The Fatal Rivalry: 5 Shocking Truths About The Death Of Empress Wang By Wu Zetian

The historical account of "The Death of Woman Wang" is not a single story, but a convergence of two tragic narratives, one of a peasant woman and one of an Empress. However, the most sensational and politically explosive story centers on Empress Wang, the deposed wife of Emperor Gaozong of the Tang Dynasty, whose brutal execution in 655 CE remains one of the most shocking acts of political violence in Chinese history. This event, which occurred over 1,370 years ago, was the critical turning point that allowed the former concubine, Wu Zhao (later Empress Wu Zetian), to seize ultimate power, demonstrating the ruthless ambition required to become the only female emperor of China. The details of Empress Wang’s downfall and her final, gruesome moments are a testament to the extreme lengths a rival would go to secure the Imperial Throne, a story that continues to captivate and horrify historians and readers alike in December 2025.

The Tragic Profile of Empress Wang (Gaozong)

Empress Wang was a figure of high aristocratic lineage whose fate was sealed by the machinations of a far more formidable political rival. Her life, though initially privileged, ended as a cautionary tale of imperial court intrigue.

• Title: Empress (皇后, *Huanghou*)
• Reign as Empress: 650 CE – 655 CE
• Spouse: Emperor Gaozong of Tang (personal name: Li Zhi)
• Dynasty: Tang Dynasty (618–907 CE)
• Clan: Wang Clan of Taiyuan (a highly influential aristocratic family)
• Main Rival: Consort Wu (later Empress Wu Zetian)
• Key Ally: Consort Xiao (another concubine of Emperor Gaozong, who later became Wang's co-victim)
• Cause of Downfall: Accusation of witchcraft and the alleged murder of Consort Wu's infant daughter.
• Deposition Date: Late 655 CE
• Date of Death: Between November 16 and December 3, 655 CE.
• Posthumous Name: Removed, reduced to commoner status (*Shuren*).

The Ruthless Plot: How Wu Zetian Engineered the Downfall

The political climate of the early Tang Dynasty court was a viper’s nest of ambition, and Empress Wang found herself woefully unprepared for the ruthless game played by Consort Wu. Wang, who was barren, initially brought Wu Zhao back to the palace from a Buddhist convent—where she had been sent after the death of the previous emperor, Taizong—hoping to use the new concubine to distract Emperor Gaozong from his current favorite, Consort Xiao. This decision proved to be the most catastrophic miscalculation of her life.

The Infanticide and Framing

The pivotal moment in Empress Wang’s demise is the infamous "infant murder" incident, a story recorded in the *New Book of Tang* and the *Zizhi Tongjian*. In 654 CE, Consort Wu gave birth to a daughter. Shortly thereafter, the baby died. Traditional historical accounts allege that Wu Zetian—in a move of chilling political calculation—murdered her own newborn and then framed Empress Wang for the crime. According to the narrative, Empress Wang had visited the child shortly before its death. When Emperor Gaozong came to inspect the baby, Wu Zetian feigned innocence and accused Wang of the murder. The grief-stricken and politically weak Emperor Gaozong, already deeply infatuated with Wu, believed her accusations. This single event provided the justification Wu needed to turn the Emperor against his wife, painting Wang as a jealous, murderous rival who resorted to black magic (witchcraft) to maintain her position.

The Deposition and Political Purge

The accusation of infanticide and witchcraft was the final nail in the coffin for Empress Wang. Emperor Gaozong, supported by a faction of officials swayed by Wu’s growing influence, moved to depose both Empress Wang and Consort Xiao. Key figures who opposed the deposition, such as the Grand Counselor Chu Suiliang, were exiled or demoted, effectively clearing the political path for Wu Zhao. In late 655 CE, Empress Wang was officially stripped of her title, reduced to commoner status, and imprisoned along with Consort Xiao in a secluded corner of the palace.

The Gruesome End: Torture and Execution

The most disturbing and controversial aspect of the story is the manner in which Empress Wang and Consort Xiao met their end. After their imprisonment, Emperor Gaozong, showing a flicker of old affection, briefly visited them and considered releasing them. Upon hearing of this potential clemency, Wu Zhao was enraged.

The "Drunken" Death Sentence

Historical accounts describe a horrifying execution ordered by the newly elevated Empress Wu. She sent agents to the prison to carry out the sentence. The two women were subjected to a barbaric form of torture and execution. * The Mutilation: Both Empress Wang and Consort Xiao had their hands and feet severed, or their limbs broken, effectively immobilizing them. * The Wine Jars: The mutilated bodies of the two women were then allegedly thrown into large vats of wine or alcohol, where they were left to drown or soak. This method was intended to prolong their suffering and was a perverse, ritualistic form of cruelty. * The Curse: Consort Xiao, just before her death, reportedly cursed Wu Zetian, vowing to return in her next life as a cat to torment Wu, who in turn, forbade the keeping of cats in the palace—a detail that underscores the terror she inspired. The deaths of Empress Wang and Consort Xiao were not merely executions; they were a calculated display of power and terror designed to eliminate rivals and send an unmistakable message to the entire imperial court: opposition to Wu Zetian would be met with unspeakable brutality.

A Note on the Other "Woman Wang"

It is important to note that the name "Woman Wang" also features prominently in the work of historian Jonathan Spence, whose famous book, *The Death of Woman Wang*, details the life and death of a peasant woman in 17th-century T'an-ch'eng County. This micro-history focuses on the hardships of rural life, natural disasters, and the failure of the justice system during the Qing Dynasty transition. While a profoundly important historical work, the imperial drama of Empress Wang and Wu Zetian is the narrative that truly captures the public's morbid curiosity and political intrigue. The execution of Empress Wang was the final, bloody act in Wu Zetian's ascent, transforming her from a concubine into the most powerful woman in the Tang Dynasty, and eventually, the sole ruler of her own Zhou Dynasty. Her reign, which followed this brutal episode, was marked by both political stability and continued purges of anyone deemed a threat to her absolute power. The death of Empress Wang remains a chilling testament to the high cost of ambition in the imperial court.