Reading Journal – What did I read this week?
- Jay, Jennifer W. “WU, Zetian.” In Berkshire Encyclopedia of China: Modern and Historic Views of the World’s Newest and Oldest Global Power, edited by Linsun Cheng. Berkshire Publishing Group, 2009.
- Summary
- This article told of the life of Wu Zetian in an easy-to-read, digestible format, specifically aimed towards individuals who have never heard of this woman before. While she was a powerful woman in history who gave political power to other women, she never went so far as to challenge Confucian traditions of excluding women from civil service. Even so, she was a capable ruler who maintained a stable economy throughout her ruling, while also bringing a reversal of gender roles and restrictions that her society constricted for women.
- Information
- I found it very interesting that even though she was a good and capable ruler, Wu Zetian was extremely cruel and vicious in her personal life. She even went as far as to murder her two sons, one daughter, and other relatives that opposed her. While she did do a good job as a woman ruler, I found this to be a huge downside to her. Yes, it is true that as a female leader she challenged traditional patriarchal dominances of power, state, and monarchy, she did so violently and destructively. She sacrificed her family and bonds in order to be powerful.
- Connection
- This reading connected to the one we read during Week 5 by Dong Lan, “Chapter 2: Heroic Lineage: Military Women and Lady Knights-Errant in Premodern China.” This chapter told of the stories of many strong women throughout Chinese history, specifically women who were influenced with military. Wu Zetian was also a very strong woman who was a leader.
- Classification
- This was a Wikipedia-like website article which outlined who Wu Zetian was in an easy-to-read format.
- Summary
- “Shangguan Wan’er: Ghost Writer for Two Empresses.” In The Red Brush: Writing Women of Imperial China, edited by Wilt Idema and Beata Grant, 61-72. Cambridge, Mass: Harvard University Press, 2004.
- Summary
- This reading focused on the life of Empress Wu and her rise to power, written in a narrative-like way by ghost writers. The reading discussed Empress Wu’s life before her reign, her rise to power and the means she took to get there, her time in power, and her death.
- Information
- I really enjoyed the organization of this reading and the way that it read very much like a novel. It was very interesting to hear about her rise to power and the things she went through in more detail than just the Wikipedia article.
- Connection
- This reading connects with both the one above and also previous readings from class about women who came to power. Correct me if I am wrong, but I believe we have also read about Empress Wu Zetian in the past too.
- Classification
- This is a chapter/section of “The Red Brush: Writing Women of Imperial China” by Wilt Idema and Beata Grant
- Summary
To-Do List – What to do next week?
- I feel like my weeks have been filled with a constant game of catch up. While I do feel like the content I create for this class is very good, I’m often not able to finish the work on time and get it in a few days late. However, I’d rather put out work that I am proud of then rush to get it done before the due date. I will, however, make it a priority to get my work out on time in the future.
Signing Off! ~<3
~Clare <3
I also never heard of Wu Zetian before reading your post. I find it interesting how it is so common to hear how men have killed to gain power but it is almost never talked about when a woman does it. I am kind of interested to learn if maybe her story was purposely hidden because she was not the stereotypical feminine female.
Also, I really resonated with what you said about constantly feeling like you are playing catch up. I’ve been feeling that way a lot lately, so it’s nice to know im not alone.