[1]Identity and datesThe opening gives her principal name, variant dates, political identity, disputed geographical origin, and the two-sages description.
CBDBWu Zhao (Wu Zetian) (93663)The main record supplies the name, the 624–705 dates, the Tang affiliation, Wenshui as basic native place, and the empress, Tianhou, and emperor positions.
Souyun武則天 (17729)The profile and biographies give Wenshui, the name, the 624–705 and 625–707 date forms, and her successive empress, Tianhou, emperor, and Zhou identities.
DILA Buddhist Authority Database武曌 (A002099)The authority entry gives the name Wu Zhao, Tang affiliation, Xuzhou as birthplace, annual ranges in 624 and 705, and the claims about the sole woman emperor and the Zhou reign.
Shanghai LibraryWu Zetian(F) (vzuscrvblya8zfp8)The library record gives the English name, 625 and 705, Taiyuan, and the empress speciality.
WikidataWu Zetian (Q9738)The entity record supplies Wu Zetian and Wu Zhao, describes her as the only woman emperor and one of the Two Sages, identifies the Zhou reign as 690–705, and gives dates within 624 and 705.
[2]Family and early lifeThis paragraph covers her parentage, siblings, entry into the palace, appellation, and Buddhist retirement.
Souyun武則天 (17729)The biographies identify Wu Shiyue as her father, give his offices and title, and describe her entry at fourteen, the Wu Mei appellation, and her becoming a nun after Taizong’s death.
CBDBWu Zhao (Wu Zetian) (93663)The kinship data lists her father, mother, brothers, and sisters; the office and status data list the 638 Cairen position, Wu Mei, and the nun status.
DILA Buddhist Authority Database武曌 (A002099)The authority note confirms that she was Wu Shiyue’s second daughter, Taizong’s Cairen called Wu Mei, and became a nun after his death.
[3]Gaozong court and regencyThis paragraph traces her advancement under Gaozong and her assumption of direct court rule after his death.
Souyun武則天 (17729)The biographies jointly describe her recall, Zhaoyi and Chenfei ranks, empress appointment in 655, participation in government, Tianhou title, the Two Sages, and the 683 regency with the deposition of Zhongzong and Ruizong.
CBDBWu Zhao (Wu Zetian) (93663)The office data lists Zhaoyi, Chenfei, empress, and Tianhou, placing the latter two appointments in 655 and 674.
DILA Buddhist Authority Database武曌 (A002099)The authority note confirms her recall under Gaozong, elevation to empress, and direct rule after Gaozong’s death.
[4]Talent and harsh officialsThis paragraph combines her long control of government with named examples of patronage and harsh officialdom.
Souyun武則天 (17729)The biography says that she effectively controlled government for more than forty years and was intelligent and capable of using people.
CBDBWu Zhao (Wu Zetian) (93663)The association records describe her esteem for Di Renjie, her promotion of Chen Zi’ang after his remarkable response, her assignment of Shangguan Wan’er to share decisions on official memorials, and her favor toward Lai Junchen and Suo Yuanli.
[5]Establishment of Wu ZhouThis paragraph records her proclamation as emperor, the dynastic change, the duration of Wu Zhou, and the conflicting reign-length figures.
Souyun武則天 (17729)The biographies describe her 690 proclamation, the change to Zhou and Tianshou, the Wu Zhou period through 705, and the sixteen-year and twenty-two-year accounts.
DILA Buddhist Authority Database武曌 (A002099)The authority note gives the Zhou rule as 690–705.
WikidataWu Zetian (Q9738)The entity description likewise gives the Zhou reign as 690–705.
[6]Policies and later abusesThis paragraph preserves both the favorable and adverse assessments of her rule.
Souyun武則天 (17729)The biographies juxtapose persecution of Tang imperial kin and harsh officials with agricultural encouragement, administrative reform, talent selection, many celebrated ministers, and later extravagance and abuses.
DILA Buddhist Authority Database武曌 (A002099)The authority note adds the execution of Tang imperial kin, her ability to recognize people, the many ministers, and disorder in her later court.
[7]Abdication, death, and posthumous titlesThis paragraph covers the restoration of Zhongzong, her removal from imperial status, death at Luoyang, and posthumous-title changes.
Souyun武則天 (17729)The biographies describe the 705 abdication, restoration of Zhongzong, move to Shangyang Palace, removal of the imperial title, winter death, variant posthumous titles, and the 749 settlement.
CBDBWu Zhao (Wu Zetian) (93663)The structured data identifies Luoyang as the place of death and lists the 705 and 749 posthumous titles.
DILA Buddhist Authority Database武曌 (A002099)The authority note confirms the forced abdication to Zhongzong and her later status as empress dowager.
[8]Literary activityThis paragraph describes her literary learning, writing, poetry, and compilation projects.
Souyun武則天 (17729)The biographies describe her command of literary and historical subjects, poetry, and the summoning of scholars to compile books.
CBDBWu Zhao (Wu Zetian) (93663)The status data calls her skilled in writing, while the works data lists Yueshu Yaolu and Zihai.
[9]Works and surviving poemsThis paragraph lists her major works, their survival, surviving poems, and the four-volume prose collection.
Souyun武則天 (17729)The biographies give the hundred- and ten-volume works as lost and report forty-six surviving poems, three additional poems, and one poem preface.
DILA Buddhist Authority Database武曌 (A002099)The authority note confirms the two lost collections, forty-six poems, and four volumes of prose in the Quan Tang wen.
CBDBWu Zhao (Wu Zetian) (93663)The works data lists Chuigong ji, Jinlun ji, Bailiao xinjie, Chen gui (Wu Zhao), Neifan yaolüe, Shaoyang zhengfan, Zishu yaolu, Qinggong jiyao, and Fenglou xinjie.
CBDB
