Skip to main content Accessibility help

We use cookies to distinguish you from other users and to provide you with a better experience on our websites. Close this message to accept cookies or find out how to manage your cookie settings.

Close cookie message
×
Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-mlc7c Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-14T23:21:58.536Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

6 - The reigns of the empress Wu, Chung-tsung and Jui-tsung (684–712)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 March 2008

By
Richard W. L. Guisso
Edited by
Denis C. Twitchett
Richard W. L. Guisso
Affiliation:
University of Waterloo, Ontario
Get access

Summary

THE PERIOD OF PREPARATION (684–90)

The fourth T'ang emperor, who ascended the throne as Chung-tsung in the twelfth month of 683, was only the third son of Kao-tsung and the empress Wu. Since his chances for the succession had always seemed remote, he had been prepared neither by upbringing nor by his brief three years as heir apparent for his new dignity, and it was probably for this reason that his father's will had provided for the continuing political influence of the experienced empress Wu. Her intervention, strictly speaking, was to be permitted only ‘where matters could not be decided’, but she lost no time in showing that an honoured but impotent retirement as empress dowager was far from her mind. The first sign of this was her contravention of the will's provision that Chung-tsung should succeed immediately ‘in front of the coffin’; and in delaying the coronation a full week, she revealed both her own ambition, and the fact that she felt certain misgivings about her son's suitability. Too little is known of the character of the new emperor to make judgments on the validity of his mother's suspicions, but it is clear even at this stage of his career, that he had inherited at least one of his father's weaknesses, and had fallen under the domination of his own wife, the empress Wei. Within a month of his accession, he promoted her father, Wei Hsüan-chen, to the rank of chief minister.

Type
Chapter
Information
The Cambridge History of China , pp. 290 - 332
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 1979

