ikr

btw when will part 2 be out just wondering so i can be online

Me: hey, how many li’s are there? Tang Dynasty: *_yes_*

Wu killed quite a few already

Love your new profile picture. It's g O L d e N

Tbf almost every new generation in court had mini-coups and fratricide. As well as extra struggles within the harem.

Chinese imperial history has quite a few similarities to ottoman history in a weird way. As an example, Suleiman the Magnificent's dad became Sultan by using the army to coup Suleiman's grandfather. So when his own oldest son Mustafa got really popular with the army and randomly mobilized a contingent of soldiers loyal to him to join the Sultan while he was campaigning in Persia, he got suspicious. And when the grandvizier told Suleiman that Mustafa was planning to overthrow and kill him, he took no chances. Mustafa got fucking merc'd by a goonsquad of soldiers the second he stepped foot in his old man's command tent. Only it turns out the grandvizier was the one who told Mustafa to visit his dad in the first place, because he was also the son-in-law of Suleiman's favourite wife and she wanted Mustafa dead to protect her own sons. Whoops.

@@sherlocksmuuug6692 This is why the harem system is always a bad idea, imagine having to constantly bury your kids cuz they're all either fighting for the throne or trying to survive. I would be so sad.

@@wajeehahmumin1675 to be fair they only loves and like the kids from the favorite wife the other can eat dirt.

@@ragsrare3771 Well, thats unfair...😨

Gets me everytime

I cackled

*No,no... He's not wrong.*

Ok but he was right😂😂

That was the first black sassy grandma in recorded history.

love your pfp

"Henry VIII had trouble making legitimate children. This will be genetically relevant."

"Taizong pulled a coup to take the throne. This will be genetically relevant"

Xiran: And then I took it personally!

@@planclops Me:"and I watched it personally!"

This thread is gold

@@goldenbunnies4143 this thread took it personally

@@theSkin_of_a_Killer_Bella FAHJDKF

No gay until you finish your responsibilities as a husband and father

@@user-ie7vo1hj3j well they have exceptions too....gay before and after marriage

@@ataventurine7515 yeah gay and all but where baby??

@@nyooom3299 are you wordblind or something? I literally just mention the word “marriage”, you illiterate

Mom says it’s my turn to do the Gay

I looked at your ppf out of the corner of my eye, and thought: "Wow looks like the Wendy's wants to learn history."

@@ed_sheerans_left_toe lmaoooo

Agreed! They really help to establish who these people were beyond just a name, too. I'm wondering where the images come from, they look like they're from some major historical drama, which would be huge fun to watch but I'm guessing it doesn't come with English subtitles.

You ignore the fact that prior to bronze age, matriarchy what's also common, pharaohs married their sisters because they had the power.

Cringe

Empress Regnant.

@@prestonjones1653 read the video title

@@dotdotdot...176 I did. The actual term, in English anyway, is Empress Regnant as opposed to Empress, Mrs. Emperor.

@@prestonjones1653 the thing is though, she wasn't _just_ regent, she then ruled in her own right and technically started her own dynasty

@@dotdotdot...176 You do realize there is a difference between regent and REGNANT right? Regnant means "ruler" Regent means "babysitter"

They can have a little sausage, as a treat.

Tbh, when you're a ruler of something, indulge in gay definitely on check list 😂

Idk, it's also very Greco-Roman.

@@WowUrFcknHxC very fitting consider Wilde diddled young boys

@@vincentmalasawmkimajongte7489 oh sheez

It's almost like they knew people would be bored of reading facts, so they embellished it to enjoy and remember it

@@lelnel6242 The Chinese imperial historians know what's going on.

I'm now kinda starting to wonder, like 20k years from now, once the historians of that time, read ironwidow, will they think that is also a viable source of chinese history? 😏😏

The originators of Fan Fiction.

A lot of history is exaggerated. Just ask anyone in Europe who claimed to have divine right, like their blood is supposed to be different than that of commoners just because they're royal, lol.

There is a reason why so much of the history of Dynastic China was turned into soap operas: so much of it was utterly dramatic without even the over-exaggeration.

I knowwww right? That’s why I keep watching her videos, it’s like having a conversation with someone talking about what they’re genuinely interested in.

yeah! and they use they/them pronouns btw

@@jjjm7322 xiran uses any pronouns casually, but prefers they/them on official bios, which a youtube comment is not

Do you think her cat can teleport? Admittedly, it is a cool cat.

