Despite her successes, Wu Zetian faced constant opposition throughout her reign. Many of her contemporaries saw her as an usurper, a woman who had violated the traditional order of imperial succession. Some chroniclers and officials even accused her of using ruthlessness and cruelty to maintain her hold on power, and many were skeptical of her motives and actions.

A key element of the opposition to Wu was her gender. Traditional Chinese Confucian ideals placed women in a subservient role, and her assumption of imperial power was seen as a direct challenge to these ideals. In Confucian thought, a woman’s place was in the home, and for Wu to occupy the imperial throne was viewed as a violation of this natural order. As a result, many historians and officials of her time, as well as those who came after her, sought to discredit her.

The most enduring accusation against Wu Zetian was her alleged cruelty. Many sources, particularly those written by her political enemies, depicted her as a manipulative and vindictive ruler who would stop at nothing to maintain power. One of the most infamous accusations was that she had orchestrated the death of her own children, including the poisoning of her daughter, to eliminate potential threats to her rule. While there is little concrete evidence to support these claims, they have persisted in popular narratives about her reign.

The Decline and Death of Wu Zetian

Wu Zetian ruled for more than 40 years, but her reign was not without its challenges. In the final years of her rule, she faced increasing opposition from powerful factions within the court, and in 705 CE, at the age of 80, she was forced to abdicate the throne in favor of her son, Emperor Zhongzong. After her abdication, Wu Zetian lived out the remainder of her life in relative obscurity, dying shortly thereafter.

Wu Zetian’s legacy is complex. She is remembered as a powerful and capable ruler who defied the traditional gender roles of her time and left a lasting impact on Chinese history. However, her reign was also marred by allegations of ruthlessness and manipulation. Whether one views her as a visionary leader or a power-hungry usurper largely depends on one's perspective on gender, power, and history.

Conclusion: The Complex Legacy of Wu Zetian

Wu Zetian's reign remains one of the most controversial periods in Chinese history. As the only woman to rule China in her own right, she defied centuries of tradition and faced opposition from those who believed that a woman could not rule an empire. Her accomplishments in government, culture, and military affairs are significant, but they are often overshadowed by the accusations of cruelty and manipulation that were leveled against her.

In the end, Wu Zetian's legacy is a testament to the complexities of power. She was both admired and despised, revered as a capable leader and vilified as a ruthless ruler. But one thing is certain: her place in history is secure as one of the most unique and influential figures in Chinese history. shutdown123