When it comes to ancient emperors, Wu Zetian must be a must mention. As a empress of a generation, her experience is bound to be talked about by many people. However, apart from political means, many people may not be aware that she was also a top-notch talented woman in the Tang Dynasty. It is rumored that even the poet Li Bai sighed to himself after reading her poems. So, what kind of poetry did this legendary figure actually write?
As the only empress in Chinese history to declare herself emperor, Empress Wu Zetian holds significant importance in history. Due to her various actions, people have mixed opinions about her. Some people feel that she was too ruthless and even killed her own son. However, it cannot be denied that this empress’s political talent deserves the title of eternal emperor.
People’s discussions about her always revolve around the two generations of emperors she experienced, or the various methods she used after proclaiming herself emperor, or the stories of this female emperor and many male favorites. Many people are unaware of this empress, who also has a talented and poetic side. Her literary achievements are among the top in the entire Tang Dynasty.
Today, the editor is going to talk about her literary achievements. Even the poet Li Bai was amazed, and after reading her love poems, Li Bai vowed never to write love poems again.
Wu Zetian also wrote many poems and verses throughout her life. There are a total of 58 recorded poems and verses today, including one. After the death of Emperor Taizong of Tang, Li Shimin, according to tradition, all childless concubines went to Ganye Temple. Although she was Emperor Taizong’s concubine, her status was not high and she had no children. Throughout her life, she faced either the ancient Buddhist lamps or the cold palace.
Everyone knows about her relationship with Li Zhi. In her life at Gan Ye Temple, she wrote a love poem for Li Zhi called ‘Ruyi Niang’——
Watching Zhu Chengbi’s thoughts flow one after another, emaciated and scattered as a hundred million rulers. I don’t believe it. I often shed tears and opened the box to inspect the pomegranate skirt.
Although she is indeed an emperor, she is also a woman who has expectations for her lover. Whether it is when she is at the Gan Ye Temple or in another courtyard, the thing that worries her in her heart is her relationship with Li Zhi. Although Li Zhi once said that after he becomes an emperor, the two of them can achieve enlightenment.
But does the emperor lack women? The crown prince is not lacking in women, let alone becoming the emperor. Although he is very uneasy, she can only rely on her own situation. The uncertain will of Li Zhi is also her only expectation.
At this time, Wu Zetian was already 26 years old and had an extremely awkward status. She got married relatively early in ancient times and was often accompanied by young and beautiful women. She didn’t have the time or want to wait so long, so she wrote this poem full of emotions.
Later, Li Bai became one of the top poets in the Tang Dynasty. At that time, he wrote what he thought was the best poem, Li Bai’s everlasting longing for each other. He also showed his poems to his wife, but after she read them, she felt not very good. He also said that Li Bai’s love poems were not as good as Queen Wu’s Ruyiniang.
Li Bai picked up the poem and looked at it. When he saw the last two lines, he couldn’t help but be stunned. Later on, Li Bai’s poetry basically disappeared from love poems. Perhaps in his heart, the emotions in Wu Zetian’s love poem were emotions and realms that he couldn’t feel no matter what.
