Emperor Qi Wudi 齊武帝 Xiao Ze 蕭賾

Emperor Wu 齊武帝 (r. 482-493), personal name Xiao Ze 蕭賾 (440-493), courtesy name Xuanyuan 宣遠, was the second ruler of the Southern Qi dynasty 南齊 (479-502), one of the Southern Dynasties 南朝 (420-589). His reign was a peaceful decade in the context of the turmoils of that period.

He was the oldest son of the dynastic founder, Emperor Gao 齊高帝 (r. 479-482), and started as a petty scribe under the Liu-Song dynasty 劉宋 (420-479). In 478, he was invested as District Marquis of Wenxi 聞喜縣侯 and appointed regional inspector (cishi 刺史) of the province of Jiangzhou 江州. In 479, he was nominated Heir Apparent of Xiao Daocheng 蕭道成 (i.e., Emperor Gao) as King of Qi 齊, and in the same year, as imperial Heir Apparent, after Xiao had assumed the title of emperor. He succeeded his father to the throne in 482.

Following the last instructions of Emperor Gao, Xiao Ze was assisted in government by the regents Chu Yuan 褚淵 (435-482) and Wang Jian 王儉 (452-489). In 483, he restricted the term of local governors to three years. Emperor Wu had some high and influential military personalities executed, like Zhang Jing'er 張敬兒 (d. 483), Gou Boyu 茍伯玉, Huan Chongzu 桓崇祖 (439-483) or Wang Huan 王奐 (435-493). In 485, he re-founded the Directorate of Education (guoxue 國學), appointing Wang Jian as its director (jijiu 祭酒). In addition to this measure, the recruitment of government personnel was strengthened by the order of 490 to all officials to recommend "capable people" (xianliang 賢良) for public service. Also, the salaries of state officials were raised. In 490, the law code (lüling 律令) was revised.

In 493, the Heir Apparent, Xiao Changmao 蕭長懋 (458-493), died, and Emperor Wu's grandson Xiao Zhaoye 蕭昭業 was nominated successor. In the same year, Emperor Wu died. He was buried in the tomb mound Jing'anling 景安陵 near present-day Danyang 丹陽, Jiangsu. His temple name is Emperor Shizu 齊世祖.