Fuhao was the first female general to be recorded in Chinese history. She was born in the Shang Dynasty and was the queen of King Wu Ding of Shang.
An excellent match for a hero
The Shang Dynasty lasted from about 1600 to 1046 B.C. Wu Ding was the 23rd monarch, and his temple name was Gaozong. According to historical records, King Wu Ding was 100 years old and reigned for 59 years. He respected Heaven, cultivated virtue, sympathized with the people’s suffering, honored and respected the talented, achieved great deeds, and revitalized the declining Shang Dynasty.
Later generations also called him “The Daren of Yin.” He was given the historical name “The Lord of Zhongxing,” and his achievements were referred to as “The Revival of Wu Ding.”
Wu Ding established a military force called the “Three Armies,” which he led in numerous expeditions. He successfully reclaimed the territories of the rebellious vassals and significantly expanded the territory of the Shang Dynasty.
The Records of the Grand Historian states: “Wu Ding governed with virtue, and the people were delighted, and the way of Yin was restored.” This great king excelled in civil governance and military achievements and had capable ministers and advisors to assist him, particularly an excellent wife. King Wu Ding and Queen Fuhao were a perfect match in made in Heaven.
The beloved queen of King Wu Ding
King Wu Ding had many wives; records show up to 60. However, only three, including Fuhao, were recognized as legitimate wives in royal ceremonies. She was Wu’s first queen and his most beloved wife.
Fuhao’s original surname was not Fu. When she married Wu and became a royal wife, Wu granted her significant land and people. In her fiefdom, she received the name “Hao” and was honored as “Fuhao” or “Queen Fuhao.” Her reign’s name was “Xin,” and the descendants of the Shang Dynasty revered her as “Mother Xin” and “Queen Mother Xin.”
Before marrying King Wu Ding, Fuhao likely held a distinguished position as a tribal leader or princess, which points to her exceptional background and knowledge. Fuhao possessed a high level of cultural refinement and was skilled in writing oracle bone inscriptions. Therefore, Wu often entrusted her with critical sacrificial rituals and reciting sacrificial texts.
She was also appointed as an official in charge of divination, becoming a female politician during King Wu Ding’s reign. Additionally, Fuhao was a military strategist who led troops on many expeditions, achieving remarkable military accomplishments.
General Fuhao always emerged victorious in battle
According to the inscriptions on oracle bones, only two of King Wu Ding’s wives engaged in military campaigns: Fuhao and Fujing. Fujing led expeditions against the country of Longfang, while Fuhao conducted campaigns against five different countries: Tufang, Xiawei, Yinfang (or Bafang), Yifang, and Longfang.
Fuhao was always victorious in battles, defeating over 20 countries, including Beitu, Nanyi, Nanbafang, and Guifang, contributing immensely to the expansion and glory of the Shang Dynasty. In a particular campaign against Qiangfang, Wu entrusted her with more than half of the Shang Dynasty’s military forces, over 13,000 soldiers.
This battle was the largest military operation during Wu’s reign, with Fuhao serving as the supreme commander. Renowned generals like Qin and Yu, who had accumulated numerous military achievements, followed Fuhao’s command. The victory in this battle significantly weakened the Qiang people’s power and stabilized the Shang Dynasty’s western border.
At that time, a powerful tribe called the Tufang, located to the west of the capital city Anyang (in present-day south of central Shanxi), frequently invaded the borders of the Shang Dynasty, causing havoc by robbing people and looting goods, posing a significant threat to the dynasty. In response, Wu ordered Fuhao to lead the troops into battle.
She repelled the invading enemy in one battle, achieving a resounding victory. Fuhao pursued the defeated enemy, decisively defeating the Tufang, who never dared to invade again and eventually became part of the Shang Dynasty’s territory.
Historians believe that the significance of Fuhao’s victory in this battle rivals the legendary struggle between the Yellow Emperor and Chiyou, making it the largest recorded war in the history of the Shang Dynasty, as inscribed in oracle bones.
Fuhao possessed a nine-kilogram bronze axe. The axe was primarily used for governing the army and as a symbol of military leadership and royal authority rather than a practical weapon. It symbolized Fuhao’s authority as an army commander, highlighting her control over military campaigns.
A versatile priestess with civil and military talents
“In the affairs of the state, sacrifices and warfare are paramount.” During the Shang Dynasty, significant events were always accompanied by sacrificial rituals to communicate with the gods and seek guidance from heaven. Only the most esteemed individuals or those able to communicate with the divine could serve as priests and preside over these ceremonies.
Over 10 records in the inscriptions on oracle bones detailed how Fuhao represented the Shang Dynasty in conducting major sacrificial ceremonies. As a woman overseeing the state sacrificial vessels, Fuhao can be considered the first person in history to hold such a position. Her pivotal role in sacrificial rituals and military campaigns, the two most important state affairs, demonstrates her extraordinary talents and the immense trust Wu placed in her.
Furthermore, Fuhao was the first woman known for casting a tripod. The “tripod” was a crucial national treasure that could not be casually produced in ancient times. Due to Fuhao’s ownership of her fiefdom and an independent elite force of over 3,000 soldiers — a number that surpassed the entire military strength of some small states at that time, she had the economic independence and resources to cast large-scale bronze artifacts, including the Simuxin Tripod.
However, this remarkable woman who had made a significant impact passed away at the age of 33. Following Fuhao’s death, Wu constructed a massive tomb for her at the border of the Yin.
In the 1970s, the Yin ruins in Anyang, Henan Province, were successively excavated. While the 11 royal tombs of the Shang kings who had settled in Anyang were found empty due to looting for over 3,000 years, the surprising discovery was the intact tomb of Fuhao. It is the only undisturbed royal tomb of the Shang Dynasty. It remains the wealthiest archaeological find regarding written artifacts, providing valuable insights into ancient Chinese history.
Translated by Joseph Wu and edited by Jessica
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