Čínská císařovna

by Evelyn McCune

Narodit se jako druhá dcera druhé manželky, to nebyl ve staré Číně příslib skvělé budoucnosti. Všechno se ale změnilo, když třináctiletou Chou povolal císař do svého harému. Dětskou upřímností, nevinností, spíše chlapeckou logikou a rozkvétající dívčí krásou si Chou dobude nejprve uznání, pak pozornost a nakonec i lásku ovdovělého císaře.
Krásné časy náhle utne císařova smrt a před Chou se otevírá vyhlídka na doživotní vzpomínání v klášterních zdech. Ve spleti mocenských her, k jejichž nástrojům patří zrada a intrika stejně jako láska a sex, se nečekaně rozvine druhé dějství. Následník trůnu si uvědomí, že bez Chou je jeho život neúplný, a mladá výjimečná žena nastupuje na nevídanou cestu k nabytí nejvyšší mocenské pozice v celé říši.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, China, Asian Literature

530 pages, Hardcover

First published July 19, 1994

About the author

Evelyn Becker McCune was born in Pyongyang, Korea, the daughter of Methodist missionaries. She was raised primarily in Korea, but received her university education in the United States. She attended Albion College in Michigan, and Agnes Scott College in Decatur, Georgia before earning a bachelor’s degree in English from the University of California, Berkeley in 1930. After completing her studies, she returned to Korea and taught at Seoul Foreign School from 1930 to 1932. In 1933 she married George McAfee McCune, who was also born in Korea to missionary parents. The couple relocated to the United States, and in 1941 George earned a Ph.D. in Asian history from UC Berkeley. After his death in 1948, Evelyn returned to Berkeley, completing a master’s degree in history in 1950, with a focus on Korea.

Reviews

[RayRay · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book makes me so angry! I was enjoying it thoroughly. The characters were lively and the story incredibly interesting. And then the last 100 pages or so were nothing but politics. Boring, boring politics with barely any plot to pull it along. I was 50 pages from the end and a book that I hadn't been able to put down because a grueling task to finish. I admit, I gave up.

[Lauralee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This historical fiction novel about China's only female emperor is filled with romance, betrayal, and court intrigue. The story starts off as Jao, a young 13 year old, leaves to become the concubine of the Chinese Emperor. When she arrives, she is thrust into a position in which she and the other concubines are rivals for the Emperor's attention. Wu Jao use her intelligence, her beauty, honesty, and virtues to embark on a quest for power. When the Emperor dies, Jao is forced to live as a Buddhist nun for the rest of her life. However, her fate changes when the new Emperor realizes his love for Jao and sends her back to the palace. She competes for the title of Empress to the new Emperor. Eventually, she rises to become China's only female Emperor.

Before I read this book, I didn't know much about Chinese history. However, this novel gives a great introduction into the Chinese Medieval era. Because McCune writes vivid details of Imperial China, I felt as if I was walking alongside Jao (Emperor Wu). This book is also filled with Chinese customs, beliefs, and philosophy. It also discussed medieval Chinese politics that were later important to Emperor Wu's reign. I liked how McCune was very sympathetic to Emperor Wu. History has not been kind to China's only female emperor. Instead, she is criticized for being a ruthless power hungry schemer who plots to get rid of her rivals in order to become Emperor. McCune however, paints Jao as a victim rather than a cold-blooded murderer. It is others around her that are plotting to destroy her, and she must act to ensure her survival.

Overall, this book is a great account for those who are interested in Chinese history. McCune is very sympathetic to Wu Jao, and tries to justify her actions through her novel. McCune makes the readers want to learn about Emperor Wu Jao and Medieval China. This book is a little slow when Jao is Emperor, but it is still interesting to read about her reign. This novel is full of treachery, betrayal, court intrigue, and romance. Most of all, it is about an insignificant girl's journey who rises from her humble origins to become the most powerful person in China. Wu Jao's story is remarkable and astounding. This book will surely delight fans of Philippa Gregory and historical fiction lovers.