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Balazs, E., ‘L'Histoire comme guide de la pratique bureaucratique’, in Beaseley, W. G., and Pulleyblank, E. G., eds. Historians of China and Japan (London, 1961)Google Scholar
Ch'ang-ju, T'ang, ‘Kuan yü Wu Tse-t'ien t'ung-chih mo-nien ti fou-t'ao-hu’, Li-shih yen-chiu, 6 (1961)Google Scholar
Chao, I., Nien-erh shih cha-chi, edn of Tu, Wei-yün (Taipei, 1974).Google Scholar
Chen-yü, Lü, Shih-lun chi (Peking, 1962).Google Scholar
Chisaburō, Tsukiyama, Tōdai seiji seido no kenkyū (Osaka, 1967).Google Scholar
ch'u-pan-she, Ku-chi edn, Tzu-chih t'ung-chien, Peking, 1956 203.Google Scholar
ch'u-pan-she, Ku-chi edn, Tzu-chih t'ung-chien, Peking, 1956 39.Google Scholar
ch'u-pan-she, Ku-chi edn, Tzu-chih t'ung-chien, Peking, 1956 104.Google Scholar
ch'u-pan-she, Ku-chi edn, Tzu-chih t'ung-chien, Peking, 1956 204.Google Scholar
ch'u-pan-she, Ku-chi edn, Tzu-chih t'ung-chien, Peking, 1956 211.Google Scholar
ch'u-pan-she, Ku-chi edn, Tzu-chih t'ung-chien, Peking, 1956 205.Google Scholar
ch'u-pan-she, Ku-chi edn, Tzu-chih t'ung-chien, Peking, 1956 206.Google Scholar
ch'u-pan-she, Ku-chi edn, Tzu-chih t'ung-chien, Peking, 1956 207.Google Scholar
ch'u-pan-she, Ku-chi edn, Tzu-chih t'ung-chien, Peking, 1956 208.Google Scholar
ch'u-pan-she, Ku-chi edn, Tzu-chih t'ung-chien, Peking, 1956 209.Google Scholar
ch'u-pan-she, Ku-chi edn, Tzu-chih t'ung-chien, Peking, 1956 210.Google Scholar
Chung-mien, Ts'en, Sui T'ang shih (Peking, 1957).Google Scholar
Daijō, Tokiwa, ‘Bu-Shū shinji no ichi kenkyū’, Tōhō gakuhō; refers to the journal of this name published in Kyoto unless specified THGH (Tokyo), 6 (1936).Google Scholar
Fitzgerald, C. P., The empress Wu (London, 1956).Google Scholar
Forte, Antonio, Political propaganda and ideology in China at the end of the seventh century (Naples, 1977).Google Scholar
Gernet, Jacques, Les Aspects économiques du Bouddhisme dans la société chinoise du ve au xe siècle (Saigon, 1956).Google Scholar
Giraud, René, L'Empire des Turcs Célestes; les règnes d'Elterich Qapghan et Bilgä (680–734) (Paris, 1960).Google Scholar
Grousset, René, L'Empire des steppes (Paris, 1948).Google Scholar
Han, Wu, Teng-hsia chi (Peking, 1961).Google Scholar
Han-sheng, Ch'üan, ‘T'ang Sung shih-tai Yang-chou ching-chi ching-k'uang ti fan-jung yü shuai-lo’, Kuo-li chung-yang yen-chiu-yüan Li-shih yü-yen yen-chiu-so chi-k'an (Academia Sinica), 11 (1947).Google Scholar
Han-sheng, Ch'üan, T'ang Sung li-kuo yü yün-ho (Shanghai, 1946).Google Scholar
Hideo, Kikuchi, ‘Tō setsushōfu no bumpu mondai ni kansuru ichi kaishaku’, Tōyōshi kenkyū 27.2 (1968).Google Scholar
Hua-wen, shu-chü, Ch'üan T'ang-wen, imperial edn, 1814; reprinted in facsimile, Taipei, 1961 96.Google Scholar
Hua-wen, shu-chü, Ch'üan T'ang-wen, imperial edn, 1814; reprinted in facsimile, Taipei, 1961; Hua-wen, shu-chü, Taipei, 1961. 236.Google Scholar
Keiki, Yabuki, Sangaikyō no kenkyū (Tokyo, 1927).Google Scholar
Kenkichi, Naitō, ‘Tonkō hakken Tō shokusei kokon kyūko ritsu dankan’, in Ishihama sensei koki kinen Tōyōgaku ronsō (Osaka, 1958).Google Scholar
Kenkichi, Naitō, ‘Sai-iki hakken Tōdai Man-monjo no kenkyū’, Saiiki bunka kenkyū, 3 (1960)Google Scholar
Kenkichi, Naitō, Chūgoku hōseishi kōshō (Tokyo, 1963).Google Scholar
Ku-chi, ch'u-pan-she edn, Tzu-chih t'ung-chien, Peking, 1956 203.Google Scholar
Kuo-hsüeh, chi-pen tsüng-shu edn, T'ang hui-yao, Shanghai, 1935 53.Google Scholar
Kuo-hsüeh, chi-pen tsüng-shu edn, T'ang hui-yao, Shanghai, 1935 11–12.Google Scholar
Kuo-hsüeh, chi-pen tsüng-shu edn, T'ang hui-yao, Shanghai, 1935 73.Google Scholar
Kuo-hsüeh, chi-pen tsüng-shu edn, T'ang hui-yao, Shanghai, 1935 75.Google Scholar
Kuo-hsüeh, chi-pen tsüng-shu edn, T'ang hui-yao, Shanghai, 1935 76.Google Scholar
Kuo-hsüeh, chi-pen tsüng-shu edn, T'ang hui-yao, Shanghai, 1935 35.Google Scholar
Kuo-hsüeh, chi-pen tsüng-shu edn, T'ang hui-yao, Shanghai, 1935 91.Google Scholar
