The Most Powerful Empress in Chinese History | Wu Zetian's Unprecedented Reign скачать в хорошем качестве

The Most Powerful Empress in Chinese History | Wu Zetian's Unprecedented Reign

She killed her own infant daughter to frame a rival. She eliminated anyone who threatened her power through torture and execution. She became the only woman in 4,000 years of Chinese history to rule as emperor—not empress, but emperor. This is Wu Zetian, the most powerful woman in Chinese history and possibly in world history. Wu Zetian's rise was unprecedented. She entered the imperial palace in 637 at age 14 as a low-ranking concubine to Emperor Taizong. When he died in 649, she should have disappeared into a Buddhist monastery for the rest of her life. But she had already caught the attention of his son, the future Emperor Gaozong. In a shocking violation of Confucian morality, he brought her back from the monastery to be his concubine. This video explores how Wu Zetian went from monastery outcast to empress in just five years through ruthless cunning. In 654, she gave birth to a daughter. When Empress Wang visited to see the baby, Wu Zetian welcomed her warmly. After Empress Wang left, Wu Zetian killed her own infant, then accused the empress of murdering the child out of jealousy. The accusation stuck, and in 655, Wu Zetian became empress.