Women In The Tang Dynasty

Women In The Tang Dynasty
Throughout the long history of mankind, women's status has been through a huge historical
evolution. Ancient Chinese feminism is obviously more noticeable than other cultures due to its
feudal and conservative society. Yuan Zhen, who is a famous Chinese writer and politician in Tang
Dynasty, has written one of the greatest masterpieces in that time period called The Story of
Yingying. In the story, he reflects the awakening of feminism in the Tang Dynasty by describing the
love tragedy about Zhang and Cui Yingying as well. However, there are a lot of different
distinctions on people's opinions on this story, and many people believe that Cui Yingying is just
simply a woman who does not know how to protect or respect herself. As time goes by, people start
to change their views as women are getting treated better and better ... Show more content on
Helpwriting.net ...
This event makes the status of women improved a lot, and it also leads a lot of litterateurs to start
changing their view on the famous female character Cui Yingying. Many female roles can be able to
pursue their own love which represents one aspect of feminism (DeBlasi 39–40). From many
literary works, Women in the Tang Dynasty can now fully displayed their confidence and beauty.
Feminism is the belief that woman have equal political, social, sexual, love, intellectual and
economic rights to men (Holdsworth8). Though Yingying is not completely fitted to the whole
standards, but she has chased her love and what she does has become a progress of awakening
feminism. Also her bold act to pursue their love becomes a symbol of the awakening of feminism.
The author Yuan Zhen describes Yingying as "expressions of either joy or misery seldom showed on
her face"(1055). This is an expression of noble girls' personality. She loves Zhang, but the feelings
are not revealed, and she tries to
... Get more on HelpWriting.net ...

Influences Of The Martial Culture In The Northern Dynasty
3. The influences of the martial culture in the Northern Dynasty 3.1 Ensured the fighting capacity,
and also shaped a valiant spirit The militarism in the Northern Dynasties contributed to the generally
good physical quality of the people and made the military have sufficient source to recruit from. And
the atmosphere reacted to the social culture. That is a big advantage compared to the Southern
Dynasties. The latter put too much importance in the metaphysics. Even the emperor of the Southern
Dynasty couldn't ride a horse to run for his life, which led to the failure of their war. 3.2 Promoted
the communication between different people and the regional integration The enhanced
communication occurred not only between minorities but also between ... Show more content on
Helpwriting.net ...
The discussion above on the warrior spirit has shown its complexity and beauty. Due to its specific
historical and cultural background, the sports culture was quite popular throughout the Northern
Dynasty, and it is true that there are always some restrictions on this popularity. The social
background, the traditions, the cultural conventions, and more factors could all be relative to the
public's attitude towards martialism and physical education. Though the Northern Dynasty is a hard
act to follow, more effort needs to be made so as to develop the sports

Similarities Between Tang Empress Wu And Hatshepsut
Comparing Ancient Female Rulers. Tang Empress Wu Zetian and Pharaoh Hatshepsut Tang
Empress Wu Zetian , Tang Destiny China (625–705 AD) she was the only female emperor in
Chinese history who actually ruled the whole country for almost half a century. Pharaoh Hatshepsut,
Queen of Egypt, 15th century BC ruled for 20 years as king (priests of Amun in fact, declared her
king). (Sayre, 2015, p. 83) while she reigned. Both Empress Wu and Pharaoh Hatshepsut were great
women rulers of their time as well as the longest female rulers Both women ascended to power
through the men in their families, Wu was born into a rich and noble family and so she was taught
play music, write, read Chinese classics and by the time she was 13 years of age she was known for
her wit, beauty and intelligence so by age 14 she was the concubine of Emperor Tai Sung and later
the concubine of his son Kao Tsung who became Emperor after his father died. When Emperor Kao
had a severe stroke she took over administrative duties equal to the emperor. Whereas Pharaoh
Hatshepsut who was the daughter of Thutmose I and his only child, she became queen when her
father died when she was age 12 and then married her half brother Thutmose II ... Show more
content on Helpwriting.net ...
Hatshepsut was a patron of the arts and architecture:and consolidated the country Culturally ,
innovative in construction projects which included professional roads. She also built some of
Egypt's finest sculpture, statues, jewelry and temples and that led to renaissance design for the arts
that would last centuries. Her successful reign is now being commemorated at the New York

