Study Questions from Chapter One of “Empress Wu Zetian: Student-Teacher edition.”

Empress Wu Zetian is one of the most influential women of all time. Born Wu Zhao to Chancellor Wu Shihuo, she was married off to Emperor Taizong in 638 CE as one of many “cai ren” concubines, a rank so low that most rarely met the emperor, let alone slept with him.

But Wu Zhao was different, quickly becoming a trusted secretary and advisor to the emperor. The rest is, well, history.

Here are the study questions that follow and relate to chapter one of “Empress Wu Zetian” entitled “Cai...