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Wu Zetian, photo 1 of 3
Wu Zetian, photo 2 of 3
Wu Zetian, photo 3 of 3

Photo credit

Photo
A Tang Dynasty Empress Wu Zetian
Licence
Public domain
Source
Wikimedia Commons
Changes
Resized

Photo credit

Photo
武則天
By
Wang Hui 王翙 （1736-1795）
Licence
CC BY-SA 4.0
Source
Wikimedia Commons
Changes
Resized

Photo credit

Photo
美人百態畫譜之武則天（Wu Ze Tian）
By
Ma Dai（馬骀、1886～1937）
Licence
Public domain
Source
Wikimedia Commons
Changes
Resized

武则天

武則天
Wǔ Zétiān
proper noun

Meanings

  1. 1 Wu Zetian (only female emperor in Chinese history)

About Wu Zetian

624–705 · 君主 monarch

The only woman to rule China as emperor in her own name. A Tang consort who ruled through her husband and sons, she proclaimed her own Zhou dynasty in 690. Her tomb stele, the 无字碑, was left blank.

Also called  武曌、 武后、 武媚娘

Characters

武
wǔ
martial; military
则
zé
rule; standard; law
天
tiān
heaven; sky
Literally 'martial rule of heaven' or 'heavenly standard of martiality' - reflecting her powerful and unconventional reign.

Examples

HSK 6
武则天是中国历史上唯一的女皇帝。
Wǔ Zétiān shì Zhōngguó lìshǐ shàng wéiyī de nǚhuáng dì.
Wu Zetian was the only female emperor in Chinese history.

Tips

history
She came to court at 14 as a junior concubine of 唐太宗, then married his son 唐高宗. For her own name she coined the character 曌: 明 'bright', sun beside moon, set over 空 'sky'.

Stroke Order

武 wǔ
则 zé
天 tiān