生平

太平公主出生年分目前尚無確切說法。根據她第一次結婚的時間和兄長李旦出生時間推定，可能生于664年前後，是高宗和武后的最後一名子女。

早期

太平公主五、六歲時，常常往來外祖母榮國夫人家，她隨行的宮女（一說為太平公主本人）遭表兄賀蘭敏之逼姦，此事引起武則天大怒，加上此前賀蘭敏之曾姦污內定的未來太子妃，武則天最終決定，撤銷賀蘭敏之作為武家繼承人的身分，流放並中途處死賀蘭敏之。

太平公主八歲時，以替已經去世的外祖母榮國夫人楊氏祈福為名，出家為女道士；太平之名，乃是她的道號。雖然號稱出家，她卻一直住在宮中。直到吐蕃派使者前來求婚，點名要娶走太平公主。李治和武則天不想讓愛女嫁到遠方去，又不好直接拒絕吐蕃，便修建了太平觀讓她入住，正式出家，藉口公主已經出家來避免和親。

第一次婚姻

681年，太平公主下嫁自己的表兄弟：姑姑城陽公主的二兒子薛紹。婚禮在長安附近的萬年縣館舉行，場面豪華非常，照明的火把烤焦了沿途的樹木、為了讓寬大的婚車通過，不得不拆除了縣館的圍牆。《舊唐書》記載，因這次婚事，亦赦免京城的囚犯。

武則天對女兒非常寵愛，她認為薛紹的嫂嫂蕭氏和成氏出身不夠高貴，想逼薛家休妻。有人以蕭氏出身門閥大姓蘭陵蕭氏，為蕭瑀侄孫，並非寒門相勸，才使武則天放棄了這個打算。太平公主嫁給薛紹後生下兩個兒子。太平公主與丈夫薛紹情篤意合、生活美滿，但兩人的婚姻于688年結束。因為薛紹長兄薛顗參與唐宗室李沖的謀反，進而牽連駙馬薛紹，武則天下令將薛顗處死、薛紹杖責一百，餓死獄中，當時太平公主正懷孕著，後來太平公主生下一個女兒，當時太平公主最小的女兒才剛滿月[來源請求]。事後，武則天為了安慰女兒，打破唐公主食實封不過三百五十戶的慣例，將她的食邑加到一千二百戶。

第二次婚姻

不久，武則天曾打算將寡居的太平公主嫁給武承嗣，但因武承嗣生病作罷（一說是因為太平公主看不中武承嗣）。690年太平公主改嫁予武攸暨。武則天為了讓太平公主嫁給武攸暨，而處死了武攸暨的妻子。這次婚姻被認為是武則天為了保護太平公主而採取的手段。兩個月後武則天正式登基，太平公主則因武家的兒媳之身分避免了危險。婚後與武攸暨育有兩個兒子、一女兒。

武攸暨性格謹慎謙退。太平公主在第二次婚姻期間，與僧惠範及崔湜有私交，並將張昌宗進獻給母親武則天。有謂太平公主與高戩、崔湜等人淫亂，但正史如《新唐書》、《舊唐書》等時常只提及「私附太平公主」。

武周時期

太平公主「喜權勢」，武則天認為她、身材豐腴、足智多謀都像自己，常與之商議政事，但武則天多與太平公主私下謀議。太平公主畏懼母親，因而行事比較收斂，對外只大肆裝修府邸，購買別業。武則天朝，太平公主見諸史書的建樹只有為自衛而剷除來俊臣勢力這一件。此外，聖曆二年（699年）太平公主同相王李旦一起作為李家的代表參與了武李盟誓（有記載稱，薛懷義也是她定計處死的，但也有說法稱，處死薛懷義的是建昌王武攸寧。）

武周末年，武氏權勢傾軋李氏，武則天召回廬陵王李顯，立他為繼承人，並通過一系列聯姻將武李兩家聯繫起來，以圖能消弭未來的政治鬥爭。同時，她也開始讓太平公主和上官婉兒以及她的兩個男寵張昌宗、張易之掌握權力。太平公主本人雖是武家兒媳，但政治上一直是李家的擁護者。

大足元年（701年），二張兄弟因進讒言害死了兩家的嫡系繼承人而同時得罪武李兩家。長安二年八月（702年），李顯、李旦與太平公主聯名表奏，請封張昌宗為王，為武則天拒絕，改封二張為國公。這次表奏緩和了雙方關係。但不久後的長安三年九月（703年），張昌宗誣告魏元忠與太平公主的情夫司禮丞高戩，引起武則天大怒，將魏高二人下獄。二張與太平公主及李家的關係徹底破裂。

