Wu Zetian Perpetual Footprint on China

The Chinese possessed strong beliefs about astrology, so when it was prophesised that a women ruler would soon ascend the throne word quickly spread throughout the common people. It was predicted that within 30 years this woman known as ‘The Prince of Wu’ would rule over China. Whether or not Empress Wu’s rise to power was due to ‘heaven ordained fate’, she fulfilled the prophecy and became China’s first woman ruler in the 7th century. Historians, scholars and common people alike have long debated Wu’s reign. She is commonly referred to as an evil usurper due to the way she took power.

Boston: Bedford/St. Martin's, 2008. 130-41. Print. Neuman, Scott.

Benito Cereno. Reprint. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin's, 2008. 51.

In 1137, when Eleanor was thirteen, her father died and she became one of the most important women in Europe. She inherited Poitou to the North, Gascony to the South, Bordeaux and Bayonne, Saintonage, Perigord, Angoulême, Limousin, Auvergne and La Marche. During the Medieval ages Eleanor of Aquitaine ruled using romance, manipulation and her influence over others to secure her and her family’s position in power. Her political power and actions redefined and influenced the roles of her successors. Regardless of status, women often married for political reasons, not for love.

Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2008. 410-412. Print. Hulbert, Ann.

Although there may not be an extremely extensive amount of knowledge about the Empress Dowager Cixi, she is often considered one of the most powerful women in history. She ruled for almost fifty years, maintaining and expanding her own power. During her ‘behind the curtain’ reign, she made all decisions and always had the final say. Though she was very sharp and understood and executed politics well, she was (what some might consider today) corrupt. She was insistent on keeping her power in the Qing dynasty, to the point of (being suspected of) killing others.

30 Apr 2014. Wills, Jason. “Alienor of Aquitaine.” Geni. Genealogy, 2014. Web.

Chairman Mao realized that women were one of the oppressed groups in China that could be utilized to increase his control over the country. While women’s rights still have a long way to go, it can definitely be said some of Mao’s polices advanced Chinese women in ways that would have been unimaginable before his rise to leadership. The more relevant questions are regarding Chairman Mao’s intent behind these polices and if they were destined to fail from the start due to the cultural and political climate in 20th century China. It can also be argued that the political activities of Chairman Mao’s Communist China were more of a continuation of traditional Imperial China, based heavily in Confucian values, than a new type of Marxist-Leninist China, based on the Soviet Union as an archetype. While it is unquestionable that a Marxist-Leninist political structure was present in China during this time, Confucian values remained to be reinforced through rituals and were a fundamental part of the Chinese Communist ... ... middle of paper ... ...oist China.” Gender & History 18, No.

"Managerial Women in the People's Republic of China," International Studies of Management & Organization 23.4 (1993). Questia. Web. 6 Dec. 2011. Lewis, Peter.

The Last Empress by Daniele Varè The Empress Dowager Tzi-his (1835-1908) was a unique ruler unlike any other China had ever seen. She is considered to be one of the most influential people in Chinese history, a rarity in the male dominated Chinese world. The empress dowager exerted great power over the Chinese empire and influenced the political structure in ways it had never been influenced before, making many great reforms that she believed would help the Chinese people. Born on November 29th, 1835, Tzi-hsi was named Yehonala after her tribe. Her father, Huei-cheng died when she was a child and her family took care of her until she was sent to Emperor Hsien-Feng’s court as a concubine.