Wu Shiyue

Wu Shiyue started his life in a humble merchant family but eventually rose to be one of the most influential and richest men of his time. He was also the father of Empress Wu Zetian.

Wu Shiyue in his youth lived in Wenshui Town in Bingchow, in the present Shanxi Province. The family business was to make and sell bean curd (tofu). Bean curd was made early every morning and then sold. As their bean curd was of good quality, it sold well. So they saved money. As the Emperor Yang (560-618), the second emperor of Sui Dynasty, led a life of indulgence and had built many palaces, Wu Shiyue recognized the opportunity for business and became a timber merchant. Because of many building projects were going on there was a large demand for lumber and Wu Shiyue accumulated great wealth.

In the feudal China the merchant was classified low in the social status so Wu Shiyue wanted to change his social status and joined the army as a low-rank officer. During his service in the army he came to know Li Yuan who would become the first emperor of Tang Dynasty (618-907). In his ascent to the throne Li Yuan was assisted by Wu Shiyue, who was in return greatly rewarded for his service.

In 618, Li Yuan dethroned the old emperor and installed the Emperor Gong of Sui, while he gained the title of prince. Then Li Yuan granted Wu Shiyue a big manor house, three million coins and five thousand scrolls of silk. He appointed Wu as the vice minister of Etiquette Ministry, plus a title of Duke of Yiyuan. He also gave Wu two hundred blood horses and two thousand bushels of grains. The next year Li Yuan became the emperor and Wu Shiyue was again awarded; he was appointed a general and awarded with three hundred acres of tilling land, three hundred slaves of both sexes, five hundred catties of gold and twenty thousand pieces of colored fabric. Besides, he got a metallic certificate of exemption from death sentence once if he committed a serious crime that deserved the death verdict. In 620, Wu Shiyue got another appointment as the minister of Construction Ministry. In 631, he was appointed a general governor in Jingchow (present Jiangling City in Hubei Province).