Actually, he means ' Your majesty, I will support you whatever.' He was dodging first because he wasn't sure how far the Emperor would like to go when confronting zhangsun, the Emperor's own teacher and uncle.

yes this is literally me. I'm also a historian and every time i learn some fun stories like this i'm like ooooohh girl the drama!

I'm not a historian, but I'm really into gossip and secrets, so from that perspective it also checks out.

That feels especially true with this kind of history of nobility, where it is pretty gossipy.

I’m really into the Golden Age of Piracy and every time I learn new things everybody has to hear about it like this is the newest and most exciting gossip xD

Historians are just gossipers that got upset they missed the biggest bits of gossip that happened before they were even born.

Agreed. I want all the history lessons. This is absolutely amazing.

History gossip is the best gossip.

Yeessssss! Please teach me more!

It beats the hell out of learning from Dynasty Warriors games. Which I have to admit did spark an interest.

Yasss

Words in Chinese language are more like hieroglyphic symbols to describe the stuffs they are talking about.

^ syllables!

Maybe it's better translated as "PolarisConsort". Not two syllables, but at least you can pronounce it in one breath...

For other reasons, English paradoxically ends up being the more efficient language despite this

​@@roelin360says who? Efficient based on what?

I mean, the way it's told in the video it seems that Wu Zetian didn't start her affair until after Li Zhi became crown prince. No one could have predicted that the emperor's third son with the queen would eventually take the throne, especially when Wu Zetian first joined the harem, when Li Zhi wasn't even a teenager and both of his older brothers were promising heirs. Did she groom him..? I wouldn't say so. The power imbalance was heavily in his favor, he was probably already married when their affair began, and just because she clearly had influence over him doesn't mean he was groomed. That's my interpretation, anyway.

Reminds me of the Old Testament.

@@benjamintillema3572 From what I could tell in the interpretation of this video, yeah I agree with your assessment. He already had kids with like 3 other concubines and he'd been married to his future empress since they were 13-14, he certainly had a lot more power and agency than she did though it's clear she knew how to manipulate him emotionally.

@@benjamintillema3572 ‘grooming’, in very specific circumstances, can have a neutral connotation between a master and a student. If she was helping him gain power by helping him learn and navigate palace politics, she could be said to be grooming him to rule (and planning to use his gratitude/reliance on her to gain her own power alongside him). In this circumstance, the only power imbalance is within a larger group using skill and experience (and maybe social connections), not any sort of power imbalance between two people. It isn’t at all the same sort of gross s3xuaI grooming that most people think of, despite what might have been happening in bed between them (which at it’s most mercenary is just the normal cultivating a connection/winning hearts that you would expect in a harem).

Li Zhi was the youngest son of Empress Zhangsun, but I don't think he's the youngest one (there were probably younger ones whose mothers were concubines). This made Wu's "grooming" strategy even more impressive. She knew that Li Zhi had a much higher chance of getting on the throne than all his half-brothers around his age. While the older princes were busy fighting with each other, Wu placed her bet on Li Zhi instead. Then she very skillfully won his affection and respect to the point that he decided to make her the empress. I believe that Li Zhi truly saw something in her that's different from all the beautiful young noble ladies around him. He had a number of concubines since a young age (it's a tradition for young princes to be assigned a bunch of concubines, mostly as political alliance between the emperor family and the noble families). So it's not like he was very inexperienced with women and could be easily manipulated by an older woman. Apart from the grooming experience, he probably also realised that Wu was an incredible strategist that could support and advise him in his reign. His father set a good example of respecting the opinions of his wife. It makes sense that he would also value extremely intelligent women like Wu. His high regard of her over decades of marriage was a testimony to Wu's political genius and capabilities.

Taizong: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/gpmRd8qimq61lYE.html

poor taizong lol. his underlings: was trying to kill him his sons: want to kill his own sons his wife: want to slit his horse throat he sound like he's surrounded by psycho lol

You have to admire her problem solving skills, as savage as they were. She would have been a ruthless CEO in modern times.

@@mushroomexpress3049 and Taizong killed his brothers....not much different

@@ataventurine7515 I mean its under self defense. while his surrounding esp his sons has a pretty weird reason to kill (atleast the reasoning are not something we can understand on modern society)

I'm also not infertile, buf also I don't give a damn, so-

Yeah consider Li Zhi’s favouring of the seductive and ambitious “femme fatale” type of women like Wu and Xiao, I think Empress Wang was just really really not his type. Arranged political marriages are just sad🥲

Nah it wasn't like that at all. Empress Wang came from THE most prominent family in China at the time. She had the backing of the most powerful political coalition and was nobody's frumpy housewife. She routinely missed Empress/wife duties just because she didn't feel like it, and her family never even bowed to the Emperor when they came to the palace. Their marriage was nothing but a political alliance. It was very unlikely that she was truly in love with Gaozong judging from historical records. It was more likely that she actually looked down on Gaozong and the Li clan because they were noveau riche and half breed.

