Editing Wu Zetian (section)

== Background and early life ==
[[File: Tang Emperor Taizong.jpg|thumb|upright|A painting portraying [[Emperor Taizong of Tang]] by painter [[Yan Liben]] (c. 600–673)]]

The Wu family clan originated in [[Wenshui County]], Bingzhou (an ancient name of the city of [[Taiyuan]], [[Shanxi]]). Wu Zetian's birthplace is not documented in preserved historical literature and remains disputed. Some scholars argue that Wu was born in [[Wenshui County|Wenshui]], some that it was [[Lizhou, Guangyuan|Lizhou]] ({{lang|zh|利州}}) (modern-day [[Guangyuan]], Sichuan),<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Howard | first=Angela Falco | journal= Bulletin of the Museum of Far Eastern Antiquities |place= Stockholm |no-tracking=y | title= Tang Buddhist sculpture of Sichuan: Unknown and forgotten |url=https://archive.org/details/bulletin-60/page/9/mode/1up| volume =60 |date=1987 |pages=1–164 [9]}}</ref> while others insist she was born in the imperial capital of [[Chang'an]] (today known as [[Xi'an]]).

Wu Zetian was born in the seventh year of the reign of Emperor Gaozu of Tang. In the same year, a [[total eclipse]] of the sun was visible across China. Her father, [[Wu Shiyue]], worked in the timber business and the family was relatively well-off.<ref name=":3" /> Her mother was from the powerful Yang family, distant relatives of the imperial family of the [[Sui dynasty]]. During the final years of [[Emperor Yang of Sui]], [[Li Yuan]], the future Emperor Gaozu of Tang, stayed in the Wu household many times and became close to the Wu family while holding appointments in both Hedong and Taiyuan. After Li Yuan overthrew Emperor Yang, he was generous to the Wu family, giving them grain, land, clothing and wealth. Once the Tang dynasty was established, Wu Shihou held a succession of senior ministerial posts, including the governorship of [[Yangzhou]], Lizhou, and Jingzhou ({{lang|zh|荊州}}) (modern-day [[Jiangling County]], Hubei).

Wu was encouraged by her parents to read books and pursue her education, an uncommon situation for the women at the time. She read and learned about many topics, such as music, calligraphy, literature, history, politics, and other governmental affairs.<ref name=":3" /> At age 14, she was taken to be an imperial concubine (lesser wife) of [[Emperor Taizong of Tang]]. It was there that she became a type of secretary. This opportunity allowed her to continue to pursue her education. She was given the title of ''[[Imperial consorts of Tang China|cairen]]'' ({{lang|zh|才人}}), the title for one of the consorts with the 5th rank in Tang's nine-rank system for imperial officials, nobles, and consorts.<ref name="NBT76">{{harvp|New Book of Tang|loc=[[:zh:s:新唐書/卷076|vol. 76]]}}</ref><ref>{{harvp|Old Book of Tang|loc= [[:zh:s:舊唐書/卷51|vol. 51]]}}</ref> When she was summoned to the palace, her mother, the Lady Yang, wept bitterly when saying farewell to her, but she responded, "How do you know that it is not my fortune to meet the [[Emperor of China|Son of Heaven]]?" Lady Yang reportedly then understood her ambitions, and therefore stopped crying.<ref>{{cite wikisource
|title=新唐書
|chapter=卷076
|quote=母楊，慟泣與訣，后獨自如，曰：「見天子庸知非福，何兒女悲乎？」母韙其意，止泣。
|wslanguage=zh
|trans-title=New Book of Tang
|trans-chapter=Volume 76
|trans-quote=[Wu's] mother Yang was wailing and lamenting while parting with her. Wu was indifferent, said: "How do you know seeing the Son of Heaven is not a blessing? Why are you being sad about this?" Yang understood and stopped crying.
}}</ref>