Kuo-hsüeh, chi-pen tsüng-shu edn, T'ang hui-yao, Shanghai, 1935 90.Google Scholar
Li Ssu-ching, , Ts'e-fu yūan-kuei, 1642 616.
Li Ssu-ching, , Ts'e-fu yüan-kuei, 1642 639.
Lien-sheng, Yang, ‘Female rulers in imperial China’, Harvard Journal of Asiatic Studies, 23 (1960–1)Google Scholar
Manabu, Nakagawa, ‘Tō-Sō no kyakko ni kansuru shokenkyū’, Tōyō gakuhō, 46.2 (1963).Google Scholar
Masanao, Otani, ‘Ansei no shichin no kenchi to sono idō ni tsuite’, in Shiratori Hakase kanreki kitten Tōyōshi ronsō (Tokyo, 1925)Google Scholar
Michio, Tanigawa, ‘Bu-Gō chō matsunen yori Gen-Sō chō shonen ni itaru seisō ni tsuite’, Tōyōshi kenkyū, 14.4 (1956).Google Scholar
Noboru, Niida, ‘Tōdai no hōshaku oyobi shokuhō-sei’, Tōhō gakuhō; refers to the journal of this name published in Kyoto unless specified THGH (Tokyo) (Tokyo), 10.1 (1939).Google Scholar
Pulleyblank, Edwin G., The background of the rebellion of An Lu-shan (London, 1955).Google Scholar
Rotours, R. des, Traité des fonctionnaires et traité de l'armée (Leiden, 1947).Google Scholar
Sentarö, Ise, Chūgoku seiiki keiei shi kenkyū (Tokyo, 1955).Google Scholar
Shigekuni, Hamaguchi, Tō ōchō no sennin seido (Kyōto, 1966).Google Scholar
Shigeo, Kamata, Chūgoku Kegon shisōshi no kenkyū (Tokyo, 1965).Google Scholar
Shih, T'ung edn, T'ung tien, Shanghai, 1936 169.Google Scholar
Shih, T'ung edn, T'ung tien, Shanghai, 1936 15.Google Scholar
Shih-t'ung, edn, Wen-hsien t'ung-k'ao, Shanghai, 1936 29.Google Scholar
shu-chü, Hua-wen, Ch'üan T'ang-wen, imperial edn, 1814; reprinted in facsimile, Taipei, 1961; shu-chü, Hua-wen, Taipei, 1961 96.Google Scholar
Tao-chi, Chou, Han-T'ang tsai-hsiang chih-tu (Taipei, 1963).Google Scholar
Teng-yüan, Ch'en, Kuo-shih chiu-wen (Peking, 1958).Google Scholar
Tse-min, T'u and Wei-hsin, Hu, Wen-yüan ying-hua, edn of 1567, Peking, 1966 463.Google Scholar
Tse-min, T'u and Wei-hsin, Hu, Wen-yüan ying-hua, edn of 1567, Peking, 1966 646.Google Scholar
Tse-min, T'u and Wei-hsin, Hu, Wen-yüan ying-hua, edn of 1567, Peking, 1966 609.Google Scholar
T'u, Tse-min and Wei-hsin, Hu, Wen-yüan ying-hua, edn of 1567 463.
Twitchett, Denis, ‘A Confucian's view of the taxation of commerce: Ts'ui Jung's memorial of 703’, Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies, 36.2 (1973).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Weinstein, S., ‘Imperial patronage in the formation of T'ang Buddhism’ in Wright, A. F. and Twitchett, Denis, eds. Perspectives on the T'ang (New Haven, 1973).Google Scholar
Wright, A. F. ed. Chinese civilization and bureaucracy (New Haven, 1964).Google Scholar
Yin-k'o, Ch'en, ‘Wu Chao yü Fo-chiao’, Kuo-li chung-yang yen-chiu-yüan Li-shih yü-yen yen-chiu-so chi-k'an (Academia Sinica), 5.2 (1935)Google Scholar
Yin-k'o, Ch'en, T'ang-tai cheng-chih shih shu-lun kao (Shanghai, 1946).Google Scholar
Yin-k'o, Ch'en, Ch'en Yin-k'o bsien-sheng lun chi (Taipei, 1971).Google Scholar
Zenryū, Tsukamoto, Nisshi Bnkkyō kōshöshi kenkyū (Tokyo, 1944).Google Scholar

Save book to Kindle

To save this book to your Kindle, first ensure [email protected] is added to your Approved Personal Document E-mail List under your Personal Document Settings on the Manage Your Content and Devices page of your Amazon account. Then enter the ‘name’ part of your Kindle email address below. Find out more about saving to your Kindle.

Note you can select to save to either the @free.kindle.com or @kindle.com variations. ‘@free.kindle.com’ emails are free but can only be saved to your device when it is connected to wi-fi. ‘@kindle.com’ emails can be delivered even when you are not connected to wi-fi, but note that service fees apply.

Find out more about the Kindle Personal Document Service.

Available formats
×

Save book to Dropbox

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Dropbox.

Available formats
×

Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

Available formats
×