705年，李家的擁護者鳳閣侍郎張柬之、鸞臺侍郎崔玄暐、左羽林將軍敬暉、右羽林將軍桓彥范、司刑少卿袁恕己等五人發動兵變，誅殺二張，逼武則天讓帝位給太子李顯，史稱神龍政變。太平公主由於參與誅殺二張兄弟有功，而受封鎮國太平公主，封五千戶。

中宗、睿宗時期

唐中宗復闢之後，太平公主足智多謀，逐漸走到幕前，積極參與政治。她受到中宗的尊重，中宗曾特地下詔免她對皇太子李重俊、安樂公主等人行禮。中宗朝時，韋皇后與安樂公主幹政亂權，唯懼太平公主多謀善斷。

景龍元年（707年），太子李重俊發動了景龍之變，殺了武三思、武崇訓，重俊事敗被殺。景龍三年七月（709年），安樂公主與宗楚客想趁機陷害太平公主與相王李旦兄妹，遂誣告他們與重俊同謀，因主審官御史中丞蕭至忠對中宗流淚進諫，「陛下富有四海，不能容一弟一妹，而使人羅織害之乎！」，太平公主與李旦而得以倖免于難，但太平公主與安樂公主的敵對已明顯白熱化。

景龍四年（710年）六月，唐中宗病逝，上官婉兒與太平公主一起草擬遺詔，立溫王李重茂為皇太子，皇后知政事，相王李旦參謀政事，試圖在韋后與皇族之間謀取平衡，但宗楚客與韋后黨羽商議，改相王李旦為太子太師，架空了李旦，打破了這一平衡。七月，身份高貴，一言九鼎的太平公主派劉幽求與兒子薛崇簡一起參與了李隆基起事誅殺韋后的唐隆政變，殺了韋后，清除了韋氏黨羽，並親手將李重茂拉下皇位，擁立相王李旦復位，是為唐睿宗。太平公主因此番功勞而晉封萬戶，三子封王，為唐朝公主權勢之頂峰。

太平公主在協助李隆基政變除掉韋皇后以後，與李隆基發生權爭。她曾經要求睿宗廢掉太子李隆基，並積極培植黨羽，痛下殺手企圖毒死李隆基，將其置於死地。此時，朝中七位宰相有五位是經由太平公主任命，《資治通鑑》說：「自宰相以下，進退系其一言，其餘薦士驟歷清顯者不可勝紀，權傾人主，趨附其門者如市」。文武百官除了姚崇、宋璟等寥寥數人外，大多數都依附太平公主。睿宗則試圖在李隆基和太平公主之間尋求政治平衡，避免傷害到任何一人。

上官婉兒被殺後，太平公主勸說睿宗下詔將她厚葬于雍州咸陽縣茂道鄉洪瀆原，且非常哀傷，派人去弔祭，並出錢五百匹絹。此後太平公主曾勸說唐睿宗下旨，搜集編撰了上官婉兒的著作，保留了這位才女的作品。

死亡

延和元年（712年）睿宗李旦內禪，太子李隆基即位，是為唐玄宗，改元先天。同年，太平公主的丈夫武攸暨去世。先天二年（713年）李隆基宣稱太平公主準備以御林軍從北面、以南衙兵從南面起兵奪權。李隆基與郭元振、王毛仲、高力士等人先發制人，先殺了常元楷、李慈，又擒獲了散騎常侍賈膺福及中書舍人李猷，接著殺了宰相岑羲、蕭至忠；尚書右僕射竇懷貞亂中自裁而死。

太平公主見黨羽被誅殺殆盡，不得不逃入佛寺，三日後返回。太上皇李旦出面請玄宗恕其死罪，被玄宗拒絕，太平公主最終被賜死家中，享年四十八歲。其夫武攸暨墳墓也被剷平。太平公主自殺後「籍其家，財貨山積，珍奇寶物，侔于御府，馬牧羊牧、田園、質庫、數年征斂不盡。」

考古

2021年底，考古人員在洛陽正平坊遺址發現太平公主的宅邸。

子女

根據《舊唐書》記載，太平公主生下四子三女，與薛紹生下二子二女，其中幼女為遺腹景雲元年（710年）薨，享年二十四歲。與武攸暨生下二子一女。太平公主死後，除了女兒武靈覺已出家、次子薛崇簡因是李隆基一黨而僅遭流放以外，其餘子女均被處死。《大唐都景福寺主威和上塔銘》主人和上，俗名武靈覺，為武攸暨與太平公主所生的女兒，五十二歲在開元二十餘年去世。其生年應不早于其父母婚年（690年），則其生卒年應為（690—741）。太平公主的女婿唐晙亦死于政變，未知其娶了太平公主的哪個女兒。

