#empress wu zetian

[consortmadness]

𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 @dominadespina

𝐖𝐮 𝐙𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐧, 𝐄𝐦𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐚 (𝟏𝟕 𝐅𝐞𝐛 𝟔𝟐𝟒-𝟏𝟔 𝐃𝐞𝐜 𝟕𝟎𝟓)

𝐃𝐚𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐖𝐮 𝐒𝐡𝐢𝐲𝐮𝐞, 𝐊𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐙𝐡𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐱𝐢𝐚𝐨 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐋𝐚𝐝𝐲 𝐘𝐚𝐧𝐠

𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐋𝐢 𝐒𝐡𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐧, 𝐓𝐚𝐢𝐳𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐄𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐨𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐝 𝐄𝐦𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐋𝐢 𝐙𝐡𝐢, 𝐆𝐚𝐨𝐳𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐄𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐨𝐫

𝐌𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟:

𝐋𝐢 𝐇𝐨𝐧𝐠, ��𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐨𝐫 𝐘𝐢𝐳𝐨𝐧𝐠 (𝟔𝟓𝟐-𝟐𝟓 𝐌𝐚𝐲 𝟔𝟕𝟓)

𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐒𝐢 𝐨𝐟 𝐀𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 (𝟔𝟓𝟒-𝟔𝟓𝟒)

𝐋𝐢 𝐗𝐢𝐚𝐧, 𝐂𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐙𝐡𝐮𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐡𝐮𝐚𝐢 (𝟐𝟗 𝐉𝐚𝐧 𝟔𝟓𝟓-𝟏𝟑 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝟔𝟖𝟒)

𝐋𝐢 𝐗𝐢𝐚𝐧, 𝐄𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐨𝐫 𝐙𝐡𝐨𝐦𝐠𝐳𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐟 𝐓𝐚𝐧𝐠 (𝟐𝟔 𝐍𝐨𝐯 𝟔𝟓𝟔-𝟑 𝐉𝐮𝐥𝐲 𝟕𝟏𝟎)

𝐋𝐢 𝐃𝐚𝐧, 𝐄𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐨𝐫 𝐑𝐮𝐢𝐳𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐟 𝐓𝐚𝐧𝐠 (𝟐𝟐 𝐉𝐮𝐥𝐲 𝟔𝟔𝟐-𝟏𝟑 𝐉𝐮𝐥𝐲 𝟕𝟏𝟔)

𝐋𝐢 𝐋𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐲𝐮𝐞, 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐓𝐚𝐢𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠 (𝐚𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟔𝟔𝟐-𝟐 𝐀𝐮𝐠 𝟕𝟏𝟑)

𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞𝐬

𝐖𝐮 𝐂𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐧 (𝐓𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐋𝐚𝐝𝐲 𝐖𝐮)

𝐖𝐮 𝐙𝐡𝐚𝐨𝐲𝐢 (𝐋𝐚𝐝𝐲 𝐖𝐮 𝐨𝐟 𝐁𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐃𝐞𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭)

𝐖𝐮 𝐇𝐮𝐚𝐧𝐠 𝐇𝐨𝐮 (𝐄𝐦𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐖𝐮)

𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐄𝐦𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐖𝐮

𝐖𝐮 𝐓𝐚𝐢𝐡𝐨𝐮 (𝐄𝐦𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐃𝐨𝐰𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐖𝐮) (𝟐𝐱)

𝐇𝐨𝐥𝐲 𝐆𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐞𝐧 𝐄𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐨𝐫 (𝟐𝐱)

𝐇𝐨𝐥𝐲 𝐆𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐞𝐧 𝐆𝐨𝐝𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐄𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐨𝐫

𝐄𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐨𝐫 𝐓𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐉𝐢𝐧𝐥𝐮𝐧

𝐄𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐨𝐫 𝐙𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐃𝐚𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐧𝐠

𝐄𝐧𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐙𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐃𝐚𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐧𝐠

𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐄𝐦𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬

𝐇𝐨𝐥𝐲 𝐄𝐦𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬 (𝟐𝐱)

𝐄𝐦𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐧

𝐄𝐦𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐙𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐧

𝐇𝐨𝐥𝐲 𝐄𝐦𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐙𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐡𝐮𝐧

[ihatehomework]

yall we gotta put some respect on emperor wu zetians name. my girl was the only female emperor of china like fucking EVER and all anyone ever talks about is queen elizabeth i or cleopatra or something. like. i LOVE THEM but they did not girlboss their way into role the way wu zetian did. my memory is a little bit fuzzy but i THINK that she somehow masterminded her way into power. anyways my queen wu zetian you will always be famous and people will end up being obsessed with you like i was

[ofstarsandmoonlightt]

Starting Iron Widow be like: I know where this is going…

Xiran Jay Zhao: Do you tho?