Similarities Between Tang And Song Dynasty
Throughout the centuries and millennia, China has seen power exchange hands several times and
dynasties fall and rise. With these collapses of power, China has suffered through periods of division
and civil war. During the imperial era of Chinese rule, there was a period of four centuries in which
the country remained divided due to internal conflict. It was during this time that the Sui dynasty
came to power, founded by Emperor Wen of Sui. Shortly after it was founded, the Sui dynasty
reunified Northern and Southern China and naturalized non–Han citizens. After the Sui dynasty saw
its decline, the Li family seized power and formed the Tang dynasty and a few centuries later came
the Song dynasty. The Tang and Song dynasties saw some similarities ... Show more content on
Helpwriting.net ...
China's Golden Age: Everyday Life in the Tang Dynasty. Oxford: Oxford UP, 2004. IvyCat. Web. 21
Apr. 2016.
FitzGerald, Charles Patrick. "Wuhou." Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Encyclopedia Britannica,
n.d. Web. 21 Apr. 2016. .
Lopez, Donald S. "Buddhism." Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Encyclopedia Britannica, n.d. Web.
21 Apr. 2016. .
The Editors of Encyclopædia Britannica. "Tang Dynasty." Encyclopedia Britannica Online.
Encyclopedia Britannica, n.d. Web. 21 Apr. 2016. .
The Editors of Encyclopædia Britannica. "Song Dynasty." Encyclopedia Britannica Online.
The Editors of Encyclopædia Britannica. "Li Qingzhao." Encyclopedia Britannica Online.
Weiming, Tu. "Confucianism." Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Encyclopedia Britannica, n.d. Web.
21 Apr. 2016. .
Xi, Sun. "The Status of Women in the Song and Tang Dynasties." The Status of Women in the Song
and Tang Dynasties. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Apr.

How Did The Tang Empress Wu Zetian, The First Female Ruler...
The Tang Empress Wu Zetian (also known as Empress Wu or as Wu Zhao; ruled China around 690–
705 AD) was China's first female ruler. (Dash, 2012) Pharaoh Hatshepsut was the was the fifth
pharaoh between 1508 and 1458 BC of the Eighteenth dynasty of Egypt and the first women
pharaoh (Sayre, 2015). These two were great female rulers during the ancient times and brought
different styles of ruling during each of their times as rulers.
Cultures over which they ruled, identifying any similarities and differences between the cultures.
We will look at Wu Zetian, the first female ruler in China, was born in 624. Per parents were rich
and of noble families, besides the straighter end results of her move violently to expand and uphold
ultimate power, Wu's leadership resulted in significant consequences about social class in Chinese
culture and in relation to circumstances hold up for Taoism, Buddhism, education, and writing. Wu
Zetian also had a colossal impact leading the sculptures at the Qianling Mausoleum of the Longmen
Grottoes and the "Wordless Stele", on top of the building of some most important constructions and
bronze castings that do not continue to exist. Hatshepsut, on the other hand, was born in the 18th
Dynasty (a powerful group or family that maintains its position for a considerable time) recognized
the trade system that had been distressed at some point in the Hyksos profession of Egypt all
through the Second Intermediate Period, thus building the riches of the

Qin Xu Character Analysis
It's a nice, sunny, afternoon after an enduring day at work. She sits in the black, mesh, rolling chair
at the desk where she wraps up her unfinished assignments. Still completely dressed up as if ready
for a job interview, she sits up straight and prepares for the stream of questions I have fabricated. As
I question her, she answers in a formal manner, just like when she prepares for job interviews by
speaking to a mirror.
Qin Xu was born in Huoqiu, China, in 1965, as the oldest of 5. Her living conditions as a child
weren't the best, but she aspired to be one of the academically best students she could. She attended
two different universities, where she was challenged but learned from the experiences and matured
from them. She

The Tang Dynasty : The Golden Age Of Ancient China
The Tang Dynasty is an important aspect of Chinese history. Lasting from 618 AD to 907 AD, it
received the nickname "The Golden Age of Ancient China" because it was a very prosperous time.
This powerful empire came into control when the reign of the Sui Dynasty before it ended. The Sui
Dynasty only had a lifespan of two main emperors, Emperor Wen and Emperor Yang. Emperor Wen
was a great leader for this empire, but his son was an awful tyrant, and due to this, the empire failed.
Li Yuan, a governor of the Sui and also Emperor Yang's cousin, rebelled and with the help of his
sons and others, was able to overthrow the horrible ruler. In the end, Li Yuan gained power and
established the Tang Dynasty. He became Emperor Gaozu of Tang in 618 AD. (Ancient China: Sui
Dynasty) Emperor Gaozu unified China by doing many things. He conquered regions near the Tang,
expanding the Dynasty. He also implemented rules put in place by Emperor Wen of Sui that were
replaced when Emperor Yang came to power. Under his ruling, a new coin was minted and trade
was promoted. (Totally History)
The governmental structure was great in the Tang dynasty and included: the Secretariat created and
wrote bills, the Chancellery reviewed and changed bills, and the Department of State Affairs put the
bills into place. The Department of State was the head of the government and in it there were six
ministries: one for personnel, military, finance, rites, justice, and public works. Many other

