Round 2: Tossup 14

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 (10[1])in the coup that deposed this ruler. This person recast the legendary Nine Tripod Cauldrons and moved the capital to Luoyang (10[1])while creating a symbolic second (10[1])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■

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