Wu Zetian's State Buddhism

Empress Wu's reign under the Wu-Zhou Dynasty (武周) officially lasted from 690 to 705, but her actual influence spanned nearly fifty years, beginning in 655 when she became Empress to Emperor Gaozong. Her rule saw one of the largest territorial expansions in Chinese history, along with strong diplomatic ties to Central Asia, the Korean Peninsula, and Japan. In this highly cosmopolitan environment, Buddhism emerged as a central spiritual and cultural force, marked by increased textual translation efforts, monastery construction, Buddhist expeditions, the influx of foreign monks, and the political empowerment of key Buddhist monastics. While Empress Wu was likely a devout Buddhist, her support of Buddhism also served to legitimize her rule. She adopted the Buddhist-style title "Saintly and Divine August Emperor of the Gold Wheel" (聖神皇帝)and her 689 religious assembly near the Xuanwu Gate (玄武門) may have been directly related to her coup a year later. 'Buddhist magic' also served a tool for political and social purposes, including rituals for war and prayers for rain. There was also a rise in the popularity of the worship of figures like Maitreya, the eleven-faced Avalokitesvara, and Vairocana. Her emphasis on certain Buddhist texts contributed to their translation and widespread veneration, including the Ru Lengqie Jing (入楞伽經), the Dayun Jing (大雲經), the Baoyun Jing (寶雲經), and the Huayan Jing (華嚴經). The latter received particular attention under her patronage, with a new translation completed during her reign, leading to the widespread study and copying of the Huayan Jing. The Huayan master Fazang became a key ally of Empress Wu, advancing both Huayan teachings and Buddhist political propaganda in her name. It is possible that the Huayan Jing served as an ideological foundation for her governance. Significant monasteries, such as Taiyuan Monastery (太原寺), Ximing Monastery (西明寺), and the network of Dayun Monasteries (大雲寺), were also established under her direction. Buddhism thus became a spiritual cornerstone in Empress Wu's extensive empire. In the history of Chinese Buddhism, Empress Wu's reign is often considered a high point for the development of the religion. That said, her legacy should be understood within the broader religious cosmopolitanism of her rule, during which she also strategically supported other religious traditions. After Empress Wu's reign, despite brief continuations of Buddhist patronage under Emperors Zhongzong and Ruizong, her grandson Emperor Xuanzong systematically dismantled her legacy in favor of Daoism.