1. The name of "Mei Niang" in her girlhood: Before becoming the empress, Wu Zetian was originally known as Wu Mei Niang. The name was not chosen at random, but because she was naturally beautiful and charming, hence the name. This name left a deep mark on her early life and laid the groundwork for her to become a generation of empresses.
2. The legend of the road to the palace: Wu Zetian did not enter the palace through a regular draft, but was specially called into the palace by Li Shimin, Taizong of the Tang Dynasty, after hearing about his beauty and talent. This legendary experience not only showed her beauty and intelligence, but also foreshadowed her extraordinary status in the court in the future.
3. Adventures in the Nunnery: After the death of Taizong of the Tang Dynasty, Wu Zetian was sent to Ganye Temple to become a nunnery. However, here she was not depressed, but met the future Gaozong Li Zhi, and the two rekindled their old relationship, laying the groundwork for her road to the throne.
4. The creation of the "two saints" and respect: Wu Zetian gradually grasped the power of the court during the reign of Gaozong Li Zhi. She not only participated in political decision-making, but also revered Gaozong as the "Two Sages", an unprecedented feat in Chinese history.
5. Political Struggles in the Court: In his quest for power, Wu Zetian was challenged by many of his court political enemies. With her extraordinary wisdom and means, she resolved the crises one by one, and finally stabilized her position.
6. Reform of the imperial examination system: During Wu Zetian's reign, he carried out major reforms to the imperial examination system. She added the palace examination, founded the martial arts, and selected many talented officials, laying the foundation for the prosperity and stability of the Tang Dynasty.
7. The appointment and abolition of "cool officials": In order to consolidate his dominance, Wu Zetian once reused "cool officials" to attack political opponents. However, as the political situation stabilized, she decisively abolished the system, showing her superb political skill.
8. Balance between Buddhism and Taoism: During Wu Zetian's reign, both Buddhism and Taoism were highly valued. She not only built many temples and Taoist temples, but also personally presided over a number of ceremonial activities of Buddhism and Taoism, showing her tolerance and respect for religion.
9. Emphasis on and promotion of women: Wu Zetian is the only empress in Chinese history, and her emphasis and promotion of women is also unprecedented. She appointed a number of talented female officials, such as Shangguan Wan'er, and made important contributions to the prosperity and stability of the Tang Dynasty.
10. The establishment and demise of the "Great Zhou": During the reign of Wu Zetian, he once changed the Tang Dynasty to the Zhou and established the "Great Zhou" dynasty. However, the dynasty did not last long and perished with her death. But this short-lived dynasty left a deep mark on Chinese history.
11. Confrontation with Di Renjie: Di Renjie was a famous politician and master of solving cases in the Tang Dynasty, and he and Wu Zetian had many confrontations with wisdom. Although the two are monarchs and ministers, the relationship of mutual respect and mutual appreciation has also been passed down as a good story for future generations.
12. Adjustments in Foreign Policy: During the reign of Wu Zetian, the Tang Dynasty's foreign policy also underwent major adjustments. She took a series of measures to strengthen ties and exchanges with neighboring countries, creating a favorable external environment for the prosperity and stability of the Tang Dynasty.
13. The flourishing of culture and art: During the reign of Wu Zetian, the culture and art of the Tang Dynasty also reached its peak. She encouraged the development and innovation of literature and art, which made Tang poetry, Tang painting and other art forms reach unprecedented heights.
14. Military Emphasis and Reform: During Wu Zetian's reign, the Tang Dynasty's military system was also heavily reformed. She strengthened the central government's control over the army, improved the army's combat effectiveness and efficiency, and provided a strong guarantee for the national defense and security of the Tang Dynasty.
15. Attention and improvement of people's livelihood: During Wu Zetian's reign, he also paid great attention to people's livelihood issues. She took a series of measures to reduce the burden of the people and improve the conditions of people's livelihood, so that the social and economic development of the Tang Dynasty was stable.
16. Unique features of the mausoleum: Wu Zetian's mausoleum – Qianling is the only joint tomb of two emperors in Chinese history. This mausoleum is not only grand in scale and magnificent, but also contains rich historical and cultural connotations and unique artistic value.