But Consort Wu did not appear to be much favored by Emperor Taizong, though it appears that she did have sexual relations with him at one point.<ref name="ChuSuiliang">See {{harvp|Zizhi Tongjian|1084|loc= [[:zh:s:資治通鑑/卷199|vol. 199]]}}, for [[Chu Suiliang]]'s assertion that she had "served" (a euphemism for sexual relations) Emperor Taizong when trying to stop Emperor Gaozong from creating her empress.</ref> According to her own account (given in a rebuke of [[Chancellor of the Tang dynasty|Chancellor]] [[Ji Xu]] during her reign), she once impressed Taizong with her fortitude:

{{blockquote|Emperor Taizong had a horse with the name "Lion Stallion", and it was so large and strong that no one could get on its back. I was a [[lady in waiting]] attending Emperor Taizong, and I suggested to him, "I only need three things to subordinate it: an iron whip, an iron hammer, and a sharp dagger. I will whip it with the iron whip. If it does not submit, I will hammer its head with the iron hammer. If it still does not submit, I will cut its throat with the dagger." Emperor Taizong praised my bravery. Do you really believe that you are qualified to dirty my dagger?<ref name="ZZTJ206" />}}

When Taizong died in 649, his youngest son, Li Zhi, whose mother was the main wife [[Empress Zhangsun|Wende]], succeeded him as [[Emperor Gaozong of Tang|Emperor Gaozong]]. Li Zhi had had an affair with Wu when Taizong was still alive.<ref>{{cite wikisource
|title=唐會要
|chapter=卷003
|quote=太宗聞武士彠女有才貌，召入宮，以爲才人。時上在東宮，因入侍，悅之。
|wslanguage=zh
|trans-title=Tang Huiyao
|trans-chapter=Volume 3
|trans-quote=Taizong heard the daughter of Wu Shiyue is talented and beautiful; he called her into the palace and given her the title ''cairen''. At that time, Li Zhi was in the eastern palace, and because she served him, she also pleasured him.
}}</ref>

Taizong had 14 sons, including three by his beloved [[Empress Zhangsun]] (601–636), but none with Consort Wu.<ref name="Paludan, 93">{{harvp|Paludan|1998|p= 93}}</ref> Thus, according to the custom by which consorts of deceased emperors who had not produced children were permanently confined to a monastic institution after the emperor's death, Wu was consigned to Ganye Temple ({{lang|zh|感業寺}}) with the expectation that she would serve as a [[bhikkhuni|Buddhist nun]] there for the remainder of her life. After Taizong's death, [[Emperor Gaozong of Tang|Gaozong]] met her at the death anniversary of Taizong when he was offering [[incense]]. At the time, [[Pure Consort Xiao|Consort Xiao]] and [[Empress Wang (Gaozong)|Empress Wang]] were fighting for favoredness of Gaozong, and Wang asked Gaozong to bring Wu back into the palace, hoping to divert Gaozong's attention. Gaozong agreed and gave Wu the title Lady of Bright Deportment ({{lang|zh|昭儀}}). Soon, Gaozong became enamored with Wu, and both Wang and Xiao lost favor.<ref>{{cite wikisource
|title=唐會要
|chapter=卷003
|quote=太宗崩，隨嬪御之例出家，爲尼感業寺。上因忌日行香，見之，武氏泣，上亦潸然。時蕭良娣有寵，王皇后惡之，乃召入宮，潛令長髮，欲以間良娣之寵。旣入宮，寵待踰於良娣，立爲昭儀。
|wslanguage=zh
|trans-title=Tang Huiyao
|trans-chapter=Volume 3
|trans-quote=When Taizong died, Wu became a nun at Ganye Temple, according to the customs of concubines of deceased emperors. Gaozong was offering incense at the anniversary of Taizong's death when he saw Wu, who cried. Gaozong also wept. At the time, Pure Consort Xiao was favored by Gaozong, and Empress Wang disliked Xiao. Thus, Wang called Wu into the palace, secretly instructing her to grow her hair back, hoping Wu would compete with Xiao for Gaozong's favour. After entering the palace, Gaozong treated Wu more favorably than Xiao and gave her the title ''Zhaoyi'' (Lady of Bright Deportment).
}}</ref>