另外，崔瑤的妻子沛郡夫人武氏的墓誌銘中，記她為武攸暨和太平公主的第二女，封永和縣主。但從其年齡推斷，她出生時，太平公主與薛紹的婚姻仍然存在，因此她可能不是太平公主所生的女兒。或是武攸暨與其她妻妾的女兒，出于太平公主的繼母或嫡母身份而記于她的名下。亦或墓碑記載的年齡或時間有誤。

影視作品

文學作品

《日月當空》、《龍戰在野》、《天地明環》 - 黃易

《醉枕江山》 - 月關

注釋

During Emperor Gaozongs reign: Under Empress Wus shadow

It is not known when Princess Taiping was born, but it is known that she was the youngest of the six known children of Emperor Gaozong and his second wife Empress Wu (later known as Wu Zetian). Thus, it is clear that she was either of the same age as his brother Li Dan (later Emperor Ruizong) or younger. At the time of her birth, her mother, Empress Wu, was the real power behind Emperor Gaozong, and Wu took control over Gaozong. In 670, when Empress Wu's mother Lady Yang died, Empress Wu had Princess Taiping become a Taoist nun to gain divine favor on behalf of Lady Yang. During the Yifeng era (676-679), when Emperor Gaozong was negotiating a peace treaty with Tufan, the king of Tufan requested to marry Princess Taiping, Emperor Gaozong declined — and, as an excuse, built a Taoist temple named Taiping Temple (太平觀) and commissioned her as the abbess of the temple.

In 681, however, Emperor Gaozong and Empress Wu selected Xue Shao (薛紹), a son of Emperor Gaozong's sister Princess Chengyang and Princess Chengyang's second husband Xue Yao (薛曜) (and thus, Princess Taiping's cousin) to be Princess Taiping's husband. A grand wedding was held in the fall of 681, and it was said that there were so many torches used in the procession from the palace to Xuanyang District (宣陽坊), where the Xue clan lived, that many trees on the sides of the streets died due to the heat and smoke. Empress Wu, believing that Lady Xiao, the wife of Xue Shao's brother Xue Yi (薛顗), and Lady Cheng, the wife of another brother Xue Xu (薛緒), were both of low birth and should not be her daughter's sisters-in-law, commented, "How can my daughter be a sister-in-law to the daughters of farmers?" She considered forcing Xue Yi and Xue Xu to divorce, but someone noted to her that Lady Xiao was a grandniece of the deceased chancellor Xiao Yu, and she relented. Xue Shao and Princess Taiping had two sons — Xue Chongxun (薛崇訓) and Xue Chongjian (薛崇簡) — and a daughter (686 - 710) who was created Lady Wanquan (萬泉縣主).

During Emperor Wus regency: Participate in politics

Emperor Gaozong died in 683 and was succeeded by Princess Taiping's older brother Crown Prince Li Zhe (as Emperor Zhongzong), but actual power was in the hands of Empress Wu, as empress dowager and regent. In 684, when Emperor Zhongzong showed signs of independence, she deposed him and replaced him with another brother of Princess Taiping's, Li Dan, Prince of Yu (as Emperor Ruizong), but thereafter wielded power even more firmly. As she viewed Princess Taiping as similar to her in appearance and attitude, she favored Princess Taiping greatly and often discussed the affairs of the state with her.

In 688, after a failed rebellion against Empress Dowager Wu led by Emperor Gaozong's brother Li Zhen, Prince of Yue and Li Zhen's son Li Chong, Prince of Langye, Xue Yi, Xue Xu, and Xue Shao were discovered as having conspired with Li Chong. Xue Yi and Xue Xu were beheaded, while Xue Shao was caned 100 times and starved to death — which led to more suffering, but which allowed his body to remain whole and thus was considered a more honorable death.

In 690, Empress Dowager Wu wanted to remarry Princess Taiping to Wu Youji, a grandson of Empress Dowager Wu's uncle Wu Shileng (武士稜). Wu Youji, however, was already married, and Empress Dowager Wu secretly had Wu Youji's wife assassinated so that Princess Taiping could marry him. With Wu Youji, Princess Taiping would have an additional two sons — Wu Chongmin (武崇敏) and Wu Chongxing (武崇行) — and one daughter. A possible second daughter, titled Lady Yonghe (永和县主), was also born to them.

