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Legacy in ink: how calligraphy links China’s political heritage to academic institutions

Ancient China elites used water fans, ice to cool down in summer; folks had bamboo pillows

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How Chinese people did laundry before washing machines, from ash ‘soap’ to stone beatings

Chinese history

Famous Chinese women in history

Wu Zetian, the only female emperor in Chinese history, reigned as a legitimate leader in China during the last 15 years of her life in her short-lived Wu Zhou dynasty (690-705). Photo: Pictures From History/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

Lifestyle

Chinese culture

Beautiful, intelligent and power-hungry: how Wu Zetian became China’s only female emperor

Emperor Taizong of Tang (599-649). Wu served as a concubine of Taizong, joining his harem at the age of 14. Photo: Getty Images

Emperor Gaozong of Tang was the third emperor of the Tang dynasty, ruling from 649 to 683. Wu was Gaozong’s second wife. Photo: Pictures From History/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

The cover of Jonathan Clements’ 2007 book, Wu: The Chinese Empress Who Schemed, Seduced and Murdered Her Way to Become a Living God. Photo: Handout

Wu Zetian founded her own dynasty in 690, which existed until 705. Photo: Pictures From History/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

Carina Lau as Wu Zetian in a still from the 2010 movie Detective Dee: Mystery of the Phantom Flame. Photo: Emperor Motion Pictures

Fan Bingbing as Wu Zetian in the Chinese television series The Empress of China. 

A legitimate ruler for 15 years – but de facto leader for years more than that – Wu Zetian is remembered as a complex character.


In ancient China, women were expected to be obedient and chaste. But throughout millennia, some dared defy traditions with their intellect and ambition. In this series, we profile some of the most powerful and enigmatic female figures in Chinese history.


Series

Famous Chinese women in history

In ancient China, women were expected to be obedient and chaste. But throughout millennia, some dared defy traditions with their intellect and ambition. In this series, we profile some of the most powerful and enigmatic female figures in Chinese history.

Beautiful, power-hungry: how Wu Zetian became China’s only female emperor

A legitimate ruler for 15 years – but de facto leader for years more than that – Wu Zetian is remembered as a complex character.