ancientart:

“My achievements and errors must be evaluated by later generations, therefore carve no characters on my stele.”

It is approximately on this day in 705 that China’s first and only female emperor, Wu Zetian abdicated the throne, restoring the Tang Dynasty.

Shown is the ‘Uncharactered Tablet’ of Wu, located in the Qianling Mausoleum. Unlike the other tablets at the site, this was not initially inscribed, though was later done so in forthcoming dynasties. In legend, the reason for not being inscribed is said to have been in the will of Wu herself, who apparently said on her deathbed the quote given at the start of the post.

Photos taken by 猫猫的日记本 (cropped).