Empress Wu Zetian Quotes
"She killed her sisters, butchered her elder brothers, murdered the ruler, and poisoned her mother," is
a quote written about Empress Wu in the chronicles. Empress Wu Zetian was a very interesting
historical figure with amazing character traits and many fascinating achievements. She had made an
impact on many lives. Empress Wu Zetian had also been the first female to be crowned emperor.
Empress Wu was born on February 17, 624 A.D. She was born in Guangyuan, China. She was
considered a very intelligent woman of her time because she learned to read, write, and play music.
She also learned about politics, literature, and government affairs. Many historians would say that
she could be very cruel because she would torture her enemies. Empress ... Show more content on
Helpwriting.net ...
She helped out the poor, benefited the economy, and boosted a religion's popularity. A quote by Shan
Sa who wrote about Empress Wu states, "I, the ordinary restless child, the plain adolescent, the
commoner who had been nun twice, would prove to be a daughter of heaven."
"She killed her sisters, butchered her elder brothers, murdered the ruler, and poisoned her mother," is
a quote written about Empress Wu in the chronicles. Empress Wu Zetian was a very interesting
historical figure with amazing character traits and many fascinating achievements. She had made an
impact on many lives. Empress Wu Zetian had also been the first female to be crowned emperor.
Empress Wu was born on February 17, 624 A.D. She was born in Guangyuan, China. She was
considered a very intelligent woman of her time because she learned to read, write, and play music.
She also learned about politics, literature, and government affairs. Many historians would say that
she could be very cruel because she would torture her enemies. Empress Wu would also kill her
people and exile her own sons. Even though historians would consider her cruel, she was
considerate to her peasants. She cared for her peasants enough to lower their taxes. She also
employed lots of women and elevated their status. Her reign ended when she died on December 16,
705

Women 's Influence On Female Powerlessness : Harriet...
For the vast majority of our contemporary history, female artists and patrons have been left out of
the discussion and have not been recognized or studied in depth. In the last few decades, this has
started to rapidly change. This essay will examine Harriet Hosmer, a prominent nineteenth century
Neo–Classical sculptor and Empress Wu Zetian, a Song Dynasty ruler, as examples of this historical
neglect. They will both be discussed in relation to their male contemporaries and how they situated
themselves as equals.
Harriet Hosmer's most relevant contemporary would certainly be Hiram Powers, with his Greek
Slave statue being a very similar theme to Harriet's Zenobia. Both of these statues display a female
captive in chains. However, beyond ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
With her pieces, she was taking steps towards the celebration of women's power instead of
powerlessness.4 Her later works, specifically Queen of Naples and Queen Isabella, "look beyond the
convention of a woman's victimization to portray a woman of undisputed power."4 Hosmer's work
was very much underappreciated during her time of work. Most critiques and reviews of her work
could not get past the issue of her gender, and said things akin to "This sculpture is amazing for a
woman, but just okay for a man's work." They appreciated her work, but not as fully as they could
have as it directly challenged many traditionally held views.
Empress Wu climbed the political and social ladders from being a member of Emperor Taizong's
harem to ruling the empire of Gaozong from "behind the curtain" several years later. When Gaozong
died in 683 she maintained control of the throne as regent to her sons before claiming the throne for
herself in 690. Being a singular female empress was an extremely foreign thought in this time and
Empress Wu tactfully employed acts of patronage to legitimize her right to the throne.
Empress Wu claimed divine right to the throne and used faith and the religion of Buddhism to
legitimize that claim. She financed numerous pieces of Buddhist art during her rule. Most notably,
the Vairocana Buddha at Longmen and refashioning of the city of Luoyang into a 'divine capital'.5
She transformed the imperial

The Power Of Wu Zetia
Anything men can do, women can do better. No one in Chinese history could have represented this
infamous quote better than Empress Wu. Wu Zetian became a significant figure in world history for
many reasons, good and bad. Foremost, she is known to be the first and only female emperor in
Chinese history, maintaining her rule over the country for nearly half a century. During that time
period, women were not usually permitted to become emperor, let alone have any position in
politics, yet Wu Zetian still managed to obtain the roll. Empress Wu, as not only a ruler but a leader,
was extraordinary. She improved the lives of her people by providing China with a powerful and
stable centralized government and advancing the political system with the addition of skillful
bureaucrats. The power she was able to hold and the authority she exemplified changed Chinese
history and is set as an inspiration for other aspiring women.
In this paper, the secondary sources chosen introduce the female ruler of China, Wu Zetian. These
sources include 2 books and 3 scholarly articles on this significant historical figure. The first source
is an article from the Journal of Asian Culture, called "Echo and Shadow: Images of Women in
Traditional China," written by Eugene Eoyang. It presents important women in Chinese history,
dating back to circa 90 A.D. The article argues that behind the common facts about Chinese women
being inferior to men, they have accomplished much more than it seems. One of the

