Echoes of Her Story
Villains or Heroines? Shadows and Lights of the Past
History often whispers the names of extraordinary women, their lives immortalised in stories that reveal the complexities of power, resilience, and fate. In this inaugural issue of Jade Moon, Echoes of Her Story explores two strikingly different portrayals of womanhood in ancient China—stories that continue to inspire thought and discussion.
First, meet Mo Xi, Da Ji, and Bao Si—figures remembered as femme fatales, whose beauty and influence shaped empires and, ultimately, their downfall. Were they architects of chaos or scapegoats of ambition? Their tales challenge us to question how history remembers women who defy expectation.
In contrast, we spotlight Fu Hao, a warrior queen of the Shang Dynasty whose unparalleled military and political achievements shattered the confines of her era. As a general, priestess, and queen, Fu Hao’s legacy serves as a powerful reminder of women’s potential to lead and inspire.
Through these narratives, Echoes of Her Story offers a glimpse into the ways women have been celebrated, vilified and misunderstood in history—and how their stories continue to shape our understanding of power and identity today.
Warrior Queen: The Remarkable Legacy of Fu Hao
Fu Hao was a remarkable figure in ancient China—someone who shattered expectations and proved that power and influence were not limited by gender. She lived around 1200 BCE during the Shang Dynasty, serving as a military leader, high priestess and royal consort to King Wu Ding. Long overlooked by history, Fu Hao’s story came to life in modern times when her tomb was unearthed, revealing priceless treasures and clues that shed light on her extraordinary life.
Fu Hao first entered the royal court as one of King Wu Ding’s many consorts. Unlike others, however, she soon distinguished herself as a formidable leader. While it was not common for women to hold positions of power in Shang society, Fu Hao became both a high priestess and a military general—a dual role that demonstrated her many talents. As a priestess, she performed rituals to communicate with the spirits and ancestors, which the Shang believed would grant them protection and guidance. Her standing in the spiritual realm was highly respected, helping her gain influence in court and among the people.
Achievements and Military Campaigns
Fu Hao’s military career is one of the most fascinating parts of her story. Records on oracle bones (turtle shells and animal bones used for divination) mention her leading armies numbering up to 13,000 soldiers—an impressive feat for any leader of her era. She directed successful campaigns against neighbouring tribes, including the Tu-Fang, Yi, and Qiang, securing valuable resources and expanding the Shang’s power. Her victories not only showcased her strategic brilliance, but also gained her immense respect from King Wu Ding and the entire kingdom. Because of her outstanding contributions, Fu Hao was given estates and wealth, granting her a status rarely seen for a woman at the time.
Discovery of Her Tomb
For centuries, Fu Hao’s story remained largely unknown until 1976, when archaeologists excavated a tomb at Anyang, one of the Shang Dynasty’s important historical sites. Miraculously, this tomb was undisturbed by grave robbers, allowing experts a unique window into the past. Once they translated the inscriptions on the artefacts and cross-referenced them with oracle bone records, they realised the occupant was none other than the legendary Fu Hao.
Inside the tomb, archaeologists found an astonishing collection of bronze ritual vessels, jade ornaments, weapons, and even small figurines. More than 400 bronze items were discovered—many decorated with intricate designs showing the Shang’s refined craftsmanship. The presence of so many weapons, such as axes and knives, confirmed her role as a military leader. Some bronzes featured inscriptions that mentioned her name, Fu Hao, ensuring there was no mistake about whose tomb this was.
The abundance of ritual vessels supported the idea that Fu Hao was deeply involved in spiritual ceremonies. There were also precious jade objects, which signified high status and indicated that she was greatly revered by those around her. Because of these artefacts, we now have clear evidence of how respected Fu Hao was in both the royal court and the religious sphere.
Fu Hao’s life story reminds us that extraordinary individuals often transcend the limits of their time. She was a wife, a priestess, a general, and a leader—proving that a woman could hold tremendous power in the ancient world. Through the discovery of her tomb and its rich contents, we continue to learn more about her incredible legacy.
Ivana Milanović, founder and editor-in-chief of Jade Moon, a bilingual magazine dedicated to Chinese culture, history and literature
Odjeci Njene Priče
Tragovi Vremena: Umijeće Zavođenja i Snaga Ratnice
Istorija često šapuće imena izuzetnih žena, čiji životi ostaju upamćeni u pričama koje otkrivaju složene odnose moći, istrajnosti i sudbine. U ovom prvom izdanju časopisa Jade Moon, rubrika Odjeci Njene Priče predstavlja dva upečatljiva viđenja žena u drevnoj Kini—priče koje i dalje inspirišu i podstiču na razmišljanje.
Najprije se upoznajemo sa Mo Xi, Da Xi i Bao Si—ženama koje su upamćene kao fatalne zavodnice, čije su ljepote i uticaj krojili sudbine čitavih dinastija i na kraju doveli do njihovog pada. Jesmo li ih nepravedno proglasili odgovornim za unošenje haosa ili su one možda bile samo žrtveni jarci tuđih ambicija? Njihovi životi navode nas da se zapitamo kako istorija bilježi priče žena koje su se drznule da budu drugačije od onoga što društvo nameće.
