her political career and ruling achievements were still significant. By establishing herself as emperor and establishing a new national name, she challenged the traditional feudal etiquette system and was the first woman to rule in Chinese history. Her ruling philosophy and policies also had a profound impact on the development of the Zhou dynasty.