Wu Zetien & Shangguan Wan'er

[Anonymous]

If interested in a read about women in power, "The Rise of the Most powerful Woman Ever to Rule China" might be able to do the trick. This link includes excerpts from a new book focused on the Empress Cixi. It details her life as a young girl, concubine, and how she came to be one of the most powerful women. I have not read the book, but the excerpts seem interesting. I will definitely add it to my summer must-read list.

http://www.theatlantic.com/china/archive/2013/11/the-rise-of-the-most-powerful-woman-ever-to-rule-china/281215/
edited by malvarenga on 5/28/2015

[Rob_Hugo@PortNW]

While I am not a feminist, it is always nice to read about women in power. As I was looking for information on Wu Zetien, I came across an article on Shangguan Wan'er, prime minister under the rule of Emperor Wu Zetien. The fact that two women held the power in Ancient China is mind-boggling to me. The article, Tomb of China’s woman prime minister: The life and lovers of politician who served first female emperor and was eventually executed in a palace coup, by Daily Mail Reporter provides the reader with pictures of Shangguan Wan’er tombs discovered in September 2013. The tomb contained several horse statues and was badly damaged. It also provides the reader with history of how she came to hold the political office of prime minister. Shangguan Wan’er worked hard to one day become like Wu Zetian, but unfortunately for her that did not occur.

Wu Zetian, the only female in Chinese history to rule as emperor of the Tang Dynasty. Her years in power were glorious. Her desire to gain and keep power made her ruthless, however, many critics state that she ruled during a peaceful and/or culturally diverse period. Wu was intelligent, witty, and beautiful. She was a concubine who gave birth to Kao Tsung’s sons which was the beginning of her rise to power. She eliminated his wife and married up.

Guess hard work did eventually pay off. While I do not find the path to power morally incorrect, who am I to judge. Had I lived at that time, under those circumstances, I don’t know what I would’ve done. More power to her.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2418543/Tomb-Chinas-woman-prime-minister-The-life-lovers-politician-served-female-emperor.html
edited by malvarenga on 4/27/2015
edited by malvarenga on 6/20/2015

[Anonymous]

This is very cool for girls and young women to see that history has fierce lady rulers. I love it. The tombs that were unearthed were amazing. I can imagine that many people all over the world are becoming more interested in studying history as result of such a find. Thanks for sharing this article.

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