During Emperor Wu Zetians reign: Increasing role in politics

Later in 690, Empress Dowager Wu had Emperor Ruizong yield the throne to her, establishing the Zhou dynasty with herself as its "emperor" (therefore interrupting the Tang dynasty).

In or before 697, Princess Taiping recommended Zhang Changzong to serve as Wu Zetian's lover. Zhang Changzong further recommended his brother Zhang Yizhi as well.

Also in 697, Wei Suizhong (衛遂忠), a friend of the secret police official Lai Junchen, revealed that Lai had intended to accuse Princess Taiping, the Wu clan princes, Li Dan, and Li Zhe of treason. Princess Taiping and the Wu clan princes, in response, accused Lai of crimes, and Wu Zetian put Lai to death.

In 699, when the chancellor Zong Chuke (a son of Wu Zetian's cousin) and Zong Chuke's brother Zong Jinqing (宗晉卿) were accused of corruption and exiled, Princess Taiping visited the Zongs' mansions and commented, "Once we look at their mansions, it is like we have not lived."

Also in 699, Wu Zetian, in fear that after her death that Li Zhe (who by now had changed his name to Li Xian and then further to Wu Xian and had been recalled to be crown prince again) and the Wu clan princes would not be able to coexist peacefully, had him, Li Dan, Princess Taiping, Wu Youji, and the other Wu clan princes swear an oath to each other and read the oaths to the gods. The oaths were then carved on iron and kept in the imperial archives.

In 702, Wu Zetian had Li Xian, Li Dan, and Princess Taiping submit formal petitions to have Zhang Changzong created a prince. She then formally rejected the petitions but created Zhang Changzong and Zhang Yizhi dukes.

In 703, a favorite official of Princess Taiping's, who might have been her lover, Gao Jian (高戩), was accused by the Zhangs of agreeing with the chancellor Wei Yuanzhong, whom the Zhangs had resented, that Wu Zetian was old and that it would be more secure to support the crown prince. Wu Zetian, in anger, had Wei and Gao arrested and subsequently exiled.

During Emperor Zhongzongs second reign: Under Empress Weis shadow

In 705, a coup led by the officials Zhang Jianzhi, Cui Xuanwei, Jing Hui, Huan Yanfan, and Yuan Shuji killed Zhang Yizhi and Zhang Changzong and overthrew Wu Zetian, restoring Li Xian to the throne. Princess Taiping was said to be involved in the coup, and after Emperor Zhongzong's restoration, he gave her the special title of Zhenguo Taiping Gongzhu (鎮國太平公主) — literally "the Princess Taiping who secured the state." He also established her own luxurious palace, and she enjoyed five thousand households, so she became very much rich, therefore, her power skyrocketed and she found a say in court politics. Later, Emperor Zhongzong specially sent a number of Imperial Army guards to be stationed at Princess Taiping's mansion. An imperial guard was set up around her mansion and there were also many fully armed guards patrolling day and night to protect her and protecting her was a lot like protecting the emperor. This alone is enough to see Princess Taiping's exalted position in Emperor Zhongzong's reign. In 706, she, along with Emperor Zhongzong's daughters Princesses Changning, Anle (Li Guo'er), Yicheng, Xindu, and Ding'an, and Princess Jincheng (the daughter of Princess Taiping's nephew Li Shouli the Prince of Yong), were allowed to retain staffs, similar to imperial princes. As a result, they led a governmental structure, and the staffs and offices they held were part of a governmental mechanism and it was like setting up a government. She became one of the powerful women at court, although her power was rivaled by Emperor Zhongzong's wife Empress Wei and Li Guo'er. As a result, Princess Taiping with Empress Wei and Li Guo'er were engaged in party battles to seize power and eliminate each other.

After Emperor Zhongzong ascended the throne, Empress Wei and Li Guo'er dominated his reign and their lifestyle was completely promiscuous and extravagant, both tried to imitate Wu Zetian: The Empress Wei successfully imitated Empress Wu position during the reign of Emperor Gaozong, who listened to politics with a curtain at court next to the emperor, and effectively participating in both military and civil decisions, and the Li Guo'er brought chaos to his father's administration with rampant lawlessness and corruption, and in an unsuccessful attempt she tried to convince Emperor Zhongzong to make her crown princess; Both sold government posts, enslaved common people, executed anyone who insulted them or disobeyed their orders, and committed adultery with different men in the palace. Princess Taiping tried in vain to open Emperor Zhongzong's eyes to the activities of this mother and daughter, and her efforts were so unsuccessful that she rarely attended in the imperial palace for fear of their attack.

