Was Wu Zetian the first female emperor? What does "female emperor" refer to?

The number of female emperors in Chinese history is a topic of great concern. According to historical records, there were five women who had reigned as emperors in Chinese history.

However, historians have long debated whether Wu Zetian was the first female emperor in Chinese history.

Firstly, we need to clarify a concept: a female emperor refers to a woman who ascended the throne and served as emperor during a dynasty ruled by men. By this definition, there were indeed other women who had reigned as female emperors in Chinese history.

One of the most famous examples is Lady Bian, the mother of Emperor Liu Yilong of the Liu Song dynasty during the North and South Dynasties period. After her husband's death, she took control of the government and was known as the "Empress Dowager". In 479 AD, she declared herself emperor and was posthumously honored as the "Wen Emperor".

In addition, Princess Gaoyang of the Tang Dynasty was also known as the "National Princess" and enjoyed very high honor and status. Later, she was also known as Princess Taiping and became an important ruler of the Tang Dynasty. Although she did not officially declare herself emperor, her actual power and status were equivalent to a female emperor.

Therefore, although Wu Zetian was the first female emperor in Chinese history, she was not the only female emperor. The emergence of other female rulers also reflects the status and role of women in society at that time, which is of great significance for us to understand ancient Chinese society.

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