Wu Zetian Perpetual Footprint on China Essay
Over a span of several decades, Wu Zetian inalterably changed life in China for woman as well the
clergy and the poor. By doing so, she left a perpetual footprint on China's long history that
transcends the mere fact that she was the first woman to rule the "Red Dragon". Wu Zetian was
originally known as Wu Chao, born in 625 in Taiyuan in northern China. She adopted Wu Zetian
when she seized the Chinese throne in 660. "Wu Zetian was a beautiful young woman..." (Knight
372). Empress Wu ultimately assumed the title of emperor for herself in 690, becoming perhaps the
first "dragon lady" and the lone woman to act thus in Chinese imperial history. During her reign, she
proved herself the equal of any male emperor in terms of ruthlessness, ... Show more content on
Helpwriting.net ...
She has previously become the empress dowager (the widow of the emperor with the power over all
of his property), then the regent (the substitute for the emperor). However, after the emperor
Gaozong suffered a stroke in 660, Wu seized the real power within China. Wu's slyness resulted in
the exile of members of the royal family that were heirs to the throne and in at least in one case, to
be poisoned (Li Hong). She also had made sure that her late husband Gaozong's provision in his will
that she ascend to the throne became a reality when her third son appointed her Heir Apparent. She
ruled the dynasty on behalf of Gaozong and her son for about three decades. In 684, Wu's son, Li
Zhe, ascended to the Imperial throne, assuming the name Zhongzong. When it became apparent that
Zhongzong would be under greater influence of his wife Wei than his mother, Wu had him exiled
after reducing his title to Prince of Luling. She then had her youngest son Li Dan made emperor
Ruizong whereupon she became both the substantive and actual ruler. In 690, Empress Wu assumed
the title of emperor for herself –the lone woman to act as emperor in Chinese imperial history –
thereby finally facilitating the great improvement in China that Wu's legacy left for women, the
Buddhist clergy and the classes less fortunate than the aristocracy. Despite her despotism in
ascending to

How Did Empress Wu Change Throughout The Tang Dynasty
In the history of imperial China, The Tang dynasty Empress Wu Zetian occupies a unique place. She
is the only one Empress that ruled a dynasty in China with its thousand years of history. For almost
50 years she enjoyed the supreme power, first she was in partnership with Tang Gaozong, a ruler
usually considered weak and ineffectual, later as de facto regent for her youngest son and finally,
from 690 to 705 A.D., as China's sole female emperor. Her rise from the obscurity of Tang Taizong's
harem was dramatic and her pursuit of power was ruthless. Her political policies were controversial
and her lifestyle flamboyant. Empress Wu also known as Wu Zhao was born in Shanxi Province in
the part of Wenshui in the 624 A.D. Her father Wu Shihuo was an aristocratic ... Show more content
on Helpwriting.net ...
Not long after she became a member of the harem where she was given the rank "Cairen" which
meant talented in chinese, the fifth rank on the list inner officials. Any lady that the emperor or
empress decides to recruit will be given a rank out of eight at the time being. Wu Zhao was
immediately noticed by Emperor Taizong due to her beauty but most importantly because of her
understanding of the chinese literature. Therefore, she would be placed to work in the imperial
study. To others this may not be such a valuable experience, but to Wu Zhao it was a valuable
educational experience which later would become an undeniable tool for her successful reign of one
of the largest empire at the time of history. After spending twelve years working but mostly studying
at the Imperial Study, Wu was more educated than before she was recruited to the palace and
comparing to other inner officials. But most importantly, she learned the finer essence of the official
documents, policy and foreign affairs. As being one of Emperor Taizong's favorite concubine at the
time, he granted her a new name "Wu Meiniang", the charming

Who Was Wu Zetian
Wu Zetian was born in 624 in Wenshui County, Shanxi Province. In 655 Wu was promoted to the
position of Empress. In their time having a woman ruler was unnatural, it was said that Empress Wu
was a successful ruler. The Tang dynasty (618–906 AD) was a time of freedom for women. After
five years of Wu marriage she took an active part in state affairs and took over the administration
after her husband's stroke. Wu was said to be fair to the laborers, lowered taxes, raising agricultural
production and strengthen public works. She would show no mercy to anyone who would not abide
by her rules. Wu would have them thrown in prison. Research has shown that Wu was also cruel to
members of her family, as well as her high ranking officials who had contributed ... Show more
Pompey was assassinated before Caesar arrived in Egypt. Cleopatra arranges to meet Caesar by
have herself delivered to his home wrapped up in a carpet. She was about 21 years old at that time
and Caesar was about 52 years old. Caesar was captivated by Cleopatra and in 47 B.C., she became
Caesars's Mistress. Caesar then used his army to defeat Cleopatra's rival so they can take back
power over Egypt, after that Caesar returned back to Rome. In 46 B.C. Cleopatra give birth to
Caesar's son and names him Ptolemy Caesar. In 45 B.C. Cleopatra goes to Rome and joins Caesar
with her brother/husband Ptolemy XIV. Caesar's enemies are defeated in 42 B.C. and Mark Antony
comes into the picture as a leader of the force which backs up Caesar. Cleopatra lost the protection
of Caesar and needed another Roman leader to protect her, which was Mark Antony. Cleopatra has
twins by Mark Antony in 40 B.C. one boy named Alexander Helios and a girl named Cleopatra
Selene. She then bared another child for Mark Antony in 36–35 B.C. named Ptolemy Philadelphus.
Mark Antony and Cleopatra started living together in Greece in 32–31 B.C. In that time another war
had started with Actium Octavian and Mark Antony and his forces was not strong enough to defeat
Octavian so he retreated and joined Cleopatra on her ship. Mark Antony was upset and told
Cleopatra that she needed someone else who can protect her, and because he was defeated by
Octavian he feels less of a man that can protect her

