Introduction

Ancient China and its royalty have always been perceived as mysterious, exotic, and treacherous. In this exhibit, we will showcase three powerful women who rose to power through ideological (cultural) power, family power, sexual power, military power, and political power. We will examine how these women gain status in the strongly patriarchal society where Confucianism, which believes women are inferior and should not involve in politics, is dominant. This exhibit will focus on her rise to power, her accomplishments when she achieved that power, and how she is remembered in the past and present. Firstly, these women are from wealthy families and have a connection with the imperial family (family power).

Traditionally, in China, only male members of the royal family can get a succession. Therefore, to gain power, women needed to have a connection with the royal family. For example, Emperor Wu’s father was a successful businessman, and her mother was from the Yang family, which is the most powerful family in that era. And they are a friend of the future Emperor Gaozu of Tang.

Then, after they became a member of the royal family, these three women rose to power through their male counterparts (sexual power) and the notion of “filial piety” (ideological or cultural power). First, these women got the status of the wife of the emperor, and when their son became an emperor, they gained control of all politics (political power) because, in Chinese society, people have to respect elders and those who have more power than you do. In this context, the mother is older and has more power than a son does, so women could have power over their son. And this filial piety was stronger than the notion that women are inferior to men in Confucianism.

Also, they used many brutal means to secure their power (military power). They killed many people, including their own family and closest servants, if they are potentially endangering the female leaders’ position.

Because of their brutal acts, although they accomplished great things, they are remembered more as evil women, and these specific women are called “the three most evil women in Chinese history.” However, male leaders did the same kind of brutal acts to gain and secure their power, but they never called evil as opposed to female leaders. This shows us how strong patriarchy and Confucianism are in Chinese society.

You are the one who decides whether they were “evil women” or good politicians through this museum exhibit!