Glossary

Wansui Tongtian

萬歲通天

Term · calendar

Chinese era name (萬歲通天) of the Zhou of Empress Wu for the years 696–697: 696 is Wansui Tongtian 1 (元年) and Wansui Tongtian 2 is 697. Wansui Tongtian (萬歲通天) is a Chinese era name (nianhao) of the Zhou of Empress Wu, proclaimed in 696 under Empress Wu Zetian (則天皇后). Its years are counted in lunar years: 696 is Wansui Tongtian 1 (元年), 697 its last year, Wansui Tongtian 2. A Chinese source dates a year within it as “Wansui Tongtian 2” (萬歲通天二年) rather than by a continuous count. Before: Wansui Dengfeng. After: Shengong.