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Chinese women in history - soldiers, pirates, scholars, sages and rulers

Shangguan Wan'er - Prime Minister to Empress Wu

Shangguan Wan'er (664-710) was one of a long line of powerful female politicians of the Tang Dynasty. She was the granddaughter of Shangguan Yi, premier to Emperor Gaozong of Tang.1 While Shangguan Yi was in office, Imperial Wife Wu had ascendancy over the Emperor's other wives and was promoted to Empress. The new Empress quickly eliminated her political opponents through execution, dismissal or exile. Emperor Gaozong became concerned about the Empress's actions and started making plans to dismiss her. Shangguan Yi drafted the edict to dismiss Empress Wu on behalf of Gaozong, but Empress Wu reversed the Emperor's decision and put both Shangguan Yi and his son to death.2 The infant Shangguan Wan'er and her mother Madam Zheng were assigned to the Inner Palace as slaves.3

Madam Zheng gave her daughter a broad education. Wan'er was skilled in composing both prose and poetry, and also familiar with the workings of the imperial administration. When Shangguan Wan'er was about 14, Empress Wu summoned her and asked her to compose an essay based on a theme given right on the spot.4 Shangguan Wan'er performed marvellously, and the Empress was greatly pleased. Wu manumitted Shangguan and took her into her service. Shangguan Wan'er became the Empress's confidante, and took charge of issuing the decrees governing the Inner Palace. Many of Empress Wu's edicts were written by the hand of Shangguan Wan'er.5

In 683, Emperor Gaozong passed away and Empress Wu made preparations to advance her official status from consort to acknowledged ruler of China. Empress Wu was already the de-facto head of state. Before her husband's death, Empress Wu arranged for the murder of her eldest son, Crown Prince Li Hong. The emperor was crushed by his son's death and made a motion to abdicate and put Empress Wu on the throne. When this motion was denied by the courtiers, Empress Wu arranged for charges of impropriety to be filed against her second son Li Xian, who was then exiled. Her third son succeeded his father to become Emperor Zhongzong, but his mother deposed him within two months and set his younger brother Li Dan on the throne. She then sent assassins to dispatch her exiled second son, the popular and capable Li Xian.6

Li Dan was emperor in name but his mother was the true power behind the throne. In 690, after crushing her political opponents, Empress Wu deposed her son and made herself ruling Empress of a new dynasty. In 698, Shangguan advanced from the administration of the Inner Palace to the administration of the Imperial Court, taking on the duties of premier to Empress Wu. She had the authority to grant or deny requests made by the civil service to the imperial administration. As a key decision maker on the national level, Shangguan's political clout grew rapidly. Empress Wu once considered making Wan'er the next emperor, but was ultimately pressured into relinquishing her throne to her sons.7

In 704, the throne reverted to Emperor Zhongzong, who gave Shangguan Wan'er the responsibility of drafting imperial decrees. He also appointed her Imperial Wife. Actual authority, however, lay not with the Emperor but with Empress Wei and Princess Anle.8 Shangguan Wan'er allied herself with the two women, forming a powerful league. Shangguan Wan'er used her influence to advance the political career of one of her lovers Wu Sansi, whom she also arranged to become the Empress' paramour. The Crown Prince Li Zhongjun became disgusted at Wu Sansi's soaring prestige. He launched an attack on Wu's mansion, killing Wu and his cronies.9 Zhongjun then sought to seize Shangguan Wan'er.10 Shangguan Wan'er outmaneuvered the Crown Prince by reaching the Emperor and Empress first and reporting that the Crown Prince intended to kill them both. The Emperor and Empress ordered the imperial troops into action against the Crown Prince. Li Zhongjun was killed, leaving Shangguan's power untouched.11

While Princess Anle's gang of three ran the court, Princess Taiping was also expanding her political influence, eventually becomeing a rival to Princess Anle. In 710, Shangguan Wan'er, not one to put all her eggs in one basket, formed a secret alliance with Princess Taiping.12 Shortly later, Empress Wei and Princess Anle poisoned Emperor Zhongzong to death. Shangguan Wan'er faked an imperial decree putting the 16-year old Prince Li Zhongmao on the throne as Emperor Shangdi, with Empress Dowager Wei as regent.13 One month later, Prince Li Longji, nephew of Princess Taiping and son of Li Dan, led a coup against Empress Dowager Wei and her gang. The Prince's soldiers entered the Inner Palace, killing Empress Dowager Wei, Princess Anle and anyone suspected of supporting them. Amidst the slaughter and chaos, Shangguan Wan'er calmly led a procession of palace maids out to meet Liu Youqiu, the officer who had orders from Prince Li Longji to kill Wan'er. Shangguan, ever ready to align herself with the winds of change, presented the former Emperor's fake edict to Liu Youqiu and persuaded him that she did not deserve to die.14

The cunning Shangguan had turned an enemy into an ally at a critical moment, but this feat of cunning only postponed her demise for just a little longer. When Liu Youqiu took up her case before Prince Li Longji, the prince was unimpressed by Shangguan's smooth talk and put her to death.15 Princess Taiping compelled Emperor Yangdi to abdicate in favor of Li Dan, who once again became Emperor Ruizong. Ruizong was succeeded by his son Li Longji.16 Li Longji, much as he disliked Shangguan's character, recognized her rare literary talent. As Emperor Xuanzong, he decreed that all her poems and essays be collected and compiled into 20 volumes. Some of her works have survived to this day.17

X.T.

Notes
  1. Shangguan Wan'er (664-710) (Chinese article)
  2. Female Emperor Wu Zetian (Chinese article)
  3. Shangguan Wan'er (664-710) (Chinese article)
    The Mystery of Shangguan Wan'er (Chinese article)
  4. Shangguan Wan'er (664-710) (Chinese article)
    The Mystery of Shangguan Wan'er (Chinese article)
  5. Shangguan Wan'er (664-710) (Chinese article)
    The Mystery of Shangguan Wan'er (Chinese article)
  6. Female Emperor Wu Zetian (Chinese article)
  7. Shangguan Wan'er (664-710) (Chinese article)
    The Mystery of Shangguan Wan'er (Chinese article)
    Female Emperor Wu Zetian (Chinese article)
  8. Shangguan Wan'er (664-710) (Chinese article)
    The Mystery of Shangguan Wan'er (Chinese article)
  9. Shangguan Wan'er (664-710) (Chinese article)
    The Mystery of Shangguan Wan'er (Chinese article)
  10. Shangguan Wan'er (664-710) (Chinese article)
    The Mystery of Shangguan Wan'er (Chinese article)
  11. Shangguan Wan'er (664-710) (Chinese article)
    The Mystery of Shangguan Wan'er (Chinese article)
  12. Shangguan Wan'er (664-710) (Chinese article)
    The 20th Emperor of Tang - Ruizong Li Dan (Chinese article)
  13. The Lady Premier - Shangguan Wan'er (Chinese article)
  14. The Lady Premier - Shangguan Wan'er (Chinese article)
    The Mystery of Shangguan Wan'er (Chinese article)
  15. The Lady Premier - Shangguan Wan'er (Chinese article)
    The Mystery of Shangguan Wan'er (Chinese article)
  16. The 20th Emperor of Tang - Ruizong Li Dan (Chinese article)
  17. Shangguan Wan'er (664-710) (Chinese article)
    The Mystery of Shangguan Wan'er (Chinese article)