Wu Zhao, Woman Emperor of China, a new entry in the Longman Library of World Biography series,is the compelling story of one womanrs"s unlikely and remarkable ascent to the apex of political power in the patriarchal society of traditional China. Wu Zhao, Woman Emperor of Chinais the account of the first and only female emperor in Chinars"s history. Set in vibrant, multi-ethnic Tang China, this biography chronicles Wu Zhaors"s humble beginnings as the daughter of a provincial official, following her path to the inner palace, where she improbably rose from a fifth-ranked concubine to becoming Empress. Using clever Buddhist rhetoric, grandiose architecture, elegant court rituals, and an insidious network of "cruel officials" to cow her many opponents in court, Wu Zhao inaugurated a new dynasty in 690, the Zhou. She ruled as Emperor for fifteen years, proving eminently competent in the arts of governance, deftly balancing factions in court, staving off the encroachment of Turks and Tibetans, and fostering the staters"s economic growth. SH0310 History of the Far East (AB) SH0311 History of China (AB) SH0301 World History I.