How Did Lin Zexu End Opium Trade In China?
Lin Zexu was a Chinese scholar and official during the Qing dynasty. Zexu was known for his
conduct and position against the opium trade in China and he has been considered the catalyst for
the first opium war of 1839–1842. In 1839 Commissioner Lin Zexu wrote an open letter directed to
Queen Victoria of England urging her to end the opium trade between British controlled India and
China. The letter was an ultimatum made by Lin on behalf of the Qing emperor to the English
Monarch, Queen Victoria. He felt that he had some responsibility in the matter, and desperately
wanted to help his Emperor and his country. In this letter he argues that china provides Britain with
valuable supplies that Britain's could not live without such as tea, silk, and spices. In exchange
Britain only "exports" to china opium or better known for him as poison. Millions of Chinese were
addicted to opium and although the drug was illegal, British merchant continued to ... Show more
This last tactic caused his downfall. He explains that their purpose is to eliminate this poison once
and for all and to the benefit of all mankind. He also talks about the problem of imperialism, "We
find your country is sixty or seventy thousand miles from China, yet there are barbarian ships that
strive to come here for trade for the purpose of making a great profit. The wealth of China is used to
profit the barbarians." Although he doesn't quite understand what the concept of imperialism is
exactly, he is considered one of the first Chinese officials to identify the "Barbarians" as a future
threat to the authorities and the Chinese people. Unfortunately this letter was never delivered to
Queen Victoria but it nevertheless represented the views of Lin regarding both the Opium Trade and
the broader idea of the free

What Role Did Wu Zetian Play In Confucianism
In the feudal era of China, when Confucianism played a dominant role in human thoughts and was
the measure for all ethical standards, so that a woman became the Emperor, holding power
absolutely could not be possible. The men chauvinism affected deeply in the root of each
generations, each classes in the society which is heavily feudal as China. But Wu Zetian, from a
very normal woman, with her intellect, cunning and also cruelty, she rose to be the Emperor and till
now, she was the only female Emperor in Chinese history.
I. Introduction
Wu Zetian (624–705), the Empress of Emperor Gaozong of Tang, was the only female Emperor in
the history of Chinese feudalism. She was also crowned at the greatest age (67 years old) and one of
the most long–lived ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Several forces tried to knock her down but not successful. She created her mark in the history by
stabilizing national border, contributing to the economy as well as imperial authority at that time.
The female Emperor promoted agricultural development, taught farmers to cultivate, to manage the
land helping them to work favorably, handicrafts and trade developed prosperously, stable society,
firm security. The average economic growth under the reign of Wu Zetian was 0.7%, a high number
in the ancient times. People also appreciate Wu Zetian due to her way to use people and contribution
to the prosperity of Tang culture. However, she left bad reputation by abusing power and killing
innocent persons.
I realize she has the following advantages:
Firstly, she knew how to use her strengths absolutely, they were glamourous beauty, wisdom
intellect, cunning so as to expand her political power. All made her standing rose quickly and finally
the most honorable position – the Emperor.
Secondly, she was ahead of its time. In Confucianism society "to value men above women", she
improved the role and position of women in the society. She proved to all China that women could
participate well in state affairs, not only

Empress Wu In The Tang Dynasty
In the history of imperial China, The Tang dynasty Empress Wu Zetian occupies a unique place. She
is the only one Empress that ruled a dynasty in China with its thousand years of history. For almost
50 years she enjoyed the supreme power, first she was in partnership with Tang Gaozong, a ruler
usually considered weak and ineffectual, later as de facto regent for her youngest son and finally,
from 690 to 705 A.D., as China's sole female emperor. Her rise from the obscurity of Tang Taizong's
harem was dramatic and her pursuit of power was ruthless. Her political policies were controversial
and her lifestyle flamboyant. Empress Wu was born in Shanxi Province in the part of Wenshui in the
624 A.D. Her father Wu Shihuo was an aristocratic family member of the Shanxi province and also
an Tang dynasty ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
There were many examples of Wu's impressive achievements.
First, Wu pressured the aristocratic families. After Wu took power, the first one being pressured is
the Zhangsun family who had the most power within the government and outside of the government
at the time. Zhangsun Wuji was the head of the Zhangsun family, he was the one who also
connected with many other strong family names to opposed Wu of becoming empress, so she exiled
these people immediately when she had the power.
aristocratic families. After WuZeTian became the empress, she exiled the people who objected to
her becoming the emperor to the remote areas. At that time, the families of commoners and the
aristocratic families were struggling for power. When Emperor Li ShiMin was in power, the families
of commoners had become stronger, and Empress Li ShiMin made a code to restrain their power.
Though Wu ZeTian's father ranked high, he was born in a family of commoners, so he could not
change the fact to a large

