Wu Zetian Leadership

To What Extent was Wu Zetian A Successful Leader?

Wu-hou, whose original name Wu Zhao, also known as Wu Zetian, was born in 624 AD in Wenshui, which is now called Shanxi and died on the 16th of December, 705 AD in Luoyang. She had 4 siblings and 6 children. She was a concubine of Li Shimin, also known as Tang Taizong or Taizong, and was also a concubine of Taizong’s successor, Gaozong. 6(“Wu Zetian Becomes Empress of China: 690.”) She was famous because she eventually rose from concubinage and challenged the patriarchal system by advocating women’s intellectual development and sexual freedom. Wu was the only female emperor of China in more than four thousand years. 2(“Wuhou.”) Although she was often accused of being brutal and ruthless in her ways, she was a successful and effective empress. It will be argued that Wu Zetian was a successful leader because she was an effective political and military leader, she

She ruled officially as emperor from 690-705 AD, and during her reign she took military action and greatly expanded the Chinese empire, conquering much of Central Asia, and eventually also conquering the upper Korean Peninsula. One of her talents was choosing competent soldiers for battle and this was evident in the many victories. 5(“Wu Ze-tian.”) Furthermore, she adopted the Fubing system, which was first begun by western Wei and northern Zhou dynasties. Peasants were given military training, and organized into armed companies, and they would be ready to participate in times of emergency or when the army was short of men. The system allowed her to maintain armed forces at reduced expense. 1(“Fubing System.”) In those times, being an effective military leader was important because it was essential for a ruler to be able to defend the country from potential invaders. Not only did she fulfill that, she also strengthened the empire by extending its territorial