Halfway through:…uhh, maybe not

Near the end: yesss, go Zetian!!!

At the end: wtf, how could I ever have predicted this?!

[mydaylight]

Has anybody ever wondered why all the cats in Legend of Zhen Huan are evil?

I'm 99% certain that Zhen Huan's airulophobia was inspired by the aversion that Wu Zetian, the only Empress Regnant in the history of China, was supposed to have towards cats. Wu Zetian had started as a low ranked concubine of Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty, who was much older than her, and after his death she was sent at the age of 24 to become a nun. Wu had had an affair with Taizong's heir, now Emperor Gaozong, during her time as a concubine. Gaozong's wife Empress Wang, who became aware of this, encouraged him to bring Wu back to the palace, wanting to use her to balance the favour that Gaozong's beloved Consort Xiao, was receiving. This move backfired magnificently as Wu monopolized all of Gaozong's favour, and he eventually became dead-set on making Wu his new Empress. Empress Wang and Consort Xiao were both deposed and executed - allegedly for having performed witchcraft against Wu. Before she died Consort Xiao shouted "I wish that I will be reborn as a cat, and Wu as a mouse, so I can grab her throat forever!". After that Empress Wu forbid the keeping of cats inside the palace. In Legend of Zhen Huan, we see something similar happen when Yongzheng forbids the keeping of cats inside the palace after An Lingrong, on Yixiu's prompting, instigates the cat Songzi to attack Lady Fucha and cause her to miscarry.

(Wu would go on to become the most powerful Empress Consort in the history of China, then the Empress Dowager, until she eventually deposed her son and became Empress Regnant, the only woman to claim the title of "Huangdi" in Imperial China.)

There are a lot of parallels between Zhen Huan and Wu Zetian besides their dislike of cats. Both are forced into a nunnery, and then come back as the favoured concubine who ends up toppling the empress and seizing power from the emperor. Similarly to Empress Wang, Yixiu used Zhen Huan to displace Nian Shilan. (in the novel Zhen Huan even has the title of "Zhaoyi" for a short while, which is the title Gaozong gave Wu when he first brought her back to the palace). Later when Zhen Huan uses her inevitable miscarriage to frame Yixiu, Yixiu herself brings up Empress Wang, recollecting a story about how Empress Wu murdered her own infant daughter to secure Wang's downfall.

(which to be fair to Wu, some historians today believe the infant murder story most likely didn't happen as it appears in historical records written centuries after Wu died by historians who hated Wu for being a female monarch and who did not recognize her reign and referred to her only as a consort and empress mother)

*Wu Meiniang was the name Wu Zetian was given when she entered the palace. "Zetian" is the posthumous title.

ALSO the fact Zhen Huan gets a pet parrot is probably not a coincidence either. The Chinese word for parrot is yīngwǔ 鹦鹉, with the second character being a homophone of Wu Zetian's surname Wǔ 武. Wu Zetian had a dream with a parrot at one point in her life, which was interpreted as an allusion to herself because of that reason.

[chinesedramaoutfit]

Deep blue outfit of Empress Wu

[perioddramapolls]

Period dramas dresses tournament: Red dresses Round 3- Group A: Wu MeiNiang, The empress of China (gifset) vs Lucille Sharpe, Crimson peak (gifset)

[incorrect-ironwidow]

help: in which chapter is the quote "redemption story, they said? there will be no redemption. it is not me who is wrong. it’s everyone else.”?!?!?? please i need it 🥲🥲🥲

It's the end of chapter 46!!

Zetian is in the dragon with Qin Zheng, ready to take over their world!!

[fuckyeahcostumedramas]

Fan Bingbing as Wu Zetian in The Empress of China (TV Series, 2014-2015).

