When challenged to tame a “Lion Stallion,” this person asked for a whip, hammer, and dagger to hit and kill it until it obeyed. Many believe that this person wrote the introduction of the Great Cloud Sutra and was a reincarnation of the Devi of Pure Radiance that the sutra prophesied. The Vairocana (“vye-ROH-chuh-nuh”) Buddha at the Longmen Caves may represent this person as one of Vairocana’s reincarnations. The Zhang brothers, both lovers and advisors of this ruler, were killed in the coup that deposed this ruler. This person recast the legendary Nine Tripod Cauldrons and moved the capital to Luoyang while creating a symbolic second Zhou Dynasty. This ruler rose from being Gaozong’s regent and a member of Li Shimin’s harem to replacing the Tang dynasty. For 10 points, name this only female emperor of China. ■END■
ANSWER: Empress Wu [or Wu Zetian; or Wu Zhao; or Wu Mei]
<UCLA B, World History>
= Average correct buzz position