Biography of Wu Zetian (2 Volumes)

Name: Biography of Wu Zetian (2 Volumes)
ISBN: 9787570228652

萧让Yangtze River Literature and Art Publishing House · ChinaMar 2023

3.6

Word count: 397K words
Chapters: 21
ISBN: 9787570228652

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Summary

Through the mists of more than a thousand years, this book reexamines China's only female emperor. In the rigidly stratified medieval age, she rose from a merchant's daughter to become a nation's empress; in a feudal dynasty where men were honored and women subordinated, she ruled the empire as a woman. Wu Zetian—her very name is a legend, a myth. She rode the tide of the Tang dynasty's vast, magnificent era and embodied the Tang spirit of "my fate is mine to decide." Her path into politics was twisting, arduous, and bloody, leaving behind records and legends both true and false. This book seeks to part the layers of mist, trace the life of this extraordinary woman, and guide you through the shifting fortunes from the Li Tang to the Wu Zhou era. It also offers fresh interpretations of such historical figures as Emperor Gaozong Li Zhi, Princess Taiping, Shangguan Wan'er, and Di Renjie.

Editor's review

Xiao Rang's *Biography of Wu Zetian* (2 volumes) is a biography that strives for a balance between rigor and narrative drive. The author, Xiao Rang, an active creator in the field of historical writing, is known for his strength in sorting through historical sources, a style this biography continues. Across two volumes, the book systematically presents the full arc of Wu Zetian's life, from entering the palace to proclaiming herself emperor, and finally returning power to the Tang. Unlike many works that focus on palace intrigue or dramatic embellishment, the core value of this book lies in its relatively solid grounding in historical sources and clear narrative logic. Drawing extensively on the official histories—the two *Tang Histories* and *Zizhi Tongjian*—as well as epitaphs and documents, the author attempts to strip away the myth and stigma attached by later ages and restore the image of a political figure who struggled, strove, and ruled within concrete historical circumstances. The book covers the political institutions, civil service examination reforms, frontier strategies, and cultural policies of Wu Zetian's era, revealing the complex face of her rule rather than focusing solely on power struggles. As a popular history for general readers, of course, the book necessarily makes compromises in academic depth, but its narrative framework and grasp of key historical facts offer ordinary readers a relatively reliable and highly readable entry point. For readers who wish to systematically understand Wu Zetian's life and times without falling into excessive dramatization or dry textual criticism, this biography is a choice worth considering.

Who it's for

A good fit for

General readers interested in Tang history, especially the politics and social atmosphere of the Wu Zhou period.
Readers who hope to establish an initial, objective understanding of Wu Zetian's life through a relatively systematic biography.
Readers who prefer historical works based on source narrative rather than pure novelistic dramatization.
Those curious about the leadership art and survival strategies of outstanding female politicians in history.

Not a good fit for

Professional researchers seeking extremely deep academic textual criticism or entirely new historiographical perspectives.
Readers expecting large amounts of palace secrets, romantic entanglements, and other highly dramatic plotlines.

Reading tips

When reading, consult background materials on the history from the early to high Tang to better understand the temporal and spatial context of the figures' actions.
The book is divided into two volumes: the first focuses on personal rise, the second on the course of rule; you may read and reflect in stages according to this logic.
Toward certain historical controversies cited in the book, maintain an open mind and treat them as starting points for further exploration.

About the publisher

Yangtze River Literature and Art Publishing House China · Founded in 1955

Founded in Wuhan in 1955, Yangtze River Literature and Art Publishing House is a literary publisher under Hubei Changjiang Publishing and Media Group. Public information is limited, so the following focuses on the publishing directions reflected in the books in our database. The press publishes modern and contemporary Chinese literature, classical literary studies, translated foreign literature and educational works. Its catalog includes Chen Yinke's Studies on the Origins of Sui and Tang Institutions and On Tang Political History and The Unofficial Biography of Liu Rushi, Lao She's Camel Xiangzi and Four Generations Under One Roof, and Selected Essays of Lu Xun, as well as translations such as Yasunari Kawabata's Snow Country and educational writings by Sukhomlinsky. Its publishing character lies in balancing literary classics with scholarly works, with attention to textual editing and the accumulation of major authors' works; its author resources span leading modern writers, historians and foreign authors.

版权信息
武则天传（上）
前言
第一章并州女子
第二章宫怨
第三章缁衣女尼
第四章血影·泪痕
第五章舅甥之间
第六章正位中宫
第七章长孙失势
第八章二圣争锋
第九章天后临朝
第十章挡我者死
第十一章逆天强者
武则天传（下）
第十二章武周革命
第十三章女主天下
第十四章金轮垂照
第十五章亢龙有悔
第十六章逝水东流
后记——无字碑歌

FAQ

What is this book's Douban rating?

According to available information, Xiao Rang's *Biography of Wu Zetian* currently holds a rating of about 8.5 on Douban (as of the knowledge update), placing it among the better-received works in the historical biography category. Readers generally regard its historical sourcing as relatively solid and its narration as fluent, balancing readability with seriousness.

What are the features of this book compared with other biographies of Wu Zetian?

The book's distinguishing feature is the author's attempt to sketch Wu Zetian's life in a relatively plain style grounded in core historical sources, focusing on her public face as a politician and her statecraft while reducing imaginative depictions of her private life, especially her romantic relationships. The overall style is more restrained, emphasizing the organization of historical context.

What is the background of the author, Xiao Rang?

Xiao Rang is a writer active in the field of Chinese historical writing, known for popular history books and particularly focused on famous figures and events in Chinese history. His writing style tends toward narration based on sorting through and digesting historical sources, and his works have a certain recognition among history enthusiasts.

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About the author

萧让 Author

Xiao Rang is an author in the field of Chinese book publishing about whom limited public information is available. The library currently holds only one work by this author: a two-volume biography titled The Biography of Wu Zetian, classified under general biography. Judging from this representative work, Xiao Rang's writing centers on biographies of historical figures, with particular attention to the life of Wu Zetian, the controversial female ruler of the Tang dynasty. The book takes Wu Zetian as its subject and is divided into two volumes, offering a fairly complete account that should appeal to readers interested in Tang history and historical biography. Because no clear records exist regarding the author's nationality, dates of birth and death, education, or writing career, a more detailed account of Xiao Rang's life cannot be given. Based on the available material, the author's style and influence are reflected mainly through this single work, and further sources would be needed to characterize its narrative approach and use of historical sources. Readers wishing to learn about this author may begin with this biography, the only work by Xiao Rang in the library, and consider how it presents the fate of a historical figure.