Wu Shiyue

Wu Shiyue
Born	559
Died	635 (aged 75–76)
Spouse	Lady Xiangli Lady Yang
Issue	Wu Yuanqing, Prince Xian of Liang Wu Yuanshuang, Prince De of Wei Wu Zhiyuan, Prince Shu Wu Shun, Lady of Han Wu Zetian, Empress Tang and Zhou Lady Wu, Lady of Guo
Posthumous name Ding 定じょう Emperor Wushang Xiaoming Gao 無上むじょう孝明たかあき高だか皇帝こうてい (honored by Wu Zetian) Temple name Taizu 太ふとし祖そ (honored by Wu Zetian)
Father	Wu Hua
Mother	Lady Zhao

Wǔ Shìyuē (simplified Chinese: 武たけ士し彟; traditional Chinese: 武たけ士し彠; 559–635 CE) was the father of Wu Zetian, the only woman in the history of China to assume the title of Empress Regnant. He was posthumously honored the title of King Zhongxiao. Wu was the son of Wu Hua and became a timber merchant. He was also known as the Duke of Ying and King of Wei serving as army commander of Yingyang Prefecture during the final years of Emperor Yang of Sui (r. 605–618 CE) and subsequently as Minister of Revenue and superintendent of Jingzhou City, Hubei during the reign of Emperor Taizong of Tang (r. 627–649 CE).

Initially, Wu married a woman from the Xiangli family, who gave birth to two sons named Wu Yuanqing and Wu Yuanshuang. Later he remarried a woman from the noble Yang family of the Hong Nong region. She was daughter, niece, and sister to several ministers and a close relation of the imperial family. By her, Wu had three daughters: Wu Shun (later the Lady of Han), Wu Zhao (Empress Wu Zetian) and the Lady of Guo.

After Wu died in 635 CE, his two sons were rude to their stepmother; after Wu Zetian came to power, she banished her half-brothers from the imperial court. At the same time she named Helan Minzhi, the son of her sister Wu Shun, as heir to her father. However, Wu Zetian became displeased with Helan Minzhi's conduct and sent him into exile where he died. Thereafter she recalled Wu Yuanshuang's son, Wu Chengsi, from exile and made him Wu Shiyue's successor.

Posthumously, Wu Shiyue received the titles of Zhou Zhongxiao Emperor and Supreme Founding Emperor of the Southern Zhou Dynasty (690–705).

Family

• Furen, of the Xiangli clan (相あい里さと夫人ふじん)
  • Wu Yuanqing, Prince Xian of Liang (武たけ元もと庆梁宪王), first son
  • Wu Yuanshuang, Prince De of Wei (武たけ元もと爽 魏ぎ德王とくおう), second son
• Empress Xiaomingao, of the Yang clan (孝明たかあき高だか皇后こうごう)
  • Wu Shun, Lady of Han (武たけ顺 韓國かんこく夫人ふじん), first daughter
    • Married Helan Yueshi (賀が蘭らん安やす石せき) and had issue (one son and one daughter Lady Helan)
  • Wu Zetian, Empress Tang and Zhou (武則たけのり天てん), second daughter
    • Married Li Shimin (李り世よ民みん), the second son of Li Yuan (李り淵ふかし)
    • Married Li Zhi (李り治おさむ), the ninth son of Li Shimin (李り世よ民みん), and had issue (four sons and two daughter)
  • Lady Wu, Lady of Guo (郭かく孝たかし慎まき), third daughter