PC/AHC: More female Chinese empresses?

I don't mean like Cixi, I mean like Wu Zetian. Is it possible That female succession would become acceptable? Even if there's still a preference to male heirs, is it possible to make female-rule in China accepted by law?
 
I'm not all that into ancient Chinese history, but Wu Zetian's legacy was not well-liked IIRC. Maybe make her rule have better results and have her be recognized for it.
 
I'm not all that into ancient Chinese history, but Wu Zetian's legacy was not well-liked IIRC. Maybe make her rule have better results and have her be recognized for it.

Well, it's her rise to power that's also problematic. Without being completely brutal, she - as a woman - could not rise to power. This brutality tainted her rule and her legacy will necessarily be viewed as negative. And even if she was less brutal, she's still a woman and those are hardly ever liked in Chinese imperial politics.
 
Well, it's her rise to power that's also problematic. Without being completely brutal, she - as a woman - could not rise to power. This brutality tainted her rule and her legacy will necessarily be viewed as negative. And even if she was less brutal, she's still a woman and those are hardly ever liked in Chinese imperial politics.
I think it would be too hard to imagine how long the trend could continue, but there were at least three other women in the Tang Dynasty who aspired to become Empress and emulate Wu Zetian.

A possible scenario for more women leaders: after Wu Zetian is deposed or dies, Emperor Zhongzong becomes the next Emperor. He rules until death. The Empress Wei, wife of Emperor Zhongzong, becomes the next Empress Regnant, upon Zhongzong's death by getting rid of both Retired Emperor Ruizong and Ruizong's son, the man who became Emperor Xuanzong, in some way. After Empress Wei dies, her successor would be her daughter, the Princess Anle, Wu's granddaughter and Zhongzong's daughter. Princess Anle then gets deposed, and her aunt, the Princess Taiping, Wu Zetian's daughter, becomes Empress Regnant instead.

Everything after that would probably lead to substantial divergence.
 
Top