Wu Zhou

Zhou 周
690–705
Wu Zhou, c. 700
Status	Empire
Capital	Shendu (Luoyang)
Common languages	Chinese
Religion	Buddhism (state religion), Taoism, Confucianism, Chinese folk religion
Government	Absolute hereditary monarchy
Emperor of China
• 690–705	Wu Zetian
History
• Established by Wu Zetian	17 October[1] 690
• Emperor Wu Zetian deposed	21 February[2] 705
Currency	Chinese coin, Chinese cash
Preceded by Succeeded by Tang dynasty Tang dynasty Second Turkic Khaganate Balhae

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Zhou, known in historiography as the Wu Zhou (Chinese: 武周), was a short-lived Chinese imperial dynasty that existed between 690 and 705. The dynasty consisted of the reign of one empress regnant, Wu Zhao (Wu Zetian), who usurped the throne of her son, the Emperor Ruizong of Tang, in 690. The dynasty lasted until another one of Wu Zhao's sons, the Emperor Zhongzong of Tang, was restored to the throne in the Shenlong Coup in 705, marking the restoration of the Tang dynasty. Historians generally regard the Wu Zhou as an interregnum of the Tang dynasty.

Wu named her dynasty after the ancient Zhou dynasty, from whom she believed herself to be descended.