The Woman who Ruled China
      Submitted on 03/16/08


Even though according to the Confucian beliefs having
a woman rule would be as unnatural as having a "hen
crow like a rooster at daybreak," during the most
glorious years of the Tang dynasty a woman did rule,
and ruled successfully. She was Wu Zetian,the only
female in Chinese history to rule as emperor.To some
she was an autocrat,ruthless in her desire to gain and
keep power. To others she, as a woman doing a "man's
job," merely did what she had to do , and acted no
differently than most male emperors of her day. They
also note that she managed to effectively rule China
during one of its more peaceful and culturally diverse
periods. 


Tang dynasty (618-906 AD) was a time of relative
freedom for women. They did not bind their feet . It
was a time in which a number of exceptional women
contributed in the areas of culture and politics. So
it is no surprise that Wu, born into a rich and noble
family , was taught to play music, write, and read the
Chinese classics.By thirteen years of age she was
known for her wit, intelligence, and beauty,and was
recruited to the court of Emperor Tai Tsung. She soon
became his favorite concubine. But she also had eyes
for his son, Kao Tsung. 


When the emperor died and Kao Tsung took over , Wu was
now twenty seven years old . In time she became a
favorite concubine of the new emperor. She managed to
eliminate Kao Tsung's wife, Empress Wang, by accusing
her of killing Wu's newborn daughter . Kao Tsung
believed Wu, and replaced Empress Wang to marry the up
and coming Wu Zetian. 


Within five years of their marriage , Emperor Kao
Tsung suffered a cripplingstroke . The Empress Wu took
over the administrative duties of the court , a
position equal to the emperor. She created a secret
police force to spy on her opposition , and cruelly
jailed or killed anyone who stood in her way,
including the unfortunate Empress Wang. With the death
of Emperor Kao Tsung , Wu managed to outflank her
eldest sons and moved her youngest , and much weaker
son , into power. She in effect ruled, telling him
what to do. 


In order to challenge Confucian beliefs against rule
by women,Wu began a campaign to elevate the position
of women . She had scholars write biographies of
famous women,and raised the position of her mother's
clan by giving her relatives high political posts .
She moved her court away from the seat of traditional
male power and tried to establish a new dynasty. She
said that the ideal ruler was one who ruled like a
mother does over her children. In 684, Wu Zetian made
herself ruler of China and changed the name of the
dynasty to Chou (684-705). She was a remarkable woman,
although tradition claims that she was immoral and
lascivious.


The scholars who were fervent believers in traditional
rule never forgave her for usurping the Throne. In
spite of her ruthless climb to power, her rule proved
to be benign . She found the best people she could to
run the government , and treated those she trusted
fairly. She reduced the army's size and stopped the
influence of aristocratic military men on government
by replacing them with scholars . Everyone had to
compete for government positions by taking exams, thus
setting the practice of government run by scholars.Wu
also was fair to peasants, lowering oppressive taxes,
raising agricultural production, and strengthening
public works. 


During her reign , Empress Wu placed Buddhism over
Daoism as the favored state religion . She invited the
most gifted scholars to China and built Buddhist
temples and cave sculptures . Chinese Buddhism
achieved its highest development under the reign of Wu
Zetian. 


As she grew older, Empress Wu lessened the power of
her secret police.But she become increasingly
superstitious and fearful . Sorcerers and corrupt
court favorites flattered her. Finally, in 705, she
was pressured to give up the throne in favor of her
third son, who was waiting all these years in the
wings
contribution by chinese history
many thanks to empressdynasty.
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Rajesh N.S.