Gold strip reveals secrets of China's only female emperor

A gold strip named after Wu Zetian, the only woman in Chinese history to rule as emperor, housed at the Henan Museum, stands as one of the most treasured pieces in the museum's collection. Discovered in 1982 hidden within a crevice at Mount Songshan in Henan Province, this gold strip is a rare and historically significant relic from the Tang Dynasty (618-907).

Measuring 36.2 cm in length, 8 cm in width, and weighing 223.5 grams, the strip is made of 90 percent pure gold. It bears a 63-character inscription indicating that Empress Wu Zetian, a devout follower of Taoism, sought longevity and divine blessings in her later years. The inscription details how she sent an envoy to Mount Songshan to offer the strip and pray to Taoist deities for healing and protection on her behalf. The text is dated to July 7, 700 AD.

In ancient China, such strips – referred to as "jian" – served as formal tokens conveying personal intentions or identities, similar to modern-day calling cards. From the Tang Dynasty onward, emperors would often cast such strips during ritual ceremonies at sacred sites. While other jian made from bronze, silver, or jade have been unearthed, this is the first known gold example.