Vo Tac Thien used a trick with Li Tri, the king did not dare to give up, Empress Dowager Tu Xi followed suit

Wu Zetian and Empress Dowager Cixi were the two most powerful women in feudal China. Both started out as wives of kings and gradually climbed to the top of society.

Wu Zetian was born in 624 in the capital Chang'an, the second daughter of a wealthy family from the timber trade. Her father had repeatedly helped Li Yuan (later Emperor Gaozu of Tang) during his uprising, providing him with money and supplies. Thanks to his contributions, after the Tang Dynasty was founded, her father was given the title of Duke of Yingguo, and Wu Zetian went from being a merchant's daughter to a noble lady.

Possessing a stunning beauty, at the age of 14 she was selected to enter the palace, becoming a fifth-rank concubine of Emperor Taizong of Tang, Li Shimin, with the title Wu Mei, often called Wu Meiniang. In the harem, thanks to her charming appearance and profound knowledge, she quickly gained favor.

In 643, when Crown Prince Li Zhi was established, feelings arose between him and Wu Meiniang. After Emperor Taizong of Tang passed away (649), Wu Zetian was forced to shave her head and become a nun. But fate did not stop there: Li Zhi, now Emperor Gaozong of Tang, visited the temple and met her again. Old feelings flared up, and he invited her back to the palace in 651. From here, Wu Zetian's life turned a new page.

The secret that made Emperor Gaozong of Tang fall in love

When they met again, Wu Zetian was nearly 30 years old – an age when her beauty no longer had the advantage over other young concubines. But she knew how to use motherly love as leverage. Her children, in turn, became "assistants" to help her advance.

The climax was the year 654, when her daughter died young. The New Book of Tang and Zizhi Tongjian both recorded that Wu Zetian herself killed her own son to harm Empress Wang, causing Emperor Gaozong of Tang to become even more indifferent to her and make Wu Zetian Empress. This is considered the decisive turning point in her career of power.

When Emperor Gaozong was in his 40s and his health was failing, he gave Wu Zetian the authority to approve memorials. She proved her superior abilities: politics was stable, economy developed. From then on, Li Zhi increasingly relied on his wife, letting her manage the government for more than ten years.

After Emperor Gaozong of Tang died, Wu Zetian did not stop at the role of Empress Dowager. She gradually eliminated the princes, eliminated the opposition faction, and consolidated her power. In 690, at the age of 68, she officially declared herself emperor, founded the Zhou Dynasty, and became the only female emperor in Chinese history. Although criticized by history for her cruel methods, it cannot be denied that Wu Zetian left a deep mark: a woman who could use both beauty and intelligence to ascend to the throne.

Empress Dowager Cixi – the powerful "copy" of Wu Zetian

More than a thousand years later, history witnessed another "version" of Wu Zetian. That was Empress Dowager Cixi, of the Yehe Nala clan, of Manchu nobility. From a young age, she stood out for her intelligence and talent.

At the age of 17, Tu Hi participated in the selection of beauties to enter the harem of Emperor Ham Phong. Thanks to her beauty, she was quickly appointed as Lan Quy Nhan, then rose rapidly in rank, becoming Y Tan in just two years.

At the age of 21, Cixi gave birth to Emperor Xianfeng's only son – later Emperor Tongzhi. Thanks to "mother's love, son's love", she was appointed Imperial Noble Consort Yi. Like Wu Zetian, Cixi's position was strengthened by giving birth to a prince.

During that time, Emperor Xianfeng was weak and the country was in turmoil. Cixi was good at calligraphy and often wrote memorials for her husband. Gradually, she was allowed to add her opinions to the government. Her ability to handle work effectively made Emperor Xianfeng increasingly trust her, depend on her, and be unable to leave her.

After Emperor Xianfeng passed away while her son was still young, Cixi became the Empress Dowager Regent, holding power with Empress Dowager Ci'an. But soon, Cixi skillfully eliminated her rivals and single-handedly controlled the imperial court.

Like Wu Zetian, she did not hesitate to use tricks. When the Tongzhi Emperor died early, she installed the Guangxu Emperor, then imprisoned him to maintain power. For nearly half a century, Cixi became the "shadow ruler", all major decisions of the Qing Dynasty had to go through her.

Although considered conservative, she was still one of the most powerful women in history, capable of manipulating the throne during a period when the country faced pressure from both inside and outside.

Common points between two historical beauties

Both Wu Zetian and Empress Dowager Cixi proved that, even in the strictest feudal society, women could still become the center of power. They both started from the status of concubines. Thanks to giving birth to sons, both were able to use the "mother's dignity depends on her son" tactic to consolidate their positions. The trick to keeping the emperor was beauty, intelligence, and political ability to make the monarch dependent.

Not only that, the ambitions of these two women did not stop at the position of harem, they went straight to the pinnacle of power. At the same time, their methods were all unscrupulous to eliminate their opponents, even their own children.

If Wu Zetian had gone further and become the legitimate Emperor, then Empress Dowager Cixi, although not claiming the title of Emperor, would have wielded no less power. The story of Wu Zetian and Empress Dowager Cixi left a profound lesson for Chinese history: power does not distinguish between men and women, but depends on intelligence, courage and even cruelty.

Despite being criticized for their cold-blooded tactics, it is undeniable that both have become timeless icons. They broke the shackles of ideology, transforming themselves into the helmsmen of history in tumultuous times.

And today, when talking about Chinese history, people not only remember the wise emperors, but also remember two powerful women - Wu Zetian and Empress Dowager Cixi - women who proved that, even in feudal society, women can still make history.

The secret bedroom of Empress Dowager Cixi, the most powerful but with a debauched love "drama" Linh Trần16:04:36 26/08/2025As one of the most powerful women in the feudal dynasties of China, few people expected that the mysteries of the Empress Dowager Cixi's bedroom would cause a stir in later generations. The unsolved stories are still being circulated today.