Wu Zhao - China Female Emperor

Wu Zhao, China’s only female emperor was born in 624 to her Chinese parents ,Wu Shihuo(her father) and lad Yang( her mother).She was born in the Wenshui county of Tang dynasty. Zhao was born into a rich family and had servants at her disposal. As a child, zhao did not seem like a child who would love to sit and do needlework and sip tea all day. That was what her father believed. He therefore sent her to school and she was educated in matters such as politics, writing, literature and music. At the age of 14, zhao was summoned to the palace to be concubine of the reigning emperor Taozong of Tang. This gave her an opportunity to further her education. It was also here that the emperor’s son and heir grew a fondness for her because of her beauty and intelligence.

When the emperor died, zhao was sent to the temple to become a nun, Gaozong ascended the throne but his liking for zhao remained. He therefore summoned her to become his concubine at a time when empress wang and his concubine were struggling for his favour. It is believed that wu zhao strangled her infant daughter with her bare hands just to get empress wang banished so that she could rise and become empress. She also exiled and later killed her own son in order to maintain her grip on power.

Wu zhang launched her political career when she became empress and took the title wu zeitan meaning ruler of heavens. Almost all decisions concerning the state were made by her because her husband was weak-minded.

Wu zhao might have ruled with an iron fist but she was ultimately a remarkable ruler. She promoted development of agriculture, and successfully prevented invasion of the tang territory by the tujue and the tafan. She made reforms in the recruitment process of the imperial court. Wu zhao was also an excellent poet due to the education she received.

Ancient china was a strongly patriarchal society and during this time women were considered lesser beings. They could not access an education and were only allowed to take part in needle work. Wu zhao being born in a noble family could afford the luxury of having servants at her beck and call. Her father encouraged her to get educated. Women from lower classes could not afford this and had to help with house chores.

Women were also not allowed to rule, when zhao rose to power it was said that a female ruler had improperly occupied a male position. Confucius taught that a woman’s roles were in the home and that is why most of the governments officials during Zhao’s reign wanted her to resign and live a widow’s life. Women were not allowed to conduct ancestor worship and perform certain rituals, but Wu Zetian went ahead and rubbished this and led other women into performing rituals reserved for men at the mountain because her father raised her to believe she was equal to any man.

Confucian writings also dictated that a woman’s greatest duty