In the long river of history, a unique and dazzling woman has left her footprints, she is Wu Zetian. As the only female emperor in Chinese history, her life was full of legends and controversies. However, Wu Zetian's story is far more colorful than we know. In this article, we'll explore 10 little-known trivia about Wu Zetian to get a more complete picture of this great woman's life.
First, Wu Zetian only ascended the throne as emperor at the age of 67 and reigned for 15 years, making her one of the oldest emperors to ascend the throne in Chinese history. This is truly remarkable, and her later years were fraught with political and power challenges.
During the Tang Dynasty, there was a fierce general named Li Junxian, who was suspected of being related to Wu Zetian because his official position, title and milk name contained the word "Wu". Although he was killed by Li Shimin because of this, Wu Zetian later rehabilitated him and proved his innocence. This short story expands our understanding of the characters around Wu Zetian, while also revealing the complexity of the court's intrigues.
Wu Zetian once gave Emperor Tenmu of Japan two white bears, which according to Japan's "Royal Yearbook" records, this may be a giant panda. This incident not only demonstrated the friendly exchanges between China and Japan, but also showed China's understanding of giant pandas at that time. This kind of diplomacy reflects the diversity and openness of Wu Zetian's strategy of governing the country.
The establishment of a "crane control prison" in the harem to recruit male favorites caused controversy at the time and also revealed another side of royal life. These details show the wisdom of her power and the diversity of her ruling style.
The name of ancient Japan was changed to "Japan" by Wu Zetian, which may have been related to her appreciation of Japanese culture, and also reflected China's perception and influence on neighboring countries at that time. Her foreign policy has had a profound impact on the Asian region and has left an important legacy for generations to come.
Wu Zetian's real name is Cao, and this unique name contains a profound meaning. The character "曌" represents the sun and the moon in the sky, symbolizing supreme power and light. The symbolism behind her name adds a touch of mystery to her reign.
Under the impetus of Wu Zetian, the imperial examination system has been further developed and improved. She not only followed the imperial examination system of the Sui Dynasty, but also innovatively set up the palace examination and sealed paper system, providing a fairer platform for selecting talents. Her policy initiatives profoundly influenced China's talent selection system and laid the foundation for later political reforms.
During his reign, Wu Zetian adopted a series of harsh measures to consolidate his power. She killed many members of the Li Tang clan and reduced some to slavery, including Li Zhen, the king of Yue, who was renamed "Yu". Her power struggles were fraught with the brutality of blood and fire, a distinctive feature of her reign.
Wu Zetian's cousin also suffered an unfortunate fate. He was given the surname "Pit Vid", which was undoubtedly a great humiliation to his family. The political struggles within these families reflected the brutality and fragility of power at the time.
Wu Zetian was Li Shimin's talent when she was young, but her ambitions did not stop there. Eventually, she became the empress of Li Zhi and gradually consolidated her power base through various means, eventually ascending to the throne of the emperor. Her political acumen and ambition have shaped her legendary image as a female leader.
Through this trivia, we can see that Wu Zetian is not only a talented and ambitious woman, but also a leader with foresight and political wisdom. Her life is full of legends and has had a profound impact on Chinese history. Her story inspires future generations to explore and break through the shackles of tradition, becoming an indispensable part of history.