Question 1

True or false: Wu Zetian was the only female emperor in Chinese history.

Accepted Answer

True. She ruled as Emperor of China during the Tang Dynasty, uniquely claiming the title of emperor, not just regent or empress dowager.

Question 2

True or false: Wu Zetian personally led armies into battle.

Accepted Answer

False. Though a strong ruler, she never led troops. She relied on generals and strategists for military campaigns.

Question 3

True or false: Wu Zetian invented the Chinese civil service examination system.

Accepted Answer

False. The imperial exam system began earlier under the Sui Dynasty. Wu expanded it, but did not invent it.

Question 4

True or false: Wu Zetian was originally a concubine of Emperor Taizong, then married his son Gaozong.

Accepted Answer

True. She served as a low-ranking concubine to Taizong, then became Gaozong’s empress after his death—a surprising but historical fact.

Question 5

True or false: Wu Zetian founded her own dynasty called the Zhou Dynasty.

Accepted Answer

True. She established the Wu Zhou dynasty in 690 CE, interrupting the Tang Dynasty for 15 years before it was restored.

Question 6

True or false: Wu Zetian was a devout Buddhist and promoted Buddhism over Confucianism.

Accepted Answer

True. She used Buddhist prophecies to legitimize her rule and funded many temples, shifting state favor from Confucian scholars.

Question 7

True or false: Wu Zetian ordered the execution of her own son, the crown prince.

Accepted Answer

False. She did have a son forced to suicide, but it was a different prince. The crown prince died under mysterious circumstances, not direct execution.

Question 8

True or false: Wu Zetian never killed her own infant daughter to gain power.

Accepted Answer

False. Historical records claim she smothered her daughter to frame the empress, but this may be a myth created by later historians.

Wu Zetian Trivia Questions