Analyzing The 'Imperial Medicine Master Place'
Similar passages can also be seen in the earlier version of the text translated by Xuanzang, which
also specifies the Buddha's promise of freeing a nation from disasters. Although other earlier
versions generally correspond to Yijing's text, the latter includes many detailed descriptions of the
Buddha, which may be the main reason that Zhongzong desired the text to be retranslated. Notably,
as the scriptural statement of granting of amnesty to criminals, Zhongzong offered the general
amnesties many times, especially during his second reign. In 709, he further announced an amnesty
for those who were exiled and banished to return home. Although he attempted to be a benevolent
king, his political career was unsuccessful. Being a frustrated ... Show more content on
Helpwriting.net ...
The divinity functioned as a national guardian whose supreme power would assure the protection
against adversities and difficulties. According to the hagiography of Yuanjiao 元皎 (715–808?), a
monk who served in the imperial court, the emperor asked twenty–one court monks to perform
rituals venerating Medicine Master Buddha at the Kaiyuan Monastery 開元寺 in the Fengxiang 鳳
翔 area. This state–sanctioned monastery established the "Imperial Medicine Master Place" (Yu
yaoshi daochang 御藥師道場) to pray for the peace and security of the nation. Leading by Yuanjiao,
these court monks diligently recited scriptures and lit votive lamps to perform rites days and nights.
After the rituals were practiced for several days, a plum tree in the monastery suddenly produced
forty–nine stems. Little is known about whether this miraculous occurrence in fact happened or not.
But it is certain that Emperor Suzong was delighted when this extraordinary phenomenon was
reported to the imperial court. Accordingly, the ruler awarded the chief monk Yuanjiao a noble title
of the Clergy of Imperial Offering (Nei gongfeng sheng

How Has Empress Wu Changed Over Time
EXTENSION HISTORY DRAFT 3 How has portrayal of Empress Wu changed in regards to
contextual ideologies? Empress Wu was the first and only female emperor of China in more than
four millennia. She is the only recorded woman to rule China in her own right. She began ruling
through puppet emperors from 665 to 690, which was unprecedented in Chinese history, she then
broke new ground again when she founded her own dynasty in 690, the Zhou Dynasty and ruled
personally under the name Emperor Shengshen from 690 to 705. Her rise and reign have over time
been portrayed in several ways by historians due to traditional beliefs of women but due to changing
ideals, Empress Wu's portrayal has changed according to the contextual beliefs of her biographies ...
Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Imperial history was written for instruction rather than as a memoir and because of this, tended to be
heavily biased against usurpers (which Wu was) and anyone who offended the Confucian beliefs of
the scholars who recorded them – Wu being a women, did exactly that. The empress who was well
aware of these biases was not against tampering with the record herself but also, some accounts of
her reign were written by her own relatives, who had good reason to dislike

Why Was Wu Zetian A Successful Ruler?
Born in 624 AD, Wu Zetian was the first female emperor of China. She was born in Guangyuan in
the Tang dynasty. She later became a concubine of Tang Taizong. After his death, she became a nun.
But Taizong's Successor, Gaozong, really liked her and brought her back to the palace where she
became his second loved wife. Being jealous of the other wife, Wu killed one of their sons and
blamed it on the other wife, making her Gaozong's favourite. Gaozong loved her very much and let
her do a lot of his work. When he died, Wu took the throne and became the first empress of China.
Did Wu Zetian do the right things to get to the place she was? In fact to a very great extent Wu
Zetian was a successful ruler even though she did many wrong things. It will be argued that she
introduced an effective ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Conquering different places introduced China to different Cuisines, such as mongolian. Even today,
many of the most powerful countries, China, Russia and the US, have lots of land. This proves that
with land comes power. If Wu Zetian had not had military success, China wouldn't have power
today and may have been destroyed by the Qidan, Turks or Mongols.
In conclusion, Wu Zetian can be recognized as a strong and solid leader because she introduced
effective government reforms, removed those who opposed reforms and restructuring, thus showing
her strength and keeping China at peace. Most importantly she expanded China's territory greatly,
helped the economy and quality of life by having successful military conquests. Therefore after
reviewing these three points, we can say that Wu Zetian was not only the first and last Woman
emperor, but also, to a great extent, she was one of the greatest and most successful leaders in
Chinese

Cleopatra and Empress Wu
Comparative Essay: Cleopatra and Empress Wu Zetian
Silke Karla Vinyard
Strayer University
Professor Mayhall
HUM111346SC034–1164–001 (World Cultures 1)
May 24, 2016
Cleopatra and Empress Wu Zetian
Cleopatra and Empress Wu Zetian were two very powerful women of their time. Cleopatra, Last
Pharaoh of Egypt. As queen of Egypt, Cleopatra is one of the most famous female rulers in history.
Cleopatra's family ruled Eygpt for more than 100 years before she was born around 69 BC.
Empress Wu Zetian of Tang Dynasty. She was one of the concubines of Emperor Taizong; she was
the empress of Emperor Gaozong; she was the mother of Emperor Zhongzong and Emperor
Ruizong; she was once a nun in the temple. But her most glorious title was that ... Show more
Cleopatra's father was King Ptolemy XII. Little is known about Cleopatra's mother, but some
speculation presumes she may have been her father's sister, Cleopatra V Tryphaena. Debate also
surrounds Cleopatra's ethnicity. While it was believed for a long time that she was of Greek descent,
some speculate that her lineage may have been black African.
In 51 B.C., Ptolemy XII died, leaving the throne to 18–year–old Cleopatra and her brother, the 10–
year–old Ptolemy XIII. It is likely that the two siblings married, as was customary at the time. Over
the next few years Egypt struggled to face down a number of issues, from an unhealthy economy to
floods to famine.
Political turmoil also shaped this period. Soon after they assumed power, complications arose
between Cleopatra and Ptolemy XIII. Eventually Cleopatra fled to Syria, where she assembled an
army to defeat her rival in order to declare the throne for herself. In 48, she returned to Egypt with
her military might and faced her brother at Pelusium, located on the empire's eastern edge. Most of
what we know about Cleopatra was written after her death when it was politically expedient to
portray her as a threat to Rome and its stability. Thus, some of what we know about Cleopatra may
have been exaggerated or misrepresented by those sources. Cassius Dio, one of the ancient sources
that tells her story, summarizes her story as "She captivated the two greatest Romans of her day, and

Empress Wu Research Paper
Empress Wu Zetian (originally called Wu Zhao) was the only female in Chinese history to rule as
Emperor. Although for centuries, she was painted as a brutal and remorseless person due to her
inhumane actions, Empress Wu remains as the most influential and mysterious woman in Chinese
history.
Born into a wealthy family in 624 A.D., Empress Wu was taught how to write, read Chinese classics
and to play music. At the age of fourteen, she became a concubine to Emperor Taizong who
favoured her knowledge of literature and history. In 649 A.D., the Emperor died and he was
succeeded by his son, Gaozong, who also became fascinated by Wu's beauty and talents. After
earning the Emperor's trust, Wu wanted a higher status in the palace and to achieve her goal, ...
Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
She took over administration of the court when Emperor Gaozong was ill and gained the respect and
love from the court with her great skills, courage, ambitious character and readiness to use vicious
actions if necessary. When Emperor Gaozong passed away, his throne was taken over by Wu's third
son, Li Xian. Emperor Zhongzong (Li Xian) found difficulties in ruling the empire and soon after,
was replaced by his younger, weaker brother, Emperor Ruizong (Li Dan). Six years later, Wu Zetian
declared herself as emperor after forcing Emperor Ruizong to abdicate. As Empress of the 'Zhou'
dynasty, Wu Zetian was ruthless. She operated a secret service to carry out false accusations,
tortures and executions on individuals who were against. Empress Wu also exiled or make the
family of the individuals into slaves. An extreme torture that she would enact at times was called
the, 'human pig'. This is when one's arms and legs are cut off and they were left to suffer. Empress
Wang was an example as her arms and legs were chopped off at Empress Wu's

Was Empress Zetian Successful During The Tang Dynasty
INTRODUCTION
In this research I will be answering the question "To what extent was Empress Wu Zetian successful
during the Tang Dynasty?" This question is significant and worthy of investigation because not
many people know how much she has effected during that period till now. It should also be
researched about because this period of time was when China was still a disbanded civilisation, and
was when industrialisation began to advance in the Tang Dynasty under Wu Zetian. Writing this
essay can result to finding answers historians may of never thought of or found answers to.
BACKGROUND
Wu Zetian also known as Wu Zhao, Wu Hou, Wu Meiniang, Consort Wu, Empress Wu, Empress
Dowager Wu, Empress Regnant Zetian Dasheng, Empress Zetian Shunsheng, ... Show more content
on Helpwriting.net ...
However, she was not favoured much by Emperor Taizong but did impress him with her courage.
When Emperor Taizong passed away in 649 his son, Li Zhi, became the emperor under the name of
Emperor Gaozong of Tang.
The deceased emperor had fourteen sons but none with Consort Wu. According to the regulations,
consorts of deceased emperors are to leave and stay in a monastic institution afterwards. Wu Zetian
was sent to Ganye Temple where she would serve as a Buddhist nun for the remaining of her life.
However, when she was still Emperor Taizong's concubine she had an affair with Li Zhi, Emperor
Gaozong. He often visited the temple to see Wu Zetian, he found her even more beautiful,
intelligent, and intriguing as she was more feminine and grown up; as a result he took her back as
his own concubine.
Rise to power
By 650s Wu Zetian was entitled as Zhaoyi, the second highest in the nine–rank system. She gained
more influence and familiarised with the governance throughout Emperor Gaozong's reign.
Eventually she made many major decisions, she was ruthless to attain power and many believed that
she killed her own daughter in order to frame Empress

