Chapters in this book

1. Frontmatter i
2. Contents vii
3. Illustrations xi
4. Dynasties and Rulers Through the Mid-Tang xiii
5. Wu Zhao's Titles at Different Stages of Her Career xvii
6. Reign Eras from 655 to 705 xix
7. Acknowledgments xxi
8. Introduction: Wu Zhao and Her Pantheon of Female Political Ancestors 1
9. Part I. Goddesses of Antiquity 23
10. One. Wu Zhao as the Late Seventh-Century Avatar of Primordial Goddess Nüwa 25
11. Two. Sanctifying Luoyang: The Luo River Goddess and Wu Zhao 43
12. Three. First Ladies of Sericulture: Wu Zhao and Leizu 60
13. Part II. Dynastic Mothers, Exemplary Mothers
14. Four. The Mother of Qi and Wu Zhao: Connecting to Antiquity, Elevating Mount Song 79
15. Five. Ur-Mothers Birthing the Zhou Line: Jiang Yuan and Wu Zhao 95
16. Six. Wenmu and Wu Zhao: Two Mothers of Zhou 109
17. Seven. Four Exemplary Women in Wu Zhao’s Regulations for Ministers 124
18. Part III. Drawing on the Numinous Energies of Female Daoist Divinities
19. Eight. The Queen Mother of the West and Wu Zhao 149
20. Nine. The Mother of Laozi and Wu Zhao: From One Grand Dowager to Another 167
21. Ten. Rejected from the Pantheon: The Ill-Timed Rise of the Cult of Wei Huacun 179
22. Part IV. Buddhist Devis and Goddesses
23. Eleven. Dharma Echoes of Mother Māyā in Wu Zhao 195
24. Twelve. Bodhisattva with a Female Body: Wu Zhao and Devi Jingguang 209
25. Conclusions 227
26. Appendix: Wu Zhao’s Pantheon of Female Political Ancestors 237
27. Glossary of Chinese Places, Names, and Terms 239
28. Notes 247
29. Bibliography 311
30. Index 339