Empire cover image

Empire

182. The Lady Macbeth of China

Sep 2, 2024
In this intriguing discussion, Empress Wu Zetian, a trailblazing ruler of 7th century China, explores her rise from a concubine to a formidable leader. Known for her ruthless ambition, she reveals the haunting guilt stemming from her violent ascendance. The conversation touches on her collaboration with a prominent Buddhist monk that transformed China into a spiritual hub and how she crafted a divine narrative to legitimize her power. As she reflects on her reign's tumultuous end, listeners gain fascinating insights into her complex legacy.
53:16

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • Empress Wu Zetian's ruthless rise to power illustrates her strategic mindset and unwavering determination to eliminate rivals through violent means.
  • Despite her successes in establishing a flourishing Buddhist culture, Wu's later years reveal vulnerabilities and discontent that led to her abrupt downfall.

Deep dives

The Rise of Wu Zetian

Wu Zetian's remarkable rise from humble beginnings to becoming a powerful Empress is characterized by her cunning and ruthlessness. Initially a Grade 5 concubine, she quickly ascends the ranks to become a high-ranking concubine after capturing the attention of the Emperor's son. In her pursuit of power, she eliminates rivals, including the Chief Concubine, by gruesomely dismembering her and her allies, showcasing her willingness to stop at nothing to secure her position. This blood-soaked path to power reveals her strategic mindset and determination to overthrow all obstacles in her way.

Get the Snipd
podcast app

Unlock the knowledge in podcasts with the podcast player of the future.
App store bannerPlay store banner

AI-powered
podcast player

Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features

AI-powered
podcast player

Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features

Discover
highlights

Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode

Discover
highlights

Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode

Save any
moment

Hear something you like? Tap your headphones to save it with AI-generated key takeaways

Save any
moment

Hear something you like? Tap your headphones to save it with AI-generated key takeaways

Share
& Export

Send highlights to Twitter, WhatsApp or export them to Notion, Readwise & more

Share
& Export

Send highlights to Twitter, WhatsApp or export them to Notion, Readwise & more

AI-powered
podcast player

Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features

AI-powered
podcast player

Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features

Discover
highlights

Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode

Discover
highlights

Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode