The only woman to rule in her own right through out China's imperial history, Wu Zetian remains a controversial figure to this day.  Was her reputation of exceptional cruelty and sexual immorality deserved?  Listen and find out. 

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Sources:

- Tung, Jowen R. Fables for the Patriarchs: Gender Politics in Tang Discourse. Rowman and Littlefield, 2000.

- Rothschild, N. Harry. Emperor Wu Zhao and Her Pantheon of Devis, Divinities, and Dynastic Mothers. Columbia University Press, 2018.

- Dash, Mike. “The Demonization of Empress Wu.” Smithsonian.com, Smithsonian Institution, 10 Aug. 2012, www.smithsonianmag.com/history/the-demonization-of-empress-wu-20743091/.

- Valdez, Teresa “No One Mourns the Wicked: The Female Emperor Wu Zhao.” StMU History Media, 10 Nov. 2017, stmuhistorymedia.org/no-one-mourns-the-wicked-the-female-emperor-wu-zhao/.

- Meekins, Jeannie. Wu Zetian: First Empress of China: A 15-Minute Biography. Learning Island, 2019.

- Lee, Yuen Ting “Wu Zhao: Ruler of Tang Dynasty China.” Association for Asian Studies, 19 May 2020, www.asianstudies.org/publications/eaa/archives/wu-zhao-ruler-of-tang-dynasty-china/.