Person

Wu Zetian

r. 690–705 · 7th century · Also known as Empress Wu Zetian

Wu Zetian was the only woman to rule China as emperor in her own right, reigning from 690 to 705. A consort of the Tang emperors Taizong and Gaozong, she wielded power as empress and regent before proclaiming her own Zhou dynasty. Her reign was marked by the promotion of Buddhism and the expansion of the examination system, and the Tang was restored after her abdication.

Wu Zetian
Image: Likely to be Zhang Xuan (张萱) · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

Mentioned in 1 profile

Tang DynastyFoundation

Mentioned in 1 state history

Wu Zhou

See also

Cite this entry
APA
The Epoch Institute. (2026). Wu Zetian. In The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia. https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/wu-zetian
MLA
“Wu Zetian.” The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia, The Epoch Institute, 2026, https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/wu-zetian. Accessed .
Chicago
The Epoch Institute. “Wu Zetian.” The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia. 2026. https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/wu-zetian.
Harvard
The Epoch Institute (2026) ‘Wu Zetian’, The Epoch Institute Encyclopedia. Available at: https://the-epoch-institute.org/encyclopedia/wu-zetian (Accessed: ).

Last reviewed October 2026Random entry ↻