Heavenly Empress: The Age of Wu Zetian

In the long span of human history to the twentieth century, almost all great leaders of empires and states were men, with few exceptions. One of them was Heavenly Empress Wu Zetian. She is the only female ruler in history to have replaced a powerful dynasty with her own in a major country and crowned herself emperor of China. This book is about how this daughter of a concubine, who began life in the palace as a lowly concubine of Emperor Taizong (see Heavenly Khan) at a very young age, overcame all obstacles in a man-dominated world and rose to the summit of power in medieval China.

Victor Cunrui Xiong holds a Ph.D. in Asian History from the Australian National University. He taught history at the University of Iowa and is now a professor of history at Western Michigan University. He is the author of Heavenly Khan, From Peasant to Emperor, and Sui-Tang Chang’an, and appears in Man Made Marvels: China’s Forgotten City, a documentary by NHNZ and Discovery Channel, which is in part based on his book on Chang’an.

This book offers thorough annotations, accompanied by Chinese translations for specialized terminology. Additionally, it features a comprehensive glossary that provides in-depth introductions to historical figures, geographical terms, and historical works. The content of the book is captivating and compelling, making it an ideal choice for general readers who are intrigued by the history of the Tang Dynasty in China.

Author’s Note
Figures
Chronology

Part I. Ascent
1. Prince Li Sujie (649–651)
2. Gan’ye Nunnery
3. Lady Wu (652–654)
4. Ascension (655)
5. Wang and Xiao (655)
6. Chu Suiliang and Zhangsun Wuji (656–659)
7. Cockfight (661)
8. Shangguan Yi (663–665)
9. Li Ji (665–669)
10. Heavenly Empress (Tianhou) (667–674)
11. Li Hong and Li Xián (675–676)
12. Shangguan Wan’er (676–677)
13. Ming Chongyan (679)
14. Central Marchmount (680)
15. Later Tujue (679–682)
16. Fengtian Palace (683)

Part II. Sole Sovereign
1. Li Zhe and Li Dan (684)
2. Rebellion (684)
3. Xue Huaiyi (685–687)
4. Mingtang (688–689)
5. Legalist Law Officers (689–690)
6. Wu Zhou Dynasty (689–690)
7. Enter the Vat, Please! (691)
8. The Chief Ministers’ Clique (692)
9. Tuan’er (692–693)
10. Li Zhaode (694)
11. Xue Huaiyi (694–695)
12. Heavenly Pivot (695–696)
13. Threat on the Frontier (696)
14. Xu Yougong (696)

Part III. Sunset Years
1. The Two Zhangs (697)
2. Lou Shide (697–698)
3. Crane-Riders (698)
4. Di Renjie (698–699)
5. Ji Xu (699–700)
6. The Cabal (701)
7. The Wei Yuanzhong Affair (702–704)
8. Zhang Jianzhi (704–705)
9. Fall from Power (705)
10. The Chief Ministers (705–706)
11. Li Chongjun (707)
12. Shangguan Wan’er (706–708)
13. Türgesh (708)
14. Zhongzong (709–710)
15. Li Longji (710)

Conclusion
Glossary
Bibliography

PRAISE FOR THE PREVIOUS NOVELS OF VICTOR CUNRUI XIONG
HEAVENLY KHAN
“An engrossing fictionalized history that examines an ingenious and powerful Chinese ruler.”
―Kirkus Review

“[An] extraordinary and solidly entertaining story that reveals author Victor Cunrui Xiong to be an exceptional and impressive novelist of the first order.”
―Midwest Book Review

FROM PEASANT TO EMPEROR
“[It] should be a ‘must read’ not just for fiction readers interested in Chinese history, but for nonfiction bookworms who will find absorbing this portrait of how one man succeeds in changing the course of Chinese history and culture in ancient times.”
―Midwest Book Review

“Xiong does an impressive job of piecing together historical places, people, and events in this fictional, yet very realistic, story about Emperor Liu Bang.”
―San Francisco Book Review