I think the sadder thing is that she would have been happier had she actually had the chance to be with a partner who actually loved her as she was.

yea, she definitely got screwed over by fate. she was unfortunately the perfect woman paired with a man who didn't want then-society's standards for perfect women.

*they, Xiran is nonbinary 💕 /nm

@@starsiadraws oh my bad I'll correct it

Honestly all history needs to be taught like this. History is interesting but it's hampered by piss poor storytelling. If all history was taught like this it would be everyone's favorite subject. Everyone likes to act like they hate gossip but everyone pays at least some attention to it when it starts.

@@razorflossrazor2937 I'd agree... conditionally. I think some stories of history might simply lack the context and ideas to be told like a gossip story. I mean, military history is usually told with epic proportions blessed by the gods or with righteous warriors fighting with superhuman might, and those sugarcoated stories often work as they are. I'd say that the way you do the storytelling as well as the effort/quality you put into the storytelling are both important.

I mean, whos to say Xiran isnt an immortal and saw it all go down and this *is* actually gossip.

Pretty much.

Charlotte Linlin, Empress of the Sea

what if you wanted to only no women in power but Wu ZeTian said "lmao, XD"

Well, she didn't become emperor either - she was an empress. So that statement is technically correct... The best kind of correct!

I liked this comment too much.

Yeah Empress of China tv series was guilty of this. I hate its portrayal of Wu Zetian :))) she was such a dumbass Mary Sue

Y'all check out her novel. The MC is based off of Wu and she does some "terrible" shit to reach her goals.

Interesting bc the ones i come across always have her as an evil selfish goal oriented woman. 🤷🏻‍♀️

@@kotorisama3080 well at least they are accurate than the innocent Wu Zetian ones.

And how in the end it's the "Patriarchal Propaganda"? When logically speaking it's more akin to " Feminist Propaganda"?

I wholeheartedly agree! Not only does she has a talent of storytelling, she also writes her own scripts in comparison with other wonderful KZfaqrs with a large budget and teams who writes for the talent. Xiran has such a rare talent!

Apologies for using the word "talent" so much...

Agreed! It’s like being told some fantastic gossip from your friends workplace: you don’t have any personal involvement, you just get to enjoy the ride

and my nerd brain is like: Having her as a GM in a Historical CHina setting with all the fables and mystical creatures as "real" would be awesome :-D

Yes! I wish she would do a podcast about badass women in Chinese history

Wang: "Why not bring that nun you like here?" Gaozong: "Oh boy, my sex mommy is coming home! Now I can get married FOR REAL!" Wang: "I've made a huge mistake."

yoo!!!!!

I love yoo fan yeee What do you think Nol will do as a plot twist?

@@raycearcher5794 It was at this moment she knew, she fucked up

@@raycearcher5794 not “sex mommy” 😆

Real

they*

@@NightOwlReader2790 they who?

@@Mateus_Pereira_Silva xiran uses they/them pronouns mostly. At least they prefer those. But they do use any pronouns so.... anyway they = xiran.

That’s just how bilingual people works

@@axelNodvon2047 I grew up speakig two languages and I can't pronounce neither of them like she does.

Honestly same. Even WITH the pictures I got lost several times due to the dang similarities of names and had to go back to my last checkpoint where I wasn't confused. Absolutely stunning video! Cannot WAIT for part two!!!

I had to watch it a few times. Granted history is not my strong suit and even if these were western names I would have still have had the issue. So it’s not a reflection of this video and honestly watching over and over again is super enjoyable.

Same the pictures are so helpful in recognizing them

I also appreciate that she used the C-drama pics not old paintings bc i watched the drama lmao

Yes! I was so glad to have a face to match to a name while watching and rewatching this. Made it so much easier!

