Woman Ruler Woman Rule |
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In 638 I was fourteen years old. Emperor T'ai-tsung heard of my beauty and summoned me to his harem. I became an "Elegant One--Concubine of the Fifth Rank." On July 10, 649, Emperor T'ai-tsung joined his ancestors. His son Kao-tsung, who was infatuated with me, then became Son of Heaven… After three years I was blessed with a son. Emperor Kao-tsung told his ministers, "The greatest of all crimes is to be prevented from continuing one's line. My empress has no sons but Lady Wu has a son. Now I wish to make Lady Wu empress in her place. What say you?" … Empress Wang was frightened and ill at ease so she secretly sought out a witch and engaged in black magic. Then Empress Wang, in November of 655, plotted to poison the Emperor. She was degraded to the rank of commoner and imprisoned. I became Empress. I ordered that the woman Wang's hands and feet be cut off and she be bound and thrown into a wine vat. Let her bones and marrow melt in drunken ecstasy! At the end of 683 [Emperor Kao-tsung] joined his ancestors. His Imperial Will ordered that "when important matters of defense and administration cannot be decided, the Celestial Empress shall decide the course of action." My son Chung-tsung was the new Son of Heaven… I demoted him to princely rank and exiled him from the capital. The ministers did not object. My youngest son Jui-tsung was then installed on the Throne, but he had difficulty speaking, so I appeared in court and pronounced decrees. I sent this younger son to a detached palace and he had no chance to participate. In 684 I put on the imperial regalia and disdained to hang the curtain in the audience hall. That same year two troublemakers attempted to incite the people to rebellion against me claiming… "with the heart of a serpent and the savagery of a wolf, she favored evil toadies and destroyed good and loyal officials… She is hated by gods and men alike; neither heaven nor earth can bear her…" After I read the manifesto I chided my council for their incompetence in leaving men of such literary talent to languish in obscurity. Two months later [689] I received petitions requesting me to found the Chou dynasty… the Will of Heaven could no longer be denied. I took the title "Sage and Holy Emperor." My daughter Princess T'ai-p'ing has introduced me to two young men: the Chang brothers. The elder brother is white complected and is truly remarkably handsome… The younger brother is, I believe, the incarnation of the Taoist Immortal Wang Tzu-chin… They are young and gay, a delight to have around. January, 705. Young Chang has been accused of treason! I have had to appoint a tribunal. Two of the three will vote for acquittal. The third will condemn and I will send him to the provinces on some trivial mission… February 20, 705, my high ministers have stormed the palace. They have chopped the heads off my dear boys. "Who is making all this row?" I demanded, then I spotted [my son] Chung-tsung. "So! You! Well, the two boys have been killed, so you can get back to the Eastern Palace!" He turned to obey me, but the ministers stopped him saying, "We ministers wish Your Majesty to abdicate and transmit the Throne to the Crown Prince, in conformity with the Will of Heaven and mankind." I told them scornfully that they were all ungrateful and went back to bed. * * * * * Throughout her long reign Wu Tse-t'ien demonstrated wisdom, justice and great practical ability, which despite their best attempts Confucian historians have been unable to entirely obscure. Nor have they been able to dismiss her popularity with the people…The traditional New T'ang History reported that, "Although the Empress promoted many of humble origin in order to gain the hearts of the people, yet if they proved inefficient she either dismissed or punished them within a short time. The power of reward and punishment she held in her own hand; government proceeded from her alone. She was perspicacious, and rapid and sure in decision. Therefore all the brave and eminent of the epoch were glad to serve her and found an opportunity to do so." According to her best modern biographer, R.W.L. Guisso, the people of her birthplace still honor her birthday. As he so justly remarks, "No emperor of traditional China could ask for a finer tribute." |
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