In 707, after Emperor Zhongzong's son Li Chongjun the Crown Prince, angry over Li Guo'er's repeated attempts to displace him to become crown princess, failed in a rebellion to arrest Empress Wei and Li Guo'er, Li Guo'er and Zong Chuke (now chancellor again) tried to implicate Princess Taiping and Li Dan in Li Chongjun's plot, Emperor Zhongzong requested Xiao to investigate, but after Xiao Zhizhong spoke on their behalf, weeping, responded:

Emperor Zhongzong stopped investigations against Princess Taiping and Li Dan. From this time on, Princess Taiping with Li Longji spent time to cultivate relationships with some imperial guard commanders, and she began to attract a some of middle-ranking officials around her. As a result, she expand her power to compete with Empress Wei and Princess Anle and their faction, and sought to protect herself and her brother Li Dan.

During Empress dowager Weis regency: A coup against her

Emperor Zhongzong died suddenly in 710 — a death that traditional historians believed to be a murder carried out by Empress Wei and Li Guo'er so that Empress Wei could become emperor and Li Guo'er could become crown princess. In the aftermath of Emperor Zhongzong's death, Empress Wei, who initially kept the death secret, tried to consolidate power; she immediately ordered that the palace and the capital be sealed. All the gates were blockaded and exit of the capital forbidden, and summoned her allied officials into the palace, and mobilized a total of 50,000 soldiers from various prefectures to be stationed in Chang'an City, and immediately put Wei Wen in overall command of the imperial guards, with his cousin Wei Xuan (韋璿) and nephews Wei Bo (韋播) and Gao Song (高嵩) in command as well. But Emperor Zhongzong's death was discovered by Princess Taiping faster than Empress Wei wanted to secure her power, and Princess Taiping and another powerful woman, Emperor Zhongzong's concubine Consort Shangguan Wan'er, drafted a will on Emperor Zhongzong's behalf that attempted to balance the various factions — having Emperor Zhongzong's son by another concubine, Li Chongmao the Prince of Wen, take the throne, and having Empress Wei as empress dowager and regent, assisted by Li Dan. This performance of Princess Taiping angered Empress Wei and her clan and faction. Immediately, Empress Wei's cousin Wei Wen, wanting to have Empress Wei take sole power, however, modified the will to remove Li Dan as coregent. Accordingly, Li Chongmao took the throne (as Emperor Shang), while Empress Wei became empress dowager and regent. The foiling of Princess Taiping's plan terrified her and her followers, prompting them to wage a carefully planned war against Empress Dowager Wei and her powerful clan and faction.

Meanwhile, Empress Dowager Wei's clan members, along with Zong Chuke, Li Guo'er's husband Wu Yanxiu (武延秀), and other officials Zhao Lüwen (趙履溫) and Ye Jingneng (葉靜能) were advising her to take the throne, like Wu Zetian did, and they also advised her to eliminate Li Dan and Princess Taiping. The official Cui Riyong leaked their plan to Li Dan's son Li Longji the Prince of Linzi. Li Longji responded by conspiring with Princess Taiping, Princess Taiping's son Xue Chongjian, as well as several low level officials close to him — Zhong Shaojing, Wang Chongye (王崇曄), Liu Youqiu, and Ma Sizong (麻嗣宗) — to act first. Meanwhile, Empress Wei's nephews Wei Bo (韋播) and Gao Song (高嵩), who had recently been put in command of imperial guards and who had tried to establish their authority by dealing with the guards harshly, had alienated the guards, and the guard officers Ge Fushun (葛福順), Chen Xuanli (陳玄禮), and Li Xianfu (李仙鳧) thereafter also joined the plot.

Under the full planning and some command actions of Princess Taiping (such as financing, gathering opposition political and military forces against Empress Dowager Wei, joining the army to attack the palace, and carefully preparing how to attack), without first informing Li Dan, the conspirators (under the joint leadership of Princess Taiping and Li Longji) rose on 21 July, first killing Wei Bo, Gao, and Empress Wei's cousin Wei Gui (韋璿). They then attacked the palace. Li Longji rushed directly into the heart of the enemy with 10,000 armed soldiers, and looked for Empress Dowager Wei and Li Guo'er. When Empress Dowager Wei panicked and fled to an imperial guard camp, a guard beheaded her. Li Guo'er, Wu Yanxiu, and Lady Helou were killed as well. Li Longji soon slaughtered a number of officials in Empress Dowager's faction as well as her clan, while displaying Empress Dowager Wei's body on the street. Thereafter, at the urging of Princess Taiping, Li Longji, and Li Longji's brother Li Chengqi the Prince of Song, Li Dan retook the throne. In fact, no one dared to praise or propose Li Dan as emperor, Princess Taiping did it first, and Princess Taiping summoned the courtiers and decided to transfer power from Emperor Shang to Li Dan and she was bold enough to told all the officials: she also tell the little emperor: Princess Taiping grabbed Emperor Shang's collar at the replacement ceremony and lowered him while he was still sitting on the throne, reducing Li Chongmao back to the title of Prince of Wen, and she ordered his arrest. She took Li Dan's hand and placed him on the throne, and following her actions, Li Longji also expressed his support and guaranteed his father reign.

