Empress Wu (武后) | 24 Histories

Overview

Empress Wu was a ruler.

PeriodSui and Tang

IdentityHistorical · Female · Title only

Roles

Found in

Life and dates

Attested activity

AD 690 to AD 705 武后宴宰相
Dated from the passage context · New Book of Tang 114, passages 265-266
AD 690 to AD 705 武后時
Dated from the passage context · New Book of Tang 114, passage 248

Works and attributed material

聞其言足以誡，安得為過？ / His words are admonition enough—how can that be a fault?
Judgment · Speaker · With Zhou Yun'yuan (周允元) · Direct quotation
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 114, passage 266

Events and relationships

Feasted chief ministers and ordered citations
Court feast · Host
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 114, passage 265

Assessments and attributes

Assessment defended Zhou Yun'yuan's admonitory quotation as salutary, not a fault · Mode named-source-report Speaker Empress Wu (武后)
Directly stated · New Book of Tang 114, passage 266

References in the histories

New Book of Tang, Chapter 114Volume 114 Biographies 39: Cui Rong and Descendent Cong, Descendent Neng, Neng's Nephew: Shen You, Neng's Nephew an Qian, Neng's Son: Yan Ceng, Xu Yanbo, Su Weidao, Dou Lu Qin Wang · 3 passages

Open chapter

武后時，宰相又有史務滋、崔元綜、周允元，略可述者附左方。 Under Empress Wu there were also chief ministers Shi Wuzi, Cui Yuanzong, and Zhou Yun'yuan; brief accounts of those worth noting are appended below.

武后宴宰相，詔陳書傳善言，允元曰：「恥其君不如堯、舜。」 At a feast for her chief ministers, Empress Wu asked them to cite worthy passages from the classics; Yun'yuan quoted: "To feel shame that one's ruler is not like Yao and Shun."

武三思劾奏語指斥，後曰：「聞其言足以誡，安得為過？」 Wu Sansi accused him of insolent rebuke, but the Empress replied: "His words are admonition enough—how can that be a fault?"