[Steph · Rating 3 out of 5]

Started very well but then the last third seemed a rushed summary of two decades of history and undeveloped characters.

[Margo Magid · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good story, terrible editing.

Well told story, with horrible editing. So many typos and punctuation errors it was distracting. Shame on the proof readers.

[Julia · Rating 3 out of 5]

The last third was tedious but up until then I really enjoyed it.

[Cheri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Empress is a biographical fiction of Wu Jao (popularly known by her regnal name as Wu Zetian), a remarkable woman in the history of China’s Tang Dynasty who held the title of Emperor (Huangdi 皇帝) instead of just Empress Consort (Huanghou 皇后) which was a title below the Emperor. Evelyn McCune clearly had done a good deal of research on this particular era of medieval China. Chang’an, the capital of Tang China, was vibrantly described with rich details of its busy roads, passing merchants, and visiting foreign guests. The description of any other important locations, including cities and landscapes, were told vividly and dynamically. I felt easily transported to 7th-century China.

I’m fairly impressed with how very detailed the book is. I did not expect Evelyn McCune to mention a lot of ethnic minorities that lived in Tang China at that time but she did and she was able to describe their peculiar characteristics too. From Uyghur with their Manichean headgear, Turks with fur caps, leather trousers, and felt boots, Tocharian musicians and dancers with their unique musical instruments from Kucha to the Sarmatian women and their tradition of cutting off one breast to use the bow and arrow—all were told in great details.

Wu Jao’s journey from her days as a low-ranking concubine to eventually become the Empress Regnant of Tang China was full of adventures. I’m mesmerized at how the political machinations inside the imperial palaces work and how Wu Jao was able to survive in the midst of it and outsmart some of the cunning concubines and wily ministers. While Confucian historians vehemently disagreed with Wu Jao’s increasing involvement in government matters and saw her gender as a crime in itself among the male-dominated bureaucracy, nevertheless, the reign of Wu Jao was also the reign where Tang China was at its greatness.

This biographical fiction book is a gem. I absolutely love it and don’t even mind re-reading Empress a few times because it never gets dull. Highly recommended!

[Denise · Rating 5 out of 5]

A long but well-written story about Empress Wu Jao of 7th century China. This was a golden period in China's history--expansion, building and an organized national administration. Into this period a 13 year old girl is brought to the capital to become a concubine for the Emperor. The book details the treacherous perils of life as the lowest concubine in a highly regimented society. Wu Jao strives to make friends to ease her homesickness and loneliness but in this society, what you say to another can get you executed.

The Emperor is fascinated by her bright eyes and apparent intelligence and slowly she is first, befriended and then becomes intimate with him. When the Emperor dies and his Crown Prince becomes Emperor, she and her fellow concubines are considered widows and are sent to a Buddhist convent to live out their days as nuns. But the new Emperor remembers that she was a former playmate of his and recalls her to the palace to be a servant to his wife and Empress. Tensions are high between the Empress and a favorite concubine so she uses Wu Jao as a diversion to prevent that woman from bearing any more sons for the Emperor (the Empress has no sons). Close proximity to her former friend kindles feelings of affection and then love between her and the Emperor. Sons are born and their family grows in between the countless protocols and trials of life at court.

The author details festivals, building projects and wars that occur along with the constant fighting with administrators and family members. Everyone wants a promotion, a favor, or a tip/bribe.

An excellent book about a woman whom Chinese historians have maligned for striving for (and achieving!) power in her own right. No other woman since has achieved so much in Chinese history.
I enjoyed it and highly recommend this book!

[Nick Sweet · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book explores the life of one of the most fascinating women in history, Empress Wu Zetian. Empress Wu was the only woman to hold sole possession of the title of Emperor in the entire history of China. In this work, she is fully fleshed out and given new life in the story of her life. A highly recommended read for anyone interested in women in power or the history of women in China.

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

taking me a while to read this one - but I keep going back to it. Almost done now.