[women-throughout-history]

Wu Zetian

Wu Zetian, the first and only female ruler of Imperial China, lived a life marked by ambition as well as controversy. Born into a wealthy family in 624 CE, Wu was encouraged by her father to pursue education, an uncommon privilege for girls in ancient China. Selected as a concubine for Emperor Taizong at age 14, Wu's intellect and charm quickly captured the emperor's attention, leading to her elevation to the position of secretary. Her rise to power was gradual yet strategic. Despite being sent to a convent after Taizong's death, Wu's affair with Taizong's son, Gaozong, secured her return to court as his empress consort. With Gaozong's declining health, Wu's influence grew, and she effectively ruled as the power behind the throne, manoeuvring court politics to eliminate rivals and solidify her position. Wu's reign was marked by significant reforms and achievements. She restructured the government, reduced bureaucracy, and implemented policies to improve agriculture, education, and military efficiency. However, her later years saw a decline in her hold on power, characterised by paranoia, scandalous affairs with young lovers, and purges within her administration. In 704 CE, Wu was forced to abdicate in favour of her son Zhongzong due to mounting discontent among court officials. After her death in 705 CE, real power shifted to Empress Wei, who played a role in influencing  Zhongzong and the court. Despite controversy surrounding her reign, Wu's legacy endures. Modern historians acknowledge her as a visionary leader whose reforms laid the groundwork for China's prosperity under Emperor Xuanzong. While remembered for her supposed crimes, including the rumoured murder of her daughter, Wu's impact on Chinese history remains profound, inspiring continued fascination and debate about her rule and legacy. She ruled during the Tang Dynasty and establishing her own Zhou Dynasty, leaving an indelible mark on the history of China.

I also highly suggest watching the series on YouTube by Extra History

this is the link for part 1 ^

[aestheticsun]

❁ This LINK will lead you to #46 (260x140) gifs of YIN TAO in Secret History of Empress Wu episode 1 as WU MEINIANG ❁

— feel free to edit these gifs into icon, crackships, ect, for personal use only. if you wish to edit and publish please reblog this post and give credit.

[whats-in-a-sentence]

Nor did Charlemagne's claim to be Roman emperor move the Byzantine empress Irene* to abdicate in his favor.

*Irene was a worthy rival to Theodora and Wu; she seized the throne in 797 after having her own son's eyes gouged out to disqualify him from ruling.

"Why the West Rules – For Now: The patterns of history and what they reveal about the future" - Ian Morris

[consortmadness]

I'm not sure if you have but could you post about Wu Zetian (Secret History of Empress Wu, The Empress of the Dynasty)?

Hi babes yes I can it will be posted by tomorrow let me know if you want anyone else

[chadlesbianjasontodd]

sasanid-style silver cup, decorated with chased floral scrolls on a dotted ground, with loop and thumb-piece handle. tang dynasty, 650-750.

[craftercat]

If people talked about Li Shimin like how they talk about Wu Zetian:

(Note: While many of the facts are true, this post is satirical. I do not actually believe the opinions stated)

"Li Shimin was born in 598. Through vicious intrigue he seized the throne of his father, destroying the natural order of succession. He murdered his two brothers and their entire families. Twelve of his own relatives died in the meaningless slaughter and bloodbath. Many say that his achievements in creating the Tang era of prosperity outshine this; however, the slaughter of one's own relatives overshadows it.

He had his own son killed, and he was a massive sex maniac, having thirty-five children with more than ten different women. He committed incest with his own sister-in-law, violating the basic rules of family. With his military power and lust, he viciously seized the blood-stained reins of power.

He brutally slaughtered many officials, most notably Hou Junji, who was implicated in his son's rebellion against his rule. He shook the Tang order, causing chaos and instability by taking a position that was not his. Though many cite his great achievements, it must not be forgotten that he robbed the position from his brother and father, brutalised his officials and his own family, and had no morals at all. He should be remembered as one of the greatest tyrants in history."

THIS IS SATIRE. THE EVENTS MENTIONED ARE TRUE, BUT I DO NOT BELIEVE THE OPINIONS, AND I HAVE MAGNIFIED THEM TO BE MUCH WORSE THAN THEY ACTUALLY WERE.

(Also, Li Jiancheng fans do believe this)

[nomercyleft-a]

Why are Hazi and Gaki discreet lovers in their canon if Gaki’s the empress and can do what she wants???

Because, Hazi’s a Monk and Gaki’s the Empress.  Their relationship wouldn’t exactly be socially acceptable, and Gaki’s actions have rocked the boat enough as is.  They don’t need to add more fuel to the fire with a love scandal.

[chinesedramaoutfit]

Peach outfit of Pure Consort Yang