During Emperor Ruizongs second reign: Ruling an empire

After Emperor Ruizong returned to the throne, she was awarded the unprecedented title of Zhenguo Taiping Gongzhu Wanhou (鎮國太平公主万侯) — literally "the Princess Taiping who secured the state and has the obedience of all." Against this backdrop, the following edict was issued in the name of Ruizong to reward Princess Taiping with additional households of income:

The edict, together with the reward, was a part of the complicated negotiation at the heart of the delicate alliance between Li Longji and Princess Taiping. On its surface, the throne was using this edict to reward Princess Taiping; in reality, Princess Taiping was one of the real powerholders behind the throne, and her agency permeated every part of the imperial decision making. Indeed, the edict acknowledged, in the emperor's voice, that Princess Taiping supported "Us" as the emperor. In other words, the edict publicly proclaimed a version of history that featured Princess Taiping as the agent who rescued the empire and pacified the realm.

He particularly and blindly trusted Princess Taiping and was completely favor to her, and she became honored like an empress inside the palace and court. She discussed and helped decide all military and state affairs: every time that an official made a proposal, report and petition, he directed the official to first discuss the matters with Princess Taiping and Li Longji (who was created crown prince), before he would rule on the matter himself. Thus, Princess Taiping has decision-making power on many events in the governmental and border matters. She can often decide the promotion or demotion of officials with a single sentence. According to Song dynasty historian Sīmǎ Guāng 司马光 in the Zizhi Tongjian:

Her three sons were all created princes (in Xue Chongjian's case, the Prince of Lijie). She became extremely rich and lucrative, and she was known as a real force behind the throne, as a result of her power, and her mansion was like a palace, even more magnificent, and her palace, like the emperor's palace, was guarded by soldiers: her staff simulated the royal design without any reservations, and most chancellors, forbidden troops, officials and warlords were her associates. Therefore, the Princess Taiping was so powerful that she even surpassed Emperor Ruizong. Also, Princess Taiping would sit behind a curtain beside Emperor Ruizong and give him advice during imperial meetings, and discussing affairs of dynasty and state with his councilors, who took orders from her while she sat behind a screen (as an imitation of her mother and sister-in-law, when they were both empress consort).

The historian Liu Xu, in Old Book of Tang, was highly critical of the power Princess Taiping had wielded, it says:

According to Song dynasty historians Ouyang Xiu and Song Qi, in the New Book of Tang:

Initially, Princess Taiping agreed to Li Longji's ascension as crown prince despite the fact that Li Longji was not Emperor Ruizong's oldest son and was not born of Emperor Ruizong's wife, the deceased Empress Liu (Li Chengqi was both — and therefore pursuant to Confucian principles of succession should have been crown prince, although Li Chengqi himself declined the title, reasoning that Li Longji's accomplishment was what allowed the empire to be secure), as she believed that Li Longji was young (25 at the time he was made crown prince) and would be easy to control and therefore maintain her power for the future (if one day he sits on the throne). However, once she began to see that Li Longji was strong-willed, and especially after she realized Li Longji was not receptive to her influence, she became apprehensive and often had officials close to her publicly opine that Li Longji was an improper crown prince. She further often paid Li Longji's staff members to spy on him to try to find faults with him. She associated with a group of officials, including the chancellors Dou Huaizhen, Xiao Zhizhong, and Cen Xi, intending to find some way to remove Li Longji, but was unable to get two other chancellors — Wei Anshi and Song Jing — to join her group. On one occasion, when Emperor Ruizong met with Wei Anshi alone, he told Wei, "I have heard that the officials are all loyal only to the Eastern Palace the Crown Prince, as the Eastern Palace was the residence for the crown prince). You should investigate this." Wei responded:

Emperor Ruizong was surprised and took no further action and only said:

