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Introduction
- University of Hawai'i Press
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1 Introduction Even Derrida can claim that he is misunderstood, though his principles should prevent his saying so. —Frank Kermode, “The Men on the Dump,” p. 104 The Ruyijun zhuan (Lord of perfect satisfaction) is a short work of ¤ction written in classical Chinese by an unidenti¤ed author at a time uncertain.1 It purports to tell the story of Empress Wu Zetian’s (r. 690–705) controversial rise to power during the late seventh century and her irregular conduct and administration thereafter.2 At the beginning of the Ruyijun zhuan the beauty of fourteen-year-old Wu Zetian catches the eye of Emperor Tang Taizong (r. 626–649).3 She is transported to the imperial palace and appointed lady of talents (cairen), one of the emperor’s numerous minor consorts.4 Her activities as a minor consort are unremarkable, and standard historical sources contain few descriptions of this stage in her career. Twelve years later, however, fate presents the opportunity that Wu Zetian requires. Emperor Taizong falls seriously ill. Wu Zetian waits upon him at his bedside where the crown prince, soon to become Tang Gaozong (r. 649–683), often administers medicines to his father.5 As imperial consorts are usually denied association with men other than the emperor— and often lose status or are removed from the palace when the new emperor assumes the throne—Wu Zetian recognizes that a unique opportunity is at hand. When Gaozong initiates an adulterous and incestuous relationship with her, literally at the foot of the dying emperor’s bed, Wu Zetian does not affect to resist. Nor does she fail to make explicit the tacit consideration upon which her favors have been conferred. As soon as Gaozong ascends the throne, she is to be appointed empress. Upon Taizong’s death, however, Wu Zetian and many other imperial 2 Introduction consorts are removed from the palace, their heads are shaved, and they are made nuns in a Buddhist temple. After only a year, in a tearful encounter with Gaozong as he offers incense to the spirit of his father in the temple Wu Zetian now inhabits, she persuades him by the usual means to allow her to return to court even though she had served the previous emperor. Against the advice of numerous advisers, she now becomes an of¤cial consort. Wu Zetian ¶atters her supporters, liquidates her rivals, and undermines the in¶uence of the current empress. At length she governs Gaozong himself with the insolent ¤delity of a servant whose charms have become indispensable . Then, seven years after Gaozong’s death, she demotes her son the crown prince and becomes the ¤rst and only woman emperor of China.6 A reign of terror follows. Normal judicial procedures are suspended. A system of informing on rivals directly to the empress is instituted. The Tang imperial family is persecuted almost to the point of extinction, and the establishment of a new Zhou dynasty (690–705) is of¤cially proclaimed. After her political opponents have been tortured, murdered, or exiled, Wu Zetian recognizes it is time to apply a powerful religious sedative. If she reveals that she is, in fact, a reincarnation of Maitreya, the Buddhist messiah, she knows the hearts of the pious masses can be won to the new dynasty. Thus she instructs her adherents to produce a Buddhist text disclosing a version of her true spirit that had not been conspicuous. Copies of this text are then deposited in new temples in every county in China.7 In the ¤rst year of the Perfect Satisfaction reign period (Ruyi 692), after the last vestiges of overt opposition have been eliminated, Wu Zetian proclaims that all of China, in accordance with Buddhist principles, is henceforth to be strictly vegetarian. It is illegal for those who have survived the period of terror to slaughter a pig or disturb even the whisker of a shrimp.8 Despite numerous famines, Wu Zetian cannot be persuaded to rescind this edict for another eight years.9 Such is the tenor of the reign of Wu Zetian—or at least how it is commonly caricatured instandard historical sources.TheRuyijun zhuan describes many of the major political events of her reign, particularly the controversies surrounding her demotion of the crown prince. It also focuses on more personal aspects of her life and motivation—upon her relations with lovers and rivals after she reenters the imperial palace. Her insatiable appetite for power and sex increases steadily as she acquires full...