无字碑 Stele

Why a blank slate? This is the question that hangs in the air here at the Qianling Mausoleum, before the enigmatic Wu Zi Bei Ge, the Wordless Stele. This towering monument, also known as the Wordless Stele, stands as a silent testament to China’s only female emperor, Wu Zetian. It’s an anomaly in the world of memorials, a blank canvas amidst a sea of inscriptions. The Wu Zi Bei Ge is a giant among steles, carved from a single block of stone. It weighs in at a staggering 98.8 tons. This is no small feat, even by today’s standards. Imagine the effort it took to transport and erect such a massive stone in the 7th century. The stele is not entirely unadorned. Four intertwined dragons, symbols of imperial power, are carved on each side. These dragons, along with cloud and dragon patterns, decorate the stele’s face. The stele’s base, measuring over two meters long, features carvings of mythical creatures like lions and winged horses. But why no words? Numerous theories abound. Did Wu Zetian believe her accomplishments were simply too grand for words? Did she, perhaps, feel a sense of guilt over her ruthless rise to power, her overthrow of the Tang Dynasty? Or was it a final message, a challenge to posterity to judge her reign for themselves? The answer, like the stele itself, remains a mystery. Adding to the enigma, the Wu Zi Bei Ge is not entirely wordless anymore. Over the centuries, visitors have carved their own inscriptions onto its surface. The earliest dates back to 1103. These later additions, while a defacement of the original monument, ironically give voice to where Wu Zetian chose silence. They tell a story of ongoing fascination, a continuous debate about the legacy of this extraordinary woman. The Wordless Stele stands as a silent sentinel, inviting us to ponder the mysteries it holds, and the remarkable life of the empress it commemorates.