Abstract: Wu Zetian (624-705) was the only female monarch in the history of China. Her original name is not recorded in history, as neither Wu Mei or Wu Zhao was her original name. Many scholars have tried and various methods have been used to explore her original name, but none has been successful. During her reign Hua was a character mandated to be avoided as it was her grandfather’s given name on the one hand and one of the characters of her own given name on the other. The handwritten sutra Copy of Guidebook for Protecting Homeland dating back to the periods of Nanzhao (738-902) and Dali (937-1254) kingdoms preserves a part of the Imperial Pedigree of the Tang Dynasty (618-907), according to which Wu Zetian’s original given name was Hua Ming. This discovery is of great reference value for the study of Wu Zetian’s life.

Key words: Copy of Guidebook for Protecting Homeland, Wu Hua Ming, Wu Zetian