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Wu Zetian: China's First & Only Female Emperor | Empress Who Ruled The World | Timeline

Timeline - World History Documentaries・26 minutes read

Wu Zetian, the only female Emperor in China's history, faced controversy and was initially portrayed as tyrannical, but recent discoveries challenge this narrative, showing a different side to her rule through archaeological evidence and ancient artifacts. Despite her ruthless actions, including killing her own son, Wu Zetian's reign made China a global superpower through strategic military outposts along the Silk Road, showcasing a vibrant and bustling city rich in international commerce at Chang'an.

Insights

  • Recent discoveries challenge the traditional negative portrayal of Wu Zetian, revealing a more complex ruler who fostered a society rich in luxury and artistry, showcasing a different side to her reign through ancient tombstones, Buddhist temples, and lost treasures.
  • Wu Zetian's strategic military outposts along the Silk Road and her support of Buddhism to please the people not only secured trade routes and made China a global superpower but also highlight her reign as a time of vibrant multicultural influence and bustling international commerce, showcasing her as a respected international leader with a cosmopolitan empire.

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Recent questions

  • Who was Wu Zetian?

    Wu Zetian was the only female Emperor in China's history, rising from a concubine to Emperor, facing controversy and division.

  • What challenges did Wu Zetian face as Emperor?

    Wu Zetian faced controversy, division, and negative portrayals during her reign as Emperor.

  • How did Wu Zetian impact China's global influence?

    Wu Zetian's reign made China a global superpower through trade and influence.

  • What architectural achievements are associated with Wu Zetian?

    Wu Zetian's reign saw the construction of Daming Palace, the largest palace in the world at the time.

  • How did Wu Zetian's reign come to an end?

    Wu Zetian's reign ended with scheming and rebellion among male nobility, leading to her abdication and eventual death at 80, buried alongside her husband in Qianling.

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Summary

00:00

Wu Zetian: China's Controversial Female Emperor

  • Wu Zetian, the only female Emperor in China's history, rose from a concubine to Emperor, facing controversy and division.
  • Wu Zetian's reign was initially seen as calamitous and tyrannical, with dark stories of brutality and manipulation.
  • Recent discoveries challenge the negative portrayal of Wu Zetian, revealing a different side to her rule through ancient tombstones, Buddhist temples, and lost treasures.
  • Wu Zetian entered the court as a concubine at 13, gaining favor and influence through her political acumen and shrewdness.
  • After her husband's death, Wu Zetian declared herself Emperor, facing scathing accounts of her rise to power and ruthless actions, including killing her own son.
  • Archaeologists unearth new evidence challenging the negative narrative of Wu Zetian, showcasing a society rich in luxury and artistry during her reign.
  • The discovery of the Phoenix crown, with materials from distant lands, highlights the wealth and cosmopolitan nature of Wu Zetian's China.
  • Murals depicting foreign ambassadors suggest Wu Zetian was a respected international leader, with a society open to foreigners and diplomacy.
  • Wu Zetian's strategic military outposts along the Silk Road secured trade routes, making her capital a cosmopolitan hub and a wealthy empire.
  • The multicultural influence of the Silk Road trade in Wu Zetian's Chang'an is still evident today, showcasing a vibrant and bustling city with a rich history of international commerce.

19:06

Wu Zetian's Daming Palace: Symbol of Power

  • Danfeng Gate is the southern gate of Daming Palace, showcasing Imperial grandeur.
  • Daming Palace was the largest in the world, completed in just three years.
  • Daming Palace's size surpassed that of old Pompeii, the Forbidden City, and the Acropolis.
  • The palace complex included archery grounds, polo grounds, cockfighting arenas, and more.
  • Wu Zetian aimed to impose her power through the grandeur and size of Daming Palace.
  • Daming Palace's location outside the city walls was unusual, symbolizing Wu Zetian's reinvention.
  • Wu Zetian's reign made China a global superpower through trade and influence.
  • Wu Zetian supported Buddhism to please the people, building temples and pagodas.
  • The Great Wild Goose Pagoda was rebuilt by Wu Zetian on a grand scale.
  • Wu Zetian's pagoda was nearly 300 feet tall, possibly one of the tallest buildings of its time.

37:47

Wu Zetian's Reign: Poison, Confession, Abdication

  • Wu Zetian may have instigated poison, using the Zhang brothers to eliminate rivals by pitting them against each other.
  • She possibly wanted to prevent the birth of a child from powerful clans contending for the throne, leading to the princess's death.
  • Wu Zetian, as China's emperor, executed numerous ruling family members, displaying extreme ruthlessness.
  • Seeking absolution, Wu Zetian wrote a confession engraved on a golden tablet, casting it down Mount Song as a form of repentance.
  • Wu Zetian's reign ended with scheming and rebellion among male nobility, leading to her abdication and eventual death at 80, buried alongside her husband in Qianling.
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