Nasuprot njima nalazi se Fu Hao, ratnička kraljica dinastije Shang, čiji su neprevaziđeni vojni i politički uspjesi srušili barijere njenog doba. Kao general, sveštenica i kraljevska supruga, Fu Hao nas snažno podsjeća na ono što žene mogu dostići kada im se pruži prilika—ili kada one same, poput Fu Hao, sebi tu priliku stvore.
Fu Hao: Legendarna ratnica i sveštenica dinastije Shang
Fu Hao je bila izuzetna ličnost drevne Kine—žena koja je pomjerila granice i pokazala da moć i uticaj nisu povezani sa rodom. Živjela je oko 1200. godine p.n.e. tokom vladavine dinastije Shang, služeći kao vojskovođa, vrhovna sveštenica i supruga kralja Wu Dinga. Iako je dugo bila zapostavljena u istorijskim zapisima, njena priča oživjela je nakon otkrića njene grobnice, koja je iznijela na svjetlost dana dragocjena blaga i nove spoznaje o njenom izuzetnom životu.
Fu Hao je prvi put ušla na kraljevski dvor kao jedna od mnogih supruga kralja Wu Dinga. Za razliku od ostalih, brzo se istakla kao snažan vođa. Iako nije bilo uobičajeno da žene u dinastiji Shang zauzimaju visoke položaje, Fu Hao se uzdigla do statusa vrhovne sveštenice i vojne zapovjednice—dvostruka uloga koja je pokazala njene talente. Kao sveštenica, obavljala je obrede za stupanje u dodir sa onim svijetom i precima, jer se vjerovalo da oni mogu pružiti zaštitu i savjete. Taj položaj u duhovnom svijetu donio joj je veliko poštovanje i uticaj kako na dvoru, tako i među narodom.
Postignuća i vojne kampanje
Vojna karijera Fu Hao vjerovatno je najuzbudljiviji dio njene priče. Zapisi na kostima za proricanje govore da je komandovala vojskom od čak 13000 vojnika—što je izuzetno dostignuće čak i za tadašnje doba. Vodila je uspješne pohode protiv susjednih plemena, kao što su Tu-Fang, Ji i Qiang, obezbjeđujući važne resurse i jačajući moć dinastije Shang. Te pobjede učvrstile su njen ugled, a kralj Wu Ding i cijelo kraljevstvo poštovali su je zbog strateške vještine. Kao nagradu za zasluge, Fu Hao je dobila imanja i bogatstvo—neuobičajen znak priznanja za ženu toga vremena.
Otkriće grobnice
Vjekovima su ljudi malo znali o Fu Hao, sve dok 1976. godine arheolozi nijesu iskopali grobnicu u Anyangu, jednom od glavnih centara dinastije Shang. Nevjerovatno je da je grobnica ostala netaknuta, pa je naučnicima pružila jedinstven pogled u prošlost. Nakon što su dešifrovali natpise na pronađenim predmetima i uporedili ih sa zapisima na kostima za proricanje, postalo je jasno da se radi o posljednjem počivalištu legendarne Fu Hao.
Unutar grobnice, arheolozi su pronašli zapanjujuću zbirku bronzanih posuda za obrede, ukrasa od žada, oružja i malih figurica. Više od 400 bronzanih predmeta otkriveno je unutar grobnice, a mnogi od njih ukrašeni su prefinjenim motivima koji svjedoče o vrhunskom zanatstvu Shanga. Ogroman broj oružja—poput sjekira i noževa—nedvosmisleno potvrđuje njenu ulogu ratnice. Na nekim bronzanim posudama ispisano je njeno ime, Fu Hao, što je dodatno potvrdilo identitet grobnice.
Velika količina ritualnih posuda otkriva koliko je Fu Hao bila važna u vjerskim obredima. Pronađeni su i dragocjeni predmeti od žada, koji su simbolizovali visok status i poštovanje. Ove relikvije pružaju jasan dokaz o ugledu koji je uživala u kraljevskom dvoru i duhovnom svijetu.
Priča o Fu Hao pokazuje da jedinstveni pojedinci često nadilaze okvire svog vremena. Bila je supruga, sveštenica, general i vođa—dokaz da je žena mogla dostići izuzetnu moć i uticaj čak i u drevnom svijetu. Zahvaljujući otkriću njene grobnice i brojnih predmeta u njoj, i danas nastavljamo da otkrivamo nove detalje o njenom nevjerovatnom nasljeđu.
Kroz ove članke Odjeci njene priče pružaju kratak, ali, nadamo se, upečatljiv pogled na to kako su žene bile uzdizane, osuđivane ili neshvaćene kroz vjekove—i na koji način njihovi životi i danas oblikuju naše razumijevanje moći i identiteta.
Ivana Milanović, osnivač i glavna urednica magazina Jade Moon, dvojezične publikacije posvećene kineskoj kulturi, istoriji i književnosti
