Throughout Chinese history, there have been many female emperors and empresses who governed differently and with different personalities.
Among them, the four female emperors and empresses, Lü He, Wu Zetian, Xiaozhuang, and Cixi, are all highly controversial figures. Because of his highly representative political and life experience, he has become an important figure in history that cannot be ignored.
Each of them has a unique and distinct personality, and all of them have shown great personal charm and political talent in a world dominated by men.
Lu He, Wu Zetian, Xiaozhuang, Cixi, these four women in Chinese history, who of them is the most vicious? Who is the most politically savvy?
This is a very controversial topic. This article will analyze the life, governance style and personality of four female emperors and empresses, Lü He, Wu Zetian, Xiaozhuang and Cixi.
First of all, it is emphasized that the discourse of evaluating whether historical figures are "vicious" is often subjective.
We must fully consider the social context of the time, the political environment of the country, and the challenges and choices these women face in order to evaluate them more objectively.
Therefore, the following describes the respective historical deeds and political skills of these women and the editor's evaluation of these four women.
1. Lu He
Lü He, the empress of Liu Bang, the ancestor of the Han Dynasty, after Liu Bang's death, Lü Hen joined forces with the crown prince Liu Ying to control the imperial government and stabilize the Han Dynasty.
Lu's political performance is considered relatively steady and cautious. She respected the power of the princes and maintained the imperial power through marriages and rewards.
At the same time, Lü also attached great importance to the development of domestic economic construction and education, which allowed the Han Dynasty to enter a period of relative peace, stability and prosperity.
Therefore, from a relatively objective point of view, Lu Xi is a relatively smart and relatively moderate female historical figure in political skills.
It was the first woman in Chinese history to be canonized as empress. Lü Pheasant is known as "Empress Lü" in history,
Although Lü Hen respected the power of the princes, Lü Hen still made many cruel moves in order to maintain the imperial power.
Lü carried out a massive purge of officials who disobeyed her orders, deposing or executing them all.
These harsh measures gave Lü a great deal of power on the political scene at the time.
Lu He's character is also controversial. Some historians believe that Lu was an extremely vicious woman.
During her reign, she not only took extremely harsh measures against her political opponents, but also showed no mercy to her own family.
For example, she once ordered her cronies to be killed to ensure that her son would inherit the throne. In addition, Lu Hen also adopted an extremely harsh education method for her daughters, making them cold and ruthless women.
And many cruel punishments were created, such as Renbi.
According to legend, Liu Ruyi's mother, Mrs. Qi, was very liked by Liu Bang because she was young and beautiful, and did not put the old and decaying Lu Hei in her eyes, and attracted the scourge of killing.
Lü Hen tortured her as an adult, and hung Mrs. Qi's life with the above good tonic medicine, so that Mrs. Qi could easily get the relief from death. These things are enough to show Lu He's cruelty.
2. Wu Zetian
Wu Zetian, the female emperor of the Tang Dynasty, was the only figure in Chinese history to ascend the throne as a woman.
She controlled the political and military power of the Tang Dynasty during the Tang Dynasty, especially after the late years of Emperor Gaozong of Tang and the assassination of Emperor Suzong of Tang.
Wu Zetian adopted a series of effective measures to maintain national stability and social order.
Her policies of focusing on developing agriculture, strengthening centralized power, rectifying the military system, and strengthening economy enabled the Tang Dynasty to reach a period of historical prosperity under her rule.
Wu Zetian's performance in political maneuver can be said to be very clever and decisive.
However, her excessive pursuit of political power also led to some political atrocities, such as eradicating dissidents and indiscriminate use of punishment, which left some inevitable negative effects on the Tang Dynasty.
Therefore, Wu Zetian is widely regarded in history as a female historical figure with both political talent and a certain element of cruelty.
During Wu Zetian's reign, a series of reform measures were adopted, which led to the great political, economic and cultural development of the Tang Dynasty. However, her governance style and personality are also controversial.
Wu Zetian's governance style is known for its strength. During her reign, she took a series of measures to consolidate her power.
For example, she promoted her cronies and family members to high positions and wielded a great deal of power.
In addition, she resorted to a series of brutal measures to eliminate political opponents and dissidents. For example, she once ordered the entire family of an official to be killed as a warning.
These powerful tactics gave Wu Zetian great power in the political arena at that time.
Wu Zetian's character is also controversial.
Some historians believe that she was an extremely vicious woman. Because during her reign, she took extremely harsh measures against political opponents, but Wu Zetian retained her unique warmth as a mother and wife for her family.
But these warmths seem so small and insignificant compared to the majestic imperial power.
For example, she once ordered her daughter, Princess Taiping, to be killed to ensure that her power was not threatened by her daughter.
In addition, she has adopted a series of measures to eliminate political opponents and dissidents, which makes people's evaluation of her quite complicated.
She only left a wordless monument for posterity to comment.
3. Xiaozhuang
Xiaozhuang, the empress dowager of the Qing Dynasty, was a famous empress in Chinese history, and the empress dowager, the wife of the Qing Emperor Taiji and the mother of the Shunzhi Emperor.
