The World of Wu Zhao: Annotated Selections from Zhang Zhuo's Court and Country

by N. Harry Rothschild

Overview

This annotated translation of Zhang Zhuo’s collection of miscellany, Court and Country, offers a lively, folksy, and novel perspective on the empire of Wu Zhao, China’s first and only female emperor, that will amuse and shock readers, prompting them to recalibrate everything they think they know about medieval China. The World of Wu Zhao includes separate chapters on a number of different themes and topics: Buddhist and Daoist monks, the female emperor’s male favorites (who dressed up in rainbow feathered garments and pranced around her court astride wooden red-capped cranes), cruel officials (bloodthirsty henchmen who took an aesthetic delight in their vocation), as well as sections on flora and fauna, the common folk, artisans and craftsmen, the military, spirits and the supernatural, the borderlands, and local officials.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781839993930
Publisher:	Anthem Press
Publication date:	02/11/2025
Pages:	318
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.72(d)

About the Author

Harry Rothschild is Professor of Chinese History at the University of North Florida, USA. He specializes in early Tang history and the study of women and gender in China and East Asia.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments; Figures; Map; Tables; Weights and Measures; Introduction; Chapter 1 Wu Zhao: her inner palace, her inner circle; Chapter 2 The culture of the court; Chapter 3 “Cruel officials”: Wu Zhao’s “teeth and horns”; Chapter 4 Beyond court and capital: local officials; Chapter 5 The common people; Chapter 6 Relationships: men, women, and family in the time of Wu Zhao; Chapter 7 Generals and military men; Chapter 8 The frontier and beyond: foreigners and others during Wu Zhao’s reign; Chapter 9 Religion and the supernatural world; Chapter 10 Flora, fauna, and the natural world; Afternote; Appendix: People and Places; Notes; Bibliography; Index

Editorial Reviews

With this latest publication, N. Harry Rothschild cements his reputation as the foremost authority on Wu Zhao. His commentary, interspersed with translations of excerpts from Zhang Zhuo’s eighth-century Collected Records of Court and Country provides unparalleled insight into Wu Zhao’s court and Tang society, religion, and international relations. The book is meticulously produced with helpful reference matter, making it suitable for students and learners at all levels. This book is a parting gift from Harry, and we will miss him terribly” — Michelle C. Wang, Department of Art and Art History, Georgetown University.

“With his usual panache, the late N. Harry Rothschild employs Zhang Zhuo’s eighth-century work to paint a vivid and all-encompassing picture of the times of China’s only female emperor, Wu Zetian. He helps us adroitly peer behind Confucian misogynism to envision Wu and her court in a balanced manner” — Keith N. Knapp, Professor of History, The Citadel, the Military College of South Carolina

“This rich collection of anecdotes, biographical sketches, and curiosities taken from the writings of a Tang dynasty courtier and scholar offers a multifaceted tour of China during the reign of its sole female emperor, Wu Zhao (624–705 CE), that is variously hilarious, racy, poignant, and beguiling”— Jeffrey L. Richey, Professor of Asian Studies, Berea College.

“Harry Rothschild’s imaginative presentation of the material from an eighth-century anecdotal collection has provided us with a view of the Tang world that is both insightful and entertaining. It is a work of impressive scholarship that spans political history, cultural history, literary studies, and gender studies”— Anthony DeBlasi, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of East Asian Studies, Universityat Albany.

“A fresh, rich, and exceptional glimpse on the life and career of Zhang Zhuo, the author of Court and Country (Chaoye qianzai 朝野僉載), a bright guiding light for understanding the reign of Wu Zhao 武曌(624–705), China’s first and only female emperor. A truly labor of love and will!!!” — Robin R. Wang, Loyola Marymount University, Author of Yinyang: The Way of Heaven and Earth in Chinese Thought and Culture.

 Rothschild’s prose has a breezy, conversational style, which echoes, in a way, the biji genre’s informality. His exposition, studded with exclamation marks and comparisons with contemporary Chinese and American cultures, will appeal to many. Rothschild had a gift for rhymed translations, and his renditions of medieval Chinese read smoothly. […] The World of Wu Zhao will soon become a staple in Tang dynasty historiography. Rothschild’s last work adds a fascinating perspective on what remains a vital yet understudied period, and scholars and teachers undoubtedly will make extensive, productive use of the book in the years to come—  Journal of Chinese History

From the Publisher