However, Princess Taiping Was behind a pearl screen behind Emperor Ruizong and heard this, and she spread rumors against Wei, hoping that he would be arrested and tried, but the chancellor Guo Yuanzhen stopped the investigations into Wei. In another case, of course, this time directly by herself, When she hinted that Li Longi should be replaced at a meeting she had with the chancellors, the other chancellors all did not dare to speak, but chancellor Song directly responded:

In 711, Song and another chancellor, Yao Yuanzhi, tried to persuade Emperor Ruizong to carry out a plan that they believed would end her plotting. They proposed that the two princes who arguably had superior claims on the throne than Li Longji — Li Chengqi and Li Shouli (whose father Li Xian (note different character than Emperor Zhongzong) was an older brother to both Emperors Zhongzong and Ruizong) — be sent out of the capital Chang'an to serve as prefectural prefects, while Princess Taiping and Wu Youji be sent to live in Luoyang. They also proposed that Li Longji be put in charge of most affairs of state. Emperor Ruizong initially agreed and made the orders as Song and Yao suggested, except that he believed that Luoyang was too far and therefore sent Princess Taiping and Wu Youji only to Pu Prefecture (蒲州, roughly modern Yuncheng, Shanxi). After Princess Taiping found out that the plan was conceived by Song and Yao, however, she was incensed and let Li Longji know her anger. In fear, Li Longji submitted a petition accusing Song and Yao of alienating him from his brothers Li Chengqi and Li Shouli (who was actually a cousin but was raised with Emperor Ruizong's sons) and aunt Princess Taiping, asking that the two be put to death. Emperor Ruizong, in response, demoted Song and Yao and recalled Princess Taiping, Li Chengqi, and Li Shouli to the capital. After Song and Yao were removed, Princess Taiping further suggested that a major reform in the civil service system that they carried out — removing officials improperly commissioned during Emperor Zhongzong's reign — be reversed, and Emperor Ruizong agreed. That year, Princess Taiping persuaded Emperor Ruizong to decree, collect and compile Shangguan Wan'er works, and retain the works of this talented woman. Later that year, in order to please Wu Youji, Princess Taiping requested that the tombs of Wu Zetian's parents Wu Shihuo (武士彠) and Lady Yang be restored to imperial tomb status (they had been reduced to the status of tombs of nobles after Emperor Zhongzong's death), and Emperor Ruizong agreed. Also that year, when the officials Xue Qianguang (薛謙光) and Murong Xun (慕容珣) accused an associate of Princess Taiping's, the Buddhist monk Huifan (慧範), Princess Taiping pleaded on Huifan's behalf, and Emperor Ruizong, believing that Xue and Murong had only accused Huifan because they could do so during the time that Princess Taiping was out of the capital, demoted Xue and Murong.

In winter 711 Princess Taiping's has become more powerful, and because of her recommendations, Emperor Ruizong carried out a major reorganization of his administration, relieving the chancellors Wei, Guo Yuanzhen, Dou, Li Rizhi, and Zhang Shuo of their chancellor positions, instead commissioning a number of chancellors that she recommended — Liu Youqiu, Wei Zhigu, Cui Shi, and Lu Xiangxian. (Cui was a lover of Princess Taiping, and when she offered to recommend him as chancellor, because he admired Lu, he requested to be made chancellor along with Lu, even though Lu was not an associate of Princess Taiping. It was said that Emperor Ruizong, however, was initially unwilling to make Cui chancellor, but relented after Princess Taiping begged in tears, although the account may be somewhat discountable in that neither Liu nor Wei was an associate of Princess Taiping either, and both were close associates of Li Longji.) The governors general of the Imperial Guards, Chang Yuankai (常元楷), Li Ci (李慈), and Li Qin was also loyal to her.

In 712, Princess Taiping's husband Wu Youji died, and Emperor Ruizong posthumously created him the Prince of Ding, a title that he had formerly carried.

Later that year, Princess Taiping had astrologers warn Emperor Ruizong that the constellation that symbolized the imperial throne, Dizuo (帝座), showed that there would be a change in the emperor's position — believing that Emperor Ruizong would suspect Li Longji of plotting a coup and that she could remove Li Longji this way. She pointing out that history was repeating itself; Emperor Taizong (grandfather of Princess Taiping and Emperor Ruizong), overthrew his father Emperor Gaozu in a coup (Xuanwu Gate Incident). Instead, Emperor Ruizong, reasoning that the change in the emperor's position could be accounted by an orderly transition, offered to pass the throne to Li Longji. Princess Taiping fervently opposed it, and Li Longji initially declined, but at Emperor Ruizong's insistence finally accepted and took the throne (as Emperor Xuanzong). However, at Princess Taiping's suggestion, Emperor Ruizong retained more of the imperial power as Taishang Huang (retired emperor). She told him: Therefore, his edicts continued to carry very much greater and valid force than Emperor Xuanzong's; Even the new emperor had to obey his rulings.

