Renowned Across East Asia: A Reassessment of the Controversial Evaluation of Empress Wu Zetian

声动内外：武则天评价争议新论

The evaluation of historical figures is often influenced by a complex interplay of factors, including historical facts, evaluative standards, socio-historical contexts, and personal motivations. As the only female emperor in Chinese history, Wu Zetian's legacy resonates far and wide, inciting intense debates in China and Japan. This paper seeks to transcend the traditional limitations of national perspectives and dynastic historiography by adopting an East Asian lens to reexamine the evolving focal points of her controversial legacy. It explores four central issues in the discourse surrounding Wu Zetian: the implications of her dual roles as empress and emperor, the successes and failures of her political appointments, allegations of cruelty, accusations of sexual promiscuity, and whether she can be considered a proto-feminist advocate. Furthermore, the study investigates the underlying causes behind the shifting standards for evaluating historical figures.

历史人物评受到史实、评价标准、时代社会背景、个人动机等复杂因素影响。作为中国历史上唯一的女帝，武则天声动内外，在中日两国的评价始终存在激烈争议。本文尝试跳出既往国别观、断代史的局限，以东亚为视角，重新厘清其争议焦点的变化脉络，探讨武则天评论围绕帝后身份，政治方面用人得失、是否残暴，私生活方面是否淫乱，是否为女性主义倡导者焦点问题的来龙去脉，对历史人物评价标准变化背后原因予以探究。