Abstract
It was not a particularly notable occasion when Emperor Gaozong 高宗 of the Tang dynasty (AD 618–907) established Wu Zetian 武則天 as a mid-ranked concubine in 654. Emperors, throughout Chinese history, were polygamous rulers who acquired no shortage of concubines per the Rites of Zhou 周禮, an ancient ritual text which proposed that rulers obtain 121 wives and consorts. Wu’s nomination signified the unpredictability of imperial favour and almost certainly did not turn heads when her appointment occurred.
Recommended Citation
Ngan, Zoe
(2025)
"“No Hen Should Herald the Dawn Lest Misfortune Follow”: Gender, History, and Power Sima Guang’s Comprehensive Mirror,"
The Thetean: A Student Journal for Scholarly Historical Writing: Vol. 54:
Iss.
1, Article 8.
Available at:
https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/thetean/vol54/iss1/8
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