I wonder if there's a specific Chinese word for "brother-and-nephew-murderer"? lol

@@davidshi451 Guess no in modern Chinese, but may had been created in the past cuz of the flexibility of the Chinese language system. Rather then creating new word or import vocabs from other languages like European languages usually does, Chinese usually creates new yet short vocabs by combining different Chinese characters. i.e. physics = 物理 = 物(object, substance) + 理(reason, theory, principle) = principles of substances; democracy = 民主 = 民(civilian, citizen, people) + 主(master, dominate, lead) = citizen-leading system. So in this case, the “brother-and-nephew-murderer” could be “弒親者” = 弒 (to murder, killing people of higher social/family ranking, used in classical literature) + 親 （family) + 者 (-er/ person) = family murderer, cuz in Chinese, people tend to keep vocab short. However, you still can created something like “兄姪殺手” = 兄 brother + 姪 nephew + 殺手 killer (殺 = kill, 手 = -er/ hand), people still get it when seeing the word written but might be confused when first hearing that. BTW, I am not from where Chinese communist ruled, but I want to mention that “gay people” are translated as “同志” in Chinese, originally used in Hong Kong and Taiwan, which I found it funny. Cuz while 同 = same and 志 = aim/will/ambition, “同志” is commonly referenced in Chinese Communist Party as “comrade”. So when Taiwanese/HKer see any film involving historical Chinese/ Soviet communist in the past, it’s kinda hilarious that they are calling each other “my gay fellow” in war or tense scenes unintentionally lol. PS. Homosexual = 同性戀 = 同 same + 性 sex + 戀 love = same-sex love, also commonly used even in the Japanese language but more formal.

@@billylee6062 I mean as for the gay/comrade thing have you seen the Sino Soviet friendship posters. Ain't nothing straight about those

@@sarahluise3153 Ohhhhhhhhhh yeh the posters hahaha, then their choice of word makes sense LOL

XD yea-

He survived bc he knew better than to mess with politics

My man was like "bro don't ask the chancellors. This is a personal thing. I really don't care"

@Babba Yaaga You realize your being sarcastic over me showing appreciation at the language of another culture. That makes you look like a real ass

Xiran is chinese... so of course its not difficult

They use they/ them. :)

@@kidscovez seconded

@@kidscovez xiran uses any pronouns casually, but prefers they/them on official bios, which a youtube comment is not.

If the baby died of SID, she might even have genuinely believed her rivals did it. People look for easy explanations in time of grief, especially if the explanation comes with someone/something to dump all your anger on.

@@duceagle6625 That's a good point. I hadn't thought of that.

I also heard somewhere that her baby could've suffocated because of being near a coal brazier, and the carbon monoxide poisoned her (since it was cold in the palace, and ventilation was poor).

@@duceagle6625 Thats actually a really good point. I doubt it was clear to them all that they need to fix the conditions of their hones to stop their babies from dying so that mightve been a real possibility in her head

It's the male historians who made up this story to make her look bad.

I feel you on this!

*Sips in the mountains of chineese court drama series*

You're going to love historical Chinese dramas then

This story is kinda similar to hurrem sultan's story with Suleiman, I watched the series a while ago and I immediately thought of her and her struggle in the harem

@@Fisinocean can you tell me some good ones?

LMAOOO I’m dead

Okay but so true

same😂😂😂

That drama is 70% fiction

Very unrealistic, even by the crazy Chinese overly exaggerated standard of history.

Pure fiction but the costumes in the series are incredible

​@@JollyWanker _THIS._ Those robes were _gorgeous_ 😭

It really explains that burning desire to climb the ladder and prove herself🔥😂

The middle child really does get the worst end of everything. Good for Wu Zeitan.

All I could think of was Li Chengqian saying "ugh, dad, did you seriously murder my boyfriend?" and flipping his bangs like a 2006 emo kid. In all seriousness, it's sad that he wasn't able to be with his love in the long term because of tradition.

I cant blame him for his reaction to the murder of his beloved. It would have destroyed me were I in his place.

Did someone say Cheng Xing?? As in that gay one

That's not very accurate. "称心" means "content in heart". It's notorious because aristocrats generally treat their "male concubines" as sex toys.

​@@starsiadraws🎉

"Oh he just started yelling at his da- OH"

@@NWolfsson 😂

@@NWolfsson if I had money I would 100000% buy it

@@batgrrrlcock I am basing this on my U.S. region, but if you have a good library system you can request purchases and if there is enough buzz or the whims of the purchasing team will buy the item. Or my library is linked to other libraries in the region, so if my library does not have an item and will not purchase it, sometimes libraries within the region will loan out items (not new ones tho)

@@NWolfsson we can assume this hyper-fixation started WAAAAY before they even started writing the book.

@@TehMomo_ I think at that point it’s not a hyperfixation but rather a special interest. Either way the passion for this topic is great to see.

And you fly under the radar, too.

