Empress Wu’s rise to power is interesting

There is A Confucian dogma that pushes women ruling as unnatural (Empress Wu Zetian, 2008). However, in chinaware there lived one charwoman who rose to power. Wu Hou, also called Empress Wu Zetian, ruled China during the Tang dynasty, the only female to do so (2008). While some depict Empress Wus regime as autocracy, it could non be denied that she ruled China effectively, preserving the countrys diplomatic relationships with other nations (Hucker, 1975, p.143).Empress Wus rise to power is interesting.The Tang dynasty is described as a time when women experienced some freedom, at a time when women were not limited to being subservient (Empress Wu Zetian, 2008). It was a period where women became part of cultural and political endeavors (2008). Wu came from a noble family and thus was taught music, how to write and read Chinese classics (2008). Her father was one of Emperor Kao- tsus supporters while her mother descended from the Sui royal family (Safra, 2002, p.90). When she was 1 3 long time old, she was sent to Emperor Tai Tsungs court to be a servant (2008).Soon, Wu became Emperor Tai Tsungs favorite concubine. When the emperor moth died, Wu was removed from the palace, as customary (Hucker, 1975,b p.142). The emperors son, Kau-Tsung became the emperor at age 21 (2002). However, the new-made emperor, as fate would have it, was also enamored with Wu, giving him sons (Empress Wu Zetian, 2008). Wu shortly became the emperors favorite concubine and soon was hungry for power. Rumors have it that that Wu killed her own child and blamed Empress Wang (Kau- Tsungs wife) of the crime (Walsh, 2003). Kau-Tsung believed Wu and married her, making her the new empress (2008).Five years into their marriage, the emperor was struck with stroke and soon gave power to Empress Wu. When Emperor Kau-Tsung died, Empress Wu used her power to renounce the new emperors, her sons and by 690, Empress Wu was crowned as the Emperor of China (Walsh, 2003). She ruled China until 705 (Hu cker, 1975, p.142).Empress Wu soon began her campaign to uplift the women in a relatively men-dominated environment. She ordered scholars to write biographies of prominent women (Empress Wu Zetian, 2008). She also saw to it that her mothers clan was given high positions in the political arena (2008).The new empress favored religion and symbolism. Rituals were changed during her reign (Safra, 2002, p.90). Names of officials were blush altered, and the emperor or empress, in her case, was dubbed with the new title Heavenly Emperor (p.90). Empress Wu manipulated the government to follow her, employing informers and agents (p. 90).She made Buddhism as the preferred state religion (Empress Wu Zetian, 2008). Empress Wu was suitable to steer the Buddhist scripture into building a Ming Tang or Hall of Light, a shrine to Heaven as envisioned in the Classics (p. 90). She was even able to convince every prefecture to create a temple which alludes to Wu being an incarnation of Buddha (p.90 ). The empress given surname Wu was also exploited. Everyone who had the same surname as the empress was exempted from remunerative taxes (p.90).In 690, Empress Wu changed the dynasty from Tang to Chou (Safra, 2002,p. 90). She had become Chinas female ruler.During Empress Wus reign, China was in the midst of foreign battles. Despite being depicted as a dictator, Empress Wu was instrumental in Chinas diplomatic relationships. Together with Kao-Tsung, Wu mediated in the Korean Civil War (Hucker, 1975,p.143). At that time, Koreans were able to dominate in the Korean state of Silla, they acknowledged Wus reign (p.143).When Empress Wu was 80 years old, her power had started to diminish. She was finally abdicated and the Tang dynasty was restored (Safra, 2002,p. 91).Empress Wu is truly an interesting leader. For one, she is female. At a time when males where dominating the political arena, she rose to power. It is remarkable especially since Asian culture tends to be patriarchal and for a female to rule and succeed, that is exceptional.True, Empress Wus reign was plagued with intrigues and scandals. She was a dictator, a usurper and while this is not new to some leaders, it is still rather surprising to find a woman who is such. That is not to say that only men can be dictators. Women can also be dictators but sometimes they simply do it subtly. Empress Wu was shrewd and she let the founding knew it. It is even shocking to discover that she may have murdered her own child just to fulfil her desire to become empress.Although this was never confirmed, the perspective of resurrect harming his/her child is disturbing. It is something that people read in newspapers or see in the television now but to think that it happened way before it has become a norm, to say the least, it truly startling. Stories of leaders conning people to get what they want is normal, albeit wrong. This just goes to show that even during those times power and greed were already present and des troying individuals.On a positive note, Empress Wu was one who paved the way for women empowerment. She used her position to uplift the status of women in her country. It is interesting to know during a time when women were thought to be subservient there rose a woman who wanted to change the norm.Leaders, regardless of gender, can learn something from Empress Wu- good traits and bad ones.ReferencesEmpress Wu Zetian (2008). Retrieved 17 February 2008Hucker, C. (1975). Chinas Imperial Past. An Introduction to Chinese HistoryAnd Culture. California Stanford University Press.Safra, J. (Ed.). (2002). China. The New Encyclopedia Britannica, Vol.16, pp.90-91.Walsh, J. (2002). The Empress Wu Hou- Chinas Only Female Ruler, Retrieved17 February 2008, from http//www.suite101.com