During his reign, Xiaozhuang took a series of measures to consolidate his power. However, her governance style and personality are also controversial.
Xiaozhuang's governance style is known for its gentleness. During her reign, she took a series of measures to improve people's livelihood and strengthen national defense.
For example, she strengthened the management of the frontier areas to prevent foreign invasions.
In addition, she has taken a series of measures to improve people's livelihood and improve people's living standards. These modest measures gave Xiaozhuang a certain prestige on the political scene of the time.
However, Xiaozhuang still faces many pressures and challenges, such as internal eunuchs and external civil revolts.
In dealing with these challenges, Xiaozhuang showed a certain tenacity and decisiveness, but also some radical, such as extreme measures against the eunuchs, and even some cruelty.
Therefore, although Xiaozhuang has certain political skills and courage, she is evaluated in history as a somewhat vicious and radical female historical figure.
Xiaozhuang's character is also controversial. Some historians believe that she was a gentle and kind woman.
During her reign, she not only cared for the people, but also cared for her own family.
For example, assisting the Shunzhi Emperor, weighing Dolgon and Ao Bai, I have to say that during the Shunzhi period of the Qing Dynasty, the peaceful and prosperous era, the situation of government and people to a certain extent has the credit of Empress Xiaozhuang.
In addition, she has taken a series of measures to improve people's livelihood, which has made people evaluate her positively.
4. Cixi
Cixi, the empress dowager of the Qing Dynasty, was a relatively famous female figure in the history of the Qing Dynasty and the last empress dowager to have actual power.
She is also one of the most vicious women in Chinese history.
Cixi's cruelty is mainly manifested in her treatment of her political enemies and son.
In the political environment of the late Qing dynasty, she took a series of strong measures to maintain the dominance of the Qing dynasty.
She paid special attention to military reform and strengthening foreign exchanges, developing the navy, and actively opening up overseas trade, which won dignity for the Qing Dynasty internationally.
At the same time, Cixi also attached great importance to cultural education and the development of court art, and made many outstanding achievements in these aspects.
However, Cixi also used many methods to suppress dissent and eliminate opposition, such as the "politics of the Western Empress Dowager" and "the police and edict of the courtiers and the courtiers", which also had some adverse effects on the sustainable development of the Qing Dynasty.
As a result, Cixi is also considered a relatively vicious female politician in Chinese history.
She tortured her political opponents, killed her son and nephew, and used violence to defend her position during her reign.
And Cixi was the last empress dowager of China, after which she ended thousands of years of feudal rule in China, and Cixi lived a life of arrogance and luxury, and in this regard, it is not an exaggeration to say that Cixi accelerated the demise of the Qing Dynasty.
But Cixi's political skills were also very clever.
During her reign, she adopted a series of policies that promoted economic development and social stability, and consolidated the international status of the Qing Dynasty through diplomatic means.
In addition, Cixi successfully quelled the Taiping Rebellion and defended the territory of the Qing Dynasty.
To sum up, the four women of Lu He, Wu Zetian, Xiaozhuang and Cixi are among the most vicious women in Chinese history, and they are also the most politically skilled.
Although their methods are somewhat cruel, their political talent is also unquestionable.
Of the four women, Wu Zetian and Xiaozhuang were the most politically savvy, while Lu Hei and Cixi were even more vicious.
In evaluating the four women, the historical context and political environment in which they find themselves needs to be taken into account.
In ancient China, male rulers dominated, and it was difficult for women to gain power and status.
Therefore, the fact that these four women can become empresses or female emperors has already shown their extraordinary talents and charms.
In the political environment in which they live, political struggles and intrigues are commonplace.
Therefore, their vicious tactics and political tricks were also formed in this context.
Of the four women, Wu Zetian and Xiaozhuang were the most politically savvy.
During Wu Zetian's reign, he introduced a series of reforms that promoted the political, economic, and cultural development of the Tang Dynasty. She also succeeded in quelling many wars, large and small, and consolidated the international position of the Tang Dynasty through diplomatic means.
During his reign, Xiaozhuang adopted a series of policies to promote economic development and social stability, and consolidated the international status of the Qing Dynasty through diplomatic means.
In addition, Xiaozhuang successfully balanced the regent Dolgon and the great meritorious minister Ao Bai, so that they would not be pampered and proud to defend the territory of the Qing Dynasty.
The viciousness of Lu Hen and Cixi is even more profound. During his reign, Lü consolidated his position by killing his relatives and political enemies, and successfully quelled the Lü Rebellion.
During his reign, Cixi asserted his position by killing his own sons and nephews, and succeeded in quelling the Taiping Rebellion.
Although the methods of these four women are somewhat cruel, their political talents are also unquestionable.
They have left a deep mark on history and have become one of the most outstanding women in Chinese history.
Their stories also provide us with a lot of inspiration, let us learn from their strengths, avoid their shortcomings, and make greater contributions to our society and country.
In short, these female historical figures have their own characteristics, and their political skills and historical evaluations have both positive and negative sides.
We need to learn from this and think about how to harness the power of women in modern society and build a better, more equal and better society.