The Secret History of China's Female Emperor

[yuiyoshida]

This is so worth watching. Incredible. Hillary may be our first Female President, but China had its own first and only Female ruler!

[gladium et scutum]

1. In Ancient Eqypt

at least two women ruled as Pharaoh. The first was Sobekneferu in the 12th Dynasty. The second was Hatshepsut, she ruled for 22 years in the 18th Dynasty.

[shenmue]

5. Yes

[Crash2Parties]

8. Fairly complete list

here: http://www.guide2womenleaders.com/womeninpower/Womeninpower000.htm

(summary: it wasn't rare at all to have a woman political leader)

[panfluteman]

2. Absolutely Amazing!

Not too long ago, I read a book about the exploits of Taoist Christians in Tang Dynasty China and the fusion of Christianity and Taoism they created. It was called The Jesus Sutras, by Martin Palmer. The Tang dynasty was much more open and cosmopolitan than just about any other era of Chinese history. This video reminded me of that amazing book. Speaking of Chinese history, I would definitely accept that Wu Ze Tian was China's first female emperor, but was she the only female emperor? I remember reading and seeing old photographs of the Empress Dowager, who ruled in the waning years of the Qing dynasty, right around the turn of the twentieth century - she was female, and she was an emperor - or was she? Could somebody please set me straight on that?

[geardaddy]

6. The Empress Dowager - Ci Xi did rule

but not as Emperor. She was the shadow emperor behind two puppet emperors - Tongzhi Emperor (1861–75)
Guangxu Emperor (1875–1908)

She was responsible for the Qing Dynasty losing power, as she basically embezzled money from the treasury.

At least that's what I learned in my Qing Dynasty class in college.

[forest444]

7. Perfect footnote.

As I was reading your post, geardaddy, I was inevitably reminded of this:

[geardaddy]

10. Great film!

Yes, that scene always reminds me of her.

[trueblue2007]

3. thanks so much for posting this. incredible. i never heard of her before.

i love history and this was very interesting. thanks.

[mjvpi]

4. Very interesting. Thank you for posting that.

The interpretation of archeological clues seemed intuitively consistent with both human nature and the nature of power.

[beergood]

9. thanks for posting

i enjoy learning new things about china, japan, and korea.