Wu Zetian was a Chinese sovereign, who ruled officially under the name of her self-proclaimed "Zhou dynasty", from 690 to 705; however, she had previous imperial positions under both Emperor Taizong of Tang and his son Emperor Gaozong of Tang, of the Tang dynasty of China. Wu was a concubine of Emperor Taizong; after his death she married his successor and 9th son, Emperor Gaozong, officially becoming Gaozong's furen, in 655, although previously having considerable political power prior to this. Gaozong had a debilitating stroke in 660, after which Wu Zetian ruled as effective sovereign until 705. Typical of historical Chinese imperial governments, the nation was mainly ruled by a formal bureaucratic government, under the (at least nominal) control of a sole sovereign, or huangdi. In this system, the office of "chancellor" was a relatively powerful position. Wu Zetian's "Zhou dynasty" had various chancellors during her reign, these being shown by name and term of office in the following list:
- Cen Changqian (690âÂÂ691)
- Wu Chengsi (690âÂÂ692, 697)
- Xing Wenwei (690)
- Wu Youning (690âÂÂ691, 691âÂÂ692, 698âÂÂ699)
- Fu Youyi (690âÂÂ691)
- Shi Wuzi (690âÂÂ691)
- Zong Qinke (690)
- Le Sihui (691)
- Ren Zhigu (691âÂÂ692)
- Ge Fuyuan (691)
- Ouyang Tong (691)
- Pei Xingben (691âÂÂ692)
- Di Renjie (691âÂÂ692, 697âÂÂ700)
- Yang Zhirou (692)
- Li Youdao (692)
- Yuan Zhihong (692)
- Cui Shenji (692)
- Cui Yuanzong (692âÂÂ694)
- Li Zhaode (692âÂÂ694)
- Yao Shu (692, 694âÂÂ697)
- Li Yuansu (692, 694âÂÂ696)
- Wang Xuan (692)
- Lou Shide (693âÂÂ696, 697âÂÂ699)
- Wei Juyuan (693âÂÂ694, 700)
- Lu Yuanfang (693âÂÂ694, 699âÂÂ700)
- Doulu Qinwang (693âÂÂ694, 697âÂÂ698, 699âÂÂ700)
- Su Weidao (693âÂÂ694, 698âÂÂ704)
- Wang Xiaojie (693âÂÂ696)
- Wei Shifang (694)
- Yang Zaisi (694âÂÂ699, 704âÂÂ705)
- Du Jingjian (694, 697âÂÂ698)
- Zhou Yunyuan (694âÂÂ695)
- Sun Yuanheng (696)
- Wang Fangqing (696âÂÂ698)
- Li Daoguang (696âÂÂ698)
- Wang Jishan (697âÂÂ699)
- Zong Chuke (697âÂÂ698, 704)
- Wu Sansi (697, 698âÂÂ700)
- Yao Chong (698âÂÂ704, 704âÂÂ705)
- Li Jiao (698âÂÂ700, 703âÂÂ704)
- Ji Xu (699âÂÂ700)
- Wei Yuanzhong (699âÂÂ703)
- Zhang Xi (700âÂÂ701)
- Wei Anshi (700âÂÂ705)
- Li Huaiyuan (701)
- Gu Cong (701âÂÂ702)
- Li Jiongxiu (701âÂÂ704)
- Zhu Jingze (703âÂÂ704)
- Tang Xiujing (703âÂÂ705)
- Wei Sili (704)
- Cui Xuanwei (704âÂÂ705)
- Zhang Jianzhi (704âÂÂ705)
- Fang Rong (704âÂÂ705)
- Wei Chengqing (704âÂÂ705)
- Yuan Shuji (705)
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