Empress Wu (jan 1, 626 – jan 1, 706)

Description:

First entered palace as a “talented woman”—unranked concubine aged 13 but allegedly killed her way to the top→Declared herself founder of a new Zhou Dynasty (690-705)
15 years of pause for Tang Dynasty for female ruler

Xue Huaiyi: Peddler of cosmetics and perfumes who Wu had an infatuation with, she anointed him monk of an important monastery and he wrote the great cloud sutra where he portrayed her as maitreya figure

Zhang brothers: Wu also infatuated with these guys, were in her “Crane Court”—personal harem of young males

Added to timeline:

Date: