امپراتور وو بزرگ: چین سلسله تانگ

Empress Wu was stunning in her beauty, in her ruthless elimination of rivals (including sons and daughters), and, most important, in her discernment. She was esteemed for appointing capable officials throughout the realm, and she implemented reforms that improved standards of higher education, gave some status to women, and democratized the recruitment of candidates for official posts by eliminating the requirement that they be nominated by someone within the establishment. Europe and Great Britain have had many sovereign queens in the course of history. In ancient China, there was none of that. Only one Empress ever ruled China in her own name Empress Wu. Given her startling performance in a world of deadly intrigue and shifting loyalties, Wu is still respected as an effective and clear-sighted ruler. Related in an easy-reading style, the facts in the book are derived from China s classic historical record the Zizhitongjian (meaning History is a mirror to help rule ), which was written by a courtier in Song Dynasty, the very next dynasty after the Tang Dynasty. Beginning in AD 617, the narrative traces the rise of Wu s father from humble bean-curd dealer to army officer and friend of the Emperor, her own arrival at age 13 as a concubine to the Emperor, and the brilliant exploitation of opportunities by which she attained the throne. Other empresses had ruled China for a time while their husbands were weak and their sons were young; Wu did the same from 665 to 690. But Wu achieved a higher status than any woman before or since when she declared her own dynasty in 690 and ruled directly for another 15 years. Readers are treated to some of the flavor of life inside the capital, then at Xi' an, the eastern tip of the great Silk Road (now known in international tourism as the site of the famous Terracotta Warriors). In those years the Chinese ruler held sway far to the south, into Indochina, and westward as far as today's Kyrgyzstan. Brief descriptions indicate the tumultuous events unfolding throughout Asia as China vied with Mongol tribes and the Tibetan Empire to establish the map we know today and some of the disputes over boundaries and sovereignty that are still ongoing. Origins of a future sovereign The Wu family Wu's father rises from a merchant to a nobleman Mr. Wu marries up Mr. Wu becomes a governor Mr. Wu departs this realm The establishment of the tang dynasty Mr. Wu's sponsor becomes the second emperor of the tang dynasty Empress Changsun and a few of the courtiers Miss Wu becomes an imperial concubine The sons vie for the succession Selecting the crown prince Introduction to the crown prince Sent to a nunnery The new emperor reigns Empress Wang gets Wu back to the palace Empress Wang and concubine Xiao unite against concubine Wu Concubine Wu fights back The courtiers take sides Empress Wang and her supporters take a mis-step Empress Wang and the crown prince are removed Wu becomes empress From empress to empress dowager Advancing supporters and annihilating opponents Taking part in politics The pleasures of traveling Relationship with her children The empress dowager consolidates her power Standing at the top View from the summit Rebellions The largest rebellion The rebellions of the Princes Li Other rebellions Abuse of power at every level Picking favorites Naming a successor Empress Wu's favorites Relations with other nations Tibet Korea The Tujue clan Japan and Arabia Famous legends about Empress Wu Face reading Flowers blooming in winter Other legends . Empress Wu ruled China for twenty years during the Tang Dynasty in the seventh century. Enigmatic as well as ambitious, she was one of just two women to reign over this Asian giant. Dr. Woo digs through chronicles and stories to pull together what is known about her family, her rise to prominence, and how she gained power against all the odds.