By: Helen Qing, VI Form

Politics, Religion, and Gender Views during the Regime of Emperor Wu: Analysis of the interrelationships between Mahayana Buddhism, Emperor Wu, and Female Representations through the lens of art and literature

Editor’s Note: This paper was completed as a part of the History Research Fellowship, a one-semester course available to sixth form students.

Student-Submitted Note: This research paper explores and analyzes the mutually beneficial relationship between the regime of Emperor Wu, the first and only female emperor of ancient Chinese history, and Mahayana Buddhism. The paper then explores the change in the representation of both secular and religious female figures in Buddhist arts and texts. The paper navigates through ancient Buddhist sutras, murals, sculptures, arts, and historic documents.

During the Tang Dynasty(618 AD ~ 907 AD), there was a woman named WuZhao (See Figures 1 and 2) who married her deceased husband’s son and became the one and only female sovereign in the long river of ancient Chinese history. In 637 AD, at the age of 14, because of her beauty and family background, Wu Zhao became a concubine of Emperor Taizong. In 649 AD, Taizong died, and along with other childless concubines, Wu Zhao shaved her hair and became a Buddhist nun in the GanYe Temple with other concubines. However, unlike most former concubines, her life had just begun.

One year after TaiZong’s death, his son, “Emperor Gao Zong, went to the temple to offer
incense and met Wu, and they wept together for Taizong. Gaozong was astonished by her beauty when they had first met in the Imperial court and since his father’s death paid regular visits to the temple in hopes of encountering the widow,” WuZhao. Gaozong had recently lost interest in Empress Wang, the queen, as she bore no children and turned attention to concubine Xiao who bore him three children. To distract the Emperor’s attention from concubine Xiao, Empress Wang encouraged Wu to cease shaving her hair and start to dress up every day. With the interest of the Emperor and support from Empress Wang, Wu Zhao was soon invited by the emperor to return to the palace after their encounter in the temple. Wu Zhao was given the title Zhaoyi, the highest- ranked concubine than the empress.

However, this position did not satisfy Wu Zhao. After bearing four sons for the Emperor, Wu won the favor and trust of the emperor. Empress Wang realized that the emperor more favored concubine Wu than concubine Xiao was. Thus, Wang and Xiao cooperate to frame Wu and make her lose the favor of the Emperor. However, before they succeeded, in 655 AD, Wu killed her newborn daughter and framed Empress Wang for murdering her daughter. Gaozong believed in the accusation and soon expelled the queen to the cold palace, where disfavored queens and concubines were banished. Empress Wang was soon tortured to death. Some folklores say that Wu Zhao secretly made Empress Wang and concubine Xiao into “Ren Zhi (人彘)” by shaving their hair, eyebrow, and lashes; cutting off their limbs, nose, tongue, and ears; gouging their eyes out; pouring copper into their ears; poisoning them to dumb; and putting them in a barrel of alcohol. After the death of Wang and Xiao, Gaozong made Wu Zhao the queen, and in 656 AD, he appointed Wu’s eldest son the crown prince. As the mother of the future emperor, Wu Zhao’s power grew and removed any opposition and political rivals towards her authority. Gaozong began to suffer from severe strokes and transferred his power to Empress Wu. Empress Wu became the virtual ruler of the Tang Dynasty until the death of Gaozong in 683 AD. By the death of Gaozong, Empress Wu’s eldest son had died and her second son ascended the throne. Soon, Empress Dowager Wu’s second son also died and was replaced by the youngest son of Empress Dowager Wu, who was a puppet emperor like his father. Empress Dowager Wu continued to eliminate her rivals and prove her success in administration. In 690, she announced herself as the ‘Holy Mother Heavenly Emperor’. Becoming the first and only legit female sovereign in Chinese history, Emperor Wu founded the Wu Zhou dynasty (690~705).

The story of Wu Zhao’s life rivals any modern television series. She is one of the most controversial characters in history. Patriots who believe in male dominance disdain her and argue about her ambition and cruelty. Feminists and many female leaders regard her as an idol who broke the conventions of the patriotic Chinese imperial society and fought for female rights. Despite the disputes about her, it is undeniable that her governance (656 AD ~690 AD) and her reign (690~705 AD) led to the Glorious Age of Tang Dynasty (650~755) — the most prosperous time in the entire Chinese history. This prosperity not only represented the boom of economy and trade along the Silk Road, but also the open-minded and liberal social atmosphere, the flourishing of Buddhism, and the advancement of art and literature.

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_{Helen Qing is a VI form boarding student from Shanghai, China. Helen enjoys studying art history, religious studies, gender studies, and art and design. Helen plans to study art history and fine art in college.}