The White Sun and the Magic Mountain: Reign of Wu Ze-tian as Reflected in the Five Phases Chapter of the Old Book of Tang
https://doi.org/10.24412/2686-9675-3-2024-131-149
Abstract
In this article I examine the omens observed during the reign of the first and only female emperor of China — Wu Ze-tian – as reflected in the Five Phases (Wu xing 五行) chapter of the Old Book of Tang (Jiu Tang Shu 舊唐書). I compare the data on the reign of Wu Ze-tian as reflected in the Basic Records (Ben ji 本紀) and Five Phases chapters of this dynastic history. On the basis of this analysis, I identify the main administrative mistakes that Confucian scholars attributed to the empress. I conclude that the mention of omens served two purposes – to highlight crisis state events of the period and identify the main problems relevant to the reign of Wu Ze-tian. Method of structural analysis of texts in classical Chinese (wenyan) was used in this study. I also provide Russian translations of the Old Book of Tang fragments not translated into European languages.
About the Author
E. S. Skrypnik
Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Ekaterina S. Skrypnik, Cand. Hist., Researcher
Moscow
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Review
For citations:
Skrypnik E.S. The White Sun and the Magic Mountain: Reign of Wu Ze-tian as Reflected in the Five Phases Chapter of the Old Book of Tang. Modern Oriental Studies. 2024;6(3):131-149. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.24412/2686-9675-3-2024-131-149
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