Where is Wu Zetian’s cemetery?

As for Wu Zetian's death, there are no clear records in the history books. They only describe that Wu Zetian got a minor illness and then died suddenly. After the Shenlong coup, Li Xian ascended the throne and Wu Zetian was under house arrest. This gave people room to imagine the cause of her death, so various theories circulated.

"Old Book of Tang": In the first month of the first year of Shenlong (705), the Queen Mother became very ill and hesitated. "Collection of Imperial Edicts of the Tang Dynasty": On the 23rd day of the first lunar month of the first year of Shenlong, wind and scabies (rash) were slightly increased.

In 705, Wu Zetian died at the age of 83. At this age, Wu Zetian died at a very old age. However, considering that Wu Zetian was pushed down from the throne in the Shenlong Coup, it is inevitable that people will suspect that Tang Zhongzong Li Xian deliberately murdered Wu Zetian. After all, Wu Zetian recorded in historical records was just a minor illness.

In the tomb buried in the Dingling Tomb of Emperor Zhongzong of the Tang Dynasty in Shaanxi Province, archaeological experts dug out an epitaph, which is the "Epitaph of Tang Wang Tongjiao", which mentions the cause of Wu Zetian's death.

The so-called Wang Tongjiao, the son-in-law of Tang Zhongzong Li Xian and the granddaughter-in-law of Wu Zetian, was one of the main promoters of the Shenlong coup. Later, when he was planning to kill Wu Sansi, he was betrayed by the famous poet Song Zhiwen and was killed. . Song Zhiwen, who wrote "He is more timid when he is close to his hometown and dare not ask people who are coming", although he is very talented, his character is extremely worrying, but he betrayed Wang Tongjiao who helped him get out of trouble.

"Tang Wang Tongjiao's Epitaph": At that time, Emperor Zetian was in the spring and Autumn period, and there was a wind disease. Zhang Yizhi and his younger brother Changzong were both in power, and they all inherited the predecessors, and they were in the middle and autocratic...

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This paragraph talks about Wu Zetian’s physical condition before the Shenlong coup. It mentions that Wu Zetian’s “spring and autumn are high, plus wind disease” is very important: Spring and Autumn height means older age, and wind disease (stroke) is more serious. , which means Wu Zetian suffers from cardiovascular disease and may die at any time.

"Zi Zhi Tong Jian": In February of the second year of the Holy Calendar (699), the Queen Mother did not hesitate and sent an envoy to pray at Shaoshi Mountain, and the illness recovered. In July of the fourth year of Chang'an (704), the magic elixir was tested. Obviously, Wu Zetian had been suffering from illness for a long time.

Based on the records in "The Epitaph of Tang Wang Tongjiao", it is not difficult to determine: Wu Zetian suffered from a stroke, which caused difficulty in moving and even hemiplegia.

According to historical records, in her later years, Wu Zetian was "extremely ill" and basically stayed at home and was bedridden in Yingxian Palace, which led to her male favorite Zhang Yizhi's brother to control the government.

Therefore, Wu Zetian should have died of illness and a stroke, not a murder by Tang Zhongzong Li Xian. In particular, the Shenlong Coup and the murder of her male favorite Zhang Yizhi aggravated Wu Zetian's condition. More than half a year after her final abdication, Empress Wu Zetian suddenly passed away.

In May of the second year of Shenlong (706), Wu Zetian and Tang Gaozong Li Zhi were buried together in the Qianling Mausoleum of the Tang Dynasty, leaving an unmarked monument.