Final answer:
The aristocracy opposed Empress Wu Zetian mainly because of her gender in a time when Confucian values and societal norms did not support women in positions of extreme power. Despite demonstrating competence, her rule faced resistance as she broke traditional mores by creating her own dynasty and asserting dominance in what was a predominantly male arena.
Step-by-step explanation:
The likely reason the aristocracy opposed the rule of Empress Wu Zetian was primarily due to her gender. As an intelligent and competent ruler, Wu Zetian's reign was nevertheless considered unconventional for the time, raising resistance among the aristocracy because she was a woman who dared to claim imperial titles and founder her own dynasty. Despite her abilities, her ascent to the throne was viewed with skepticism and her rule met with opposition, as the societal expectations of the time limited female roles in governance and traditional male roles did not align with a female sovereign.
Confucian officials and other aristocrats were struggling with the idea of a woman leading the state, given the strict gender roles of the time. Empress Wu Zetian's assertive actions of promoting Buddhism as the state religion, ordering the writing of biographies of notable women, and her own creation of the Wu Zhou dynasty were bold moves that felt like usurpation to many. Her establishment of a reign of terror to eliminate political enemies among the aristocratic families was another facet of her rule that the aristocracy opposed, even though similar actions by male rulers were not considered as unacceptable.