also had Empress Wang's and her clan's surname changed to Mang (蟒, meaning "boa constrictor") and Consort Xiao's and her clan's surname changed to Xiao (梟, meaning "owl"). Only after Empress Wu's own death in 705 were their clans' proper surnames restored. However, it is controversial that Empress Wang was allowed to suffer the torture for a few days, to her death. Another assumption is that Empress Wang was strangled to death with Emperor Gaozong's approval. Modern depictions Portrayed by Chang Chung Wen in the 1963 Hong-Kong movie Empress Wu Tse-Tien. Portrayed by Ban Ban in the 1984 Hong-Kong TV series Empress Wu. Portrayed by Chen Pei-ling in the 1985 Taiwanese TV series The Empress of the Dynasty. Portrayed by Zheng Shuang in the 1995 Chinese TV series Wu Zetian. Portrayed by Zhang Tong in the 2003 Chinese TV series Lady Wu: The First Empress. Portrayed by Yan Bingyan in the 2006 Chinese TV series Wu Zi Bei Ge. Portrayed by Jun Hyun-ah in 2006-2007 SBS TV series Yeon Gaesomun. Portrayed by Ni Hong Jie in the 2011 Chinese TV series Meng Hui Tang Chao. Portrayed by Zhou Mu Yin in the 2011 Chinese TV series Beauty World. Portrayed by Jiang Lin Jing in the 2011 TV series Secret History of Empress Wu. Portrayed by Lan Yan in the 2012 Chinese TV series Secret History of Princess Taiping. Portrayed by Shi Shi in the 2014 Chinese TV series The Empress of China. Portrayed by Hu Sang in the 2014 Chinese TV series Young Sherlock. Portrayed by Theresa Fu in the 2017 Chinese TV series Legendary Di Renjie. Notes and references Old Book of Tang, vol. 51. New Book of Tang, vol. 76. Zizhi Tongjian, vols. 199, 200. 628 births 655 deaths Tang dynasty empresses Executed Tang dynasty people 7th-century executions by the Tang dynasty People executed by torture 7th-century Chinese women 7th-century Chinese people People from Taiyuan People executed for witchcraft