Second Zhou Dynasty

Wu Zetian
Image taken from an 18th century album of portraits of 86 emperors of China, with Chinese historical notes. Originally published/produced in China, 18th century. (British Library, Shelfmark Or. 2231)
Empress Regnant of the Zhou Dynasty
Reign	16 October 690 – 22 February 705
Predecessor	Dynasty established (Emperor Ruizong as Emperor of the Tang dynasty)
Successor	Dynasty abolished (Emperor Zhongzong as Emperor of the Tang dynasty)
Empress Dowager of the Tang Dynasty
Tenure	27 December 683 – 16 October 690
Predecessor	Empress Hu as Empress Dowager of Northern Wei
Successor	Empress Wei
Empress Consort of the Tang Dynasty
Tenure	2 December 655 – 27 December 683
Predecessor	Empress Wang
Successor	Empress Wei
Born	No record, According to the death of 83 year old speculation No record, Tang Dynasty
Died	16 December 705(705-12-16) (aged 80–81) Luoyang, Tang dynasty
Burial	706 Qianling Mausoleum
Spouse	Emperor Gaozong of Tang
Issue	Li Hong, Emperor Yizong Princess Si of Anding (654-654) Li Xian, Crown Prince Zhanghuai Li Xian, Emperor Zhongzong Li Dan, Emperor Ruizong Princess Taiping
Full name Family name: Wu (武) Given name: first, no record. Later, Zhao (曌/瞾), possibly originally Zhao (照) Art name:Wu Mei (武媚), Posthumous name Short: Empress consort Zetian (則天皇后) Full: Empress consort Zetian Shunsheng (則天順聖皇后) Temple name None
House	Wǔ (武)
Dynasty	Tang dynasty (by marriage) Zhou dynasty (周) (by establishment)
Father	Wu Shihuo, Duke Ding of Ying
Mother	Lady Yang
Religion	Buddhism

Family name: Wu (武)
Given name: first, no record. Later, Zhao (曌/瞾), possibly originally Zhao (照)

Wu Zetian (624 – December 16, 705), also known as Wu Zhao, Wu Hou, and during the later Tang dynasty as Tian Hou, referred to in English as Empress Consort Wu or by the deprecated term "Empress Wu", was a Chinese sovereign who ruled unofficially as empress consort and empress dowager and later, officially as empress regnant (皇帝) during the brief Zhou dynasty (周, 684-705), which interrupted the Tang dynasty (618–690 & 705–907). Wu was the only Empress regnant of China in more than four millennia.

Wu was the concubine of Emperor Taizong. After his death, she married his successor—his ninth son, Emperor Gaozong, officially becoming Gaozong's huanghou (皇后, variously translated as "empress", "wife", or "empress consort") in 655, although having considerable political power prior to this. After Gaozong's debilitating stroke in 660, Wu Zetian became administrator of the court, a position equal as emperor, until 705.

The importance to history of Wu Zetian's period of political and military leadership includes the major expansion of the Chinese empire, extending it far beyond its previous territorial limits, deep into Central Asia, and engaging in a series of wars on the Korean peninsula, first allying with Silla against Goguryeo, and then against Silla over occupation of formerly Goguryeo territory. Within China, besides the more direct consequences of her struggle to gain and maintain supreme power, Wu's leadership resulted in important effects regarding social class in Chinese society and in relation to state support for Taoism, Buddhism, education, and literature. Wu Zetian also had a monumental impact upon the statuary of the Longmen Grottoes and the "Wordless Stele" at the Qianling Mausoleum, as well as the construction of some major buildings and bronze castings that no longer survive.