During Emperor Xuanzongs reign: Power struggle in court

After Emperor Ruizong became Taishang Huang (retired emperor), meanwhile, Princess Taiping continued to be highly extremely influential in governmental matters through Emperor Ruizong, and still most chancellors, forbidden troops, officials and warlords were her associates. (Of the seven chancellors at the time, five – Dou Huaizhen, Xiao Zhizhong, Cen Xi, Cui Shi, and Lu Xiangxian – were made chancellors at her recommendation, although Lu was not considered a member of her party.) As a result, she retained the supreme hand, so the power struggle between aunt and nephew intensified. According to Song dynasty historian Sīmǎ Guāng 司马光 in the Zizhi Tongjian:

Later in 712, Liu Youqiu and the general Zhang Wei (張暐), with approval from Emperor Xuanzong, planned to command the imperial guards to kill Princess Taiping's associates, but when Zhang discussed this with the censor Deng Guangbin (鄧光賓), Deng leaked the news. Once the leak was known, Emperor Xuanzong was forced to disavow the plan and further inform Emperor Ruizong. Liu, Zhang, and Deng were arrested, but after Emperor Xuanzong pleaded on their behalf, they were only exiled.

By 713, it was said that Princess Taiping, Dou Huaizhen, Cen Xi, Xiao Zhizhong, Cui Shi; along with other officials Xue Ji, Li Jin (李晉) the Prince of Xinxing (a grandson of Li Deliang (李德良), a cousin of Tang's founder Emperor Gaozu), Li You (李猷), Jia Yingfu (賈膺福), Tang Jun (唐晙); the generals Chang Yuankai (常元楷), Li Ci (李慈), and Li Qin (李欽); and the monk Huifan, were plotting to overthrow Emperor Xuanzong. It was further said that they discussed, with the lady in waiting Lady Yuan to poison the gastrodia elata that Emperor Xuanzong routinely took as an aphrodisiac. When this alleged plot was reported to Emperor Xuanzong by Wei Zhigu, Emperor Xuanzong, who had already received advice from Wang Ju (王琚), Zhang Shuo, and Cui Riyong to act first, did so. He convened a meeting with his brothers Li Fan (李範) the Prince of Qi, Li Ye (李業) the Prince of Xue, Guo Yuanzhen, along with a number of his associates — the general Wang Maozhong (王毛仲), the officials Jiang Jiao (姜皎) and Li Lingwen (李令問), his brother-in-law Wang Shouyi (王守一), the eunuch Gao Lishi, and the military officer Li Shoude (李守德) — and decided to act first. On 29 July, Emperor Xuanzong had Wang Maozhong take 300 soldiers to the imperial guard camp to behead Chang and Li Ci. Then, Jia, Li You, Xiao, and Cen were arrested and executed as well. Dou fled into a canyon and committed suicide by hanging. Xue Ji was forced to commit suicide. When Emperor Ruizong heard about this, he quickly ascended the tower at Chengtian Gate (承天門) to ascertain what was happening. Guo reported to him Emperor Xuanzong's intentions, and Emperor Ruizong felt compelled to affirm Emperor Xuanzong's actions in an edict. The next day, Emperor Ruizong issued an edict transferring all authorities to Emperor Xuanzong and moved to a secondary palace, Baifu Hall (百福殿).

Meanwhile, Princess Taiping, hearing what happened to her associates, fled into a temple in the mountains, only appearing three days later. Emperor Ruizong begged Emperor Xuanzong for her pardon, but he refused. Emperor Xuanzong ordered her to commit suicide at home, and put to death her sons and associates, except for Xue Chongjian, who had often counseled Princess Taiping against retaining power and who had often been battered by her — Emperor Xuanzong bestowed on Xue Chongjian the imperial surname of Li and allowed him to retain his titles. Princess Taiping's assets were confiscated, and it was said that there was so much treasure, livestock, and real estate that it took several years for the accounting to be complete.

In fiction and popular culture

• Portrayed by Chen Hong and Zhou Xun in Palace of Desire (2000)

• Portrayed by Zheng Shuang in Secret History of Empress Wu (2011)

• Portrayed by Zheng Shuang and Alyssa Chia in Secret History of Princess Taiping (2012)

• Portrayed by Kristy Yang in Women of the Tang Dynasty (2013)

• Portrayed by Alice Chan in Deep in the Realm of Conscience (2018)

Ancestry