Stereotypes In China
Living in a world where stereotypes of women and men rule has a deep effect on how people live
their lives. The men gained an education and had jobs. Staying at home, cooking and caring for the
kids was what was generally expected of the women. But some women chose to ignore those
stereotypes and shoot for their dreams. They fought for what they believed in, and never stopped
trying till their goal was achieved no matter the trials they faced. In the early 600's in China, women
did not get an education or become leaders. But a certain young girl decided to break through that
stereotype and eventually became known as the most brutal but successful women Emperor of
China. Though women were not seen as leaders in China in the late 600's AD, Wu ... Show more
Under the command of Wu, "the secret police kept the court in turmoil... but the end result was that
no unified opposition ever emerged" (Conliffe). Being a women rule, which is not common, Wu had
to keep the respect and loyalty of her people. Using the secret police helped Wu to see who was
loyal and who was not and to help her to continue to be a leader in the eyes of her people. A woman
of great power and influence did more than simply become ruler, "Empress Wu expanded the
borders of China by conquering new lands in Korea and Central Asia" ("Empress Wu Zetian").
Besides making changes that made the lives of the pole better, Wu also expanded her Empire. She
was powerful and because she conquered land, it shows that she accomplished many things for her
country and that being well educated, she knew what she was doing as

The Tang Dynasty : The Golden Age Of Ancient China
The Tang Dynasty The Tang Dynasty is an important aspect of Chinese history. Lasting from 618
AD to 907 AD, it received the nickname "The Golden Age of Ancient China" because it was a very
prosperous time. This powerful empire came into control when the reign of the Sui Dynasty before it
ended. The Sui Dynasty only had a lifespan of two main emperors, Emperor Wen and Emperor
Yang. Emperor Wen was a great leader for this empire, but his son was an awful tyrant, and due to
this, the empire failed. Li Yuan, a governor of the Sui and also Emperor Yang's cousin, rebelled and
with the help of his sons and others, was able to overthrow the horrible ruler. In the end, Li Yuan
gained power and established the Tang Dynasty. He became Emperor Gaozu of Tang in 618 AD.
(Ancient China: Sui Dynasty) Emperor Gaozu unified China by doing many things. He conquered
regions near the Tang, expanding the Dynasty. He also implemented rules put in place by Emperor
Wen of Sui that were replaced when Emperor Yang came to power. Under his ruling, a new coin was
minted and trade was promoted. (Totally History)
The governmental structure was great in the Tang dynasty and included: the Secretariat created and
wrote bills, the Chancellery reviewed and changed bills, and the Department of State Affairs put the
bills into place. The Department of State was the head of the government and in it there were six
ministries: one for personnel, military, finance, rites, justice, and public

Empress Wu Research Paper
During the golden of the Tang Dynasty in Chinese history, the ascension of Empress Wu to the
position of Emperor during the second half of the 6th century in China marked a period of
revolution and dichotomy. Not only did it grant the Empress the prerogative to rule in her own right,
but also brought with it a period of animosity and chauvinism that defined and remained present
within Wu's rule. Throughout history traditionalist historians recorded Wu's reign as a consolidation
of economic and political clout, a direct threat to Confucian teaching. Yet although there are several
problems attributed to Empress Wu's regency such as the negative portrayal that has since remained
for hundreds of years. Beginning in the twentieth century, shifting ... Show more content on
Helpwriting.net ...
A highly valuable compilation of chinese historiographies spanning nearly 300 volumes and
covering 1,300 years of history. The portrayal of Wu Zetian can be found in volumes 195 – 208 of
the records. "She excessively used official titles to cause people to submit to her, if she saw that
someone was incompetent, she would immediately depose or even execute him. She grasped the
powers of punishment and award, controlled the state, and made her own judgments as to policy
decisions." From a traditionalist perspective it becomes evident that Wu proved highly adept at
palace intrigue; she supplanted her rivals, who, according to the standard historical narrative, were
hideously murdered at her command. Wu succeeded in having herself declared empress in 655, and
as Gaozong suffered from waning health leading to periods of incapacity, she gradually assumed
greater control of the government. Other traditional sources such as the Old Book of Tang (944)
consisting of over 200 chapters, describes the purge as a reign of terror against all members of the Li
house, carried out by the empress's gang of cruel officials. The multi–level legitimization campaign
led to the establishment, in 690, of her own dynasty, the Zhou (690–705). During the 690s, ancestral
temples to the Wu house supplanted those of the Li–Tang house, and Wu Zhao became the only
woman to rule in her own right as

Women In The Tang Dynasty

Recommended

Recommended

More Related Content

More from Renee Jones

More from Renee Jones (20)

Recently uploaded

Recently uploaded (20)

Women In The Tang Dynasty