武

CIVILIZATION DOSSIER

Wu Sansi武三思

TangHistory × Fiction

Wu Sansi was the nephew of Wu Zetian, with whom he had an incestuous relationship, and was granted official titles. He also had an illicit affair with Shangguan Wan'er. When ordered to visit Prince Luling, he secretly had relations with Empress Wei. He wielded immense power, but was ultimately killed by Crown Prince Chongjun.

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DIRECT FIGURES
21
RELATION RECORDS
32
SOURCE WORKS
3

RELATIONSHIP COMPASS

Wu Sansi, and the people around them.

Open one chapter at a time. Each chapter gives the relationship first, then the source text behind it.

01
KINSHIP

Kinship

Blood, marriage and sworn bonds

3 figures · 3 records
02
ALLEGIANCE

Allegiance

Rulers, appointments and allegiance

9 figures · 9 records
5 more in the complete record
03
CONFLICT

Conflict

Battles, captures and defeat

13 figures · 18 records
9 more in the complete record
04
THE UNSEEN

Mythic acts

Transformation, aid and divine punishment

1 figure · 2 records
Complete relationships and verbatim sources ↓Open in the civilization atlas ↗

12 key relationships are shown here. The complete record remains below.

In history · Old Book of Tang

Nephew of Wu Zetian, enfeoffed as Prince of Liang, later demoted to Duke of Dejing, and executed by Crown Prince Chongjun. His titles were posthumously stripped. He and his son were disinterred and their corpses mutilated.

In fiction · New Book of Tang · Romance of Sui and Tang

Nephew of Wu Meiniang, with whom he had an incestuous relationship. Nephew of Empress Wu, granted official titles. Nephew of Wu Zetian, had an affair with the Empress Dowager.

Across source works

How this figure changes across texts

Works are shown side by side, not as a chronology. No influence between texts is inferred.

  1. Official history

    Old Book of Tang

    38 profile notes
    28 relations30 verified quotations
    • Wu Zetian→ confer title →Wu Sansi
    • Wu Zetian→ enfeoff king →Wu Sansi
    • Wu Zetian→ exhume and mutilate corpse →Wu Sansi
    • Emperor Zhongzong of Tang→ confer title →Wu Sansi
    Verified original text · 30
    1. 梁王三思为内史

      confer title · Old Book of Tang, 则天皇后本纪

    2. 命春官尚书、梁王三思为安抚大使

      appoint · Old Book of Tang, 则天皇后本纪

    28 more verified quotations in the relationship records below.

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  2. Literature / legend

    Romance of Sui and Tang

    10 profile notes
    9 relations10 verified quotations
    • Wu Zetian→ confer title →Wu Sansi
    • Wu Zetian→ enfeoff king →Wu Sansi
    • Wu Zetian→ entrust →Wu Sansi
    • Emperor Zhongzong of Tang→ confer title →Wu Sansi
    Verified original text · 10
    1. 太后道：“卿言甚是，但武承嗣求为太子，事当如何？”

      ruler-subject · Romance of Sui and Tang, 074

    2. 成了鹑鹊之乱

      incest · Romance of Sui and Tang, 070

    8 more verified quotations in the relationship records below.

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  3. Official history

    New Book of Tang

    31 profile notes
    13 relations15 verified quotations
    • Emperor Zhongzong of Tang→ confer title →Wu Sansi
    • Song Jing→ rebuke →Wu Sansi
    • Wei Yuanzhong→ resentment →Wu Sansi
    • Gao Lishi→ serve well →Wu Sansi
    Verified original text · 15
    1. 太子宾客武三思为司空、同中书门下三品。

      confer title · New Book of Tang, 则天皇后中宗本纪

    2. 今复子明辟，王宜以侯就第

      rebuke · New Book of Tang, 姚崇子 弈曾孙 合曾孙 勗宋璟子 升子 浑赞传

    13 more verified quotations in the relationship records below.

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History vs. fiction

In the official history, Wu Sansi had an illicit affair with Empress Wei and was killed by the Crown Prince. The novel vividly depicts his scandalous behavior in the harem.

  • attestedWu Sansi had an illicit affair with Empress Wei, played double-six, and was killed

    The New Book of Tang, Biographies of the Five Princes, records: 'At that time, Wu Sansi, because he had been moved by the Empress Dowager's resentment, feared harm to the various Wu, and Empress Wei was deeply favored and feared by the emperor, and Sansi had an illicit affair with her, thus they slandered and hit their targets.' In chapter 75 of the Sui and Tang Romance, it is written that Emperor Zhongzong returned to the palace and saw Wu Sansi and Empress Wei 'sitting facing each other in a game.' Zhongzong laughed and said, 'You two are quite at ease, playing double-six here.' Later, Sansi was killed by Crown Prince Li Chongjun, which is consistent with the official history.

Relationship network

22 figures · 123 links
Wu SansiWu SansiWu ZetianWu ZetianEmperor Zhongzong of TangEmperor Zhongzong of TangSong JingSong JingZhang YizhiZhang YizhiWei YuanzhongWei YuanzhongXiao ZhizhongXiao ZhizhongGao LishiGao LishiZhang ChangzongZhang ChangzongZong ChukeZong ChukePrincess AnlePrincess AnleCui ShiHuan YanfanZhang JianzhiEmpress WeiJing HuiCen XiPei GuangtingWei AnshiWei JuyuanLi DuozuoWang Tongjiao
historyliteraturedual
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Sources: New Book of Tang, 三宗诸子传; Old Book of Tang, 中宗睿宗本纪; Romance of Sui and Tang, 070; New Book of Tang, 五王传; Old Book of Tang, 于志宁高季辅张行成传; Romance of Sui and Tang, 071; New Book of Tang, 刘仁轨裴行俭子 光庭子 稹玄孙 均娄师德传; Old Book of Tang, 五行志

This page was extracted from classical texts with AI assistance and revised; errors remain possible. Spotted a mistake? Tell us →

Compiled with AI assistance from public-domain texts; for cultural reference. Mythological accounts vary — corrections welcome.