Mentions of omens in the description of the reign of empress Wu Ze-tian (624–705) in the Old Book [of] Tang and the New Book [of] Tang

Abstract

Empress Wu Zhao 武曌 (624705), better known as Wu Ze-tian 武則天, was the first and only woman in Chinese history to receive the title of emperor (huang-di皇帝) and found a new state the Great Zhou (Da Zhou 大周, 690705). One of the important problems in studying her reign is its reflection in the main sources on this period the Old Book [of] Tang and the New Book [of] Tang. Mention of various omens (mostly unfavorable) deserves special attention, as their presence characterize the activity of the empress as causing deviations from the correct order of things. This article deals with omens mentioned in chapters of the Basic Annals (Ben ji本紀) dedicated to Wu Ze-tian, and is intended to compare and analyze data on omens and significant events of this period, identify critical stages of her reign as it was presented by Confucian historiographers.