The funny thing is that Li Shimin from Iron Widow shares the same name as Emperor Taizong (his birth name is Li Shimin). But Yizhi, though he shares a lot of characteristics with soft boi Emperor Gaozong, got his name from Zhang Yizhi, Wu Zetian's lover

I don’t know if she will talk about the warring periods in ancient China, but I really hope she does. There were sooooo many of them (bless the civilians for suffering through so much…), not just the famous Three Kingdom period. Game of Thrones is child’s play compared to them. The “main characters” in those Chinese wars died for all sorts of reasons all the damn time. You couldn’t root for any of them😂

Hold on, the kettles done. Let me get my tea.

That's why Chinese just watch period dramas. There's literally so many Game of Thrones storylines to choose from every dynasty LOL.

Xiran goes by they/them, you might want to edit your comment

Ikr

Those eyebrows have some real ambience, don't they?

Fr, we just have hungover two-year college grads trying to teach us like they were teached.

Only class I would actually attend and would pass

You know its funny that you say that because I feel the same way. Lol. When other KZfaqrs do it I just skip through that part but I've actually listened to the entire ad on Xiran's videos. XD

we are but small rebels helping her flout the Chinese government

omg hi?? also chinese and named mandy!!

Yeah, I learn more from KZfaq then I did from my school curriculum.

No school is ever truely engaging

I feel a bit sorry for my kids. Seems like history classes are going to get more restrictive in my neck of the woods.

@@eldorados_lost_searcher How so?

@@hhoi8225 Let's just say that the state government leans more to heroic myth than fact.

A while back someone on Twitter said they're telling their child their first time should be with someone who respects them regardless if love is involved, and I'm thinking that's extremely good advice.

And you put as the thumbnail Xiran's expressions.

HELP 😂

Imagine if your teacher just stopped and said, "and today's lesson is sponsored by Surfshark..."

@@bananakitofinternetclan8350 tbh that would be hilarious

@@bananakitofinternetclan8350 That would be a real power move.

not to mention her amazing historical costume

"Father, l love this boat. But l didn't bring my bathing suit. And what are those cinderblocks for?" ~ The Small Victorian Boy About to Be Murdered, by Danny Avidan during Game Grumps.

Li Zhi: DAD NO I SWEAR I CAN EXPLAIN WHY I WAS BANGING CONCUBINE WU

The most popular tv shows in China and Taiwan are actually historical dramas. It's like Game of Thrones, but with thousands of years worth material to work with.

A great Chinese drama is The Untamed

the untamed and word of honour are great😍 I love cdramas so much esp historical ones

There is a lot of historical Chinese drama in KZfaq. Also a lot of harem drama. I recommend Nirvana in Fire.

Well harems were common back in ancient China & the Middle East. China needs to make me some reverse harem shows. I have yet to make time to watch NiF. Heard it’s good and I LOVE Wu Lei, but he’s way too young for me in that one. He grew up into a super fine hottie in The Long Ballad, though, and now he has that new ongoing show I’m currently watching ✨❤️‍🔥✨. Also loved The Untamed and so many more 💕

Then they bond and become besties

That's why they make so many cdramas about court intrigues

I think the people recording the history also enjoyed them sounding like dramas lol

Theres a show on prime and i swear it has to be based off of this.

@@annie-tu1oy empresses in the palace - the complete series. It’s on Amazon prime for free !

is this sarcasm

@@tori4770 have you dealt with the edgy little shits that identify as teenagers?

@@tori4770 being related to four of them, it is very possible for one of them to say ridiculous things just to provoke a reaction. But also there’s the very real possibility that she made up this story in a “well it’s what I WOULDA said” way later to make herself sound like more of a badass because they also did that lol

@@tori4770 lol thank you Lol yeah I wanna think it did happen just cuz that would be so awesome

Well, it's probably a notorious story passed around. These princes had advisors themselves and they could have instilled the idea into their heads!

to be fair, his dad did kill his boyfriend. If web novels taught me one thing, it's that aristocrats get really fucking dramatic about their boyfriends

I'm over here asking for Three Delivery.

And Xiaolin Showdown

I am hard pressed to get Uncle's "One more thing..." out of my head.

@@ChristianNeihart I can’t get “MAGIC MUST DEFEAT MAGIC” with head wracking accompaniment out of mine.

Oh I'd pay good money to see her talk about American Dragon

can relate but with Indian + Bengali history ;-;

I’ve missed Kokochin ❤️

I was so distracted by all the kitty cameos, lol

@@misslangleysoryuisiconic What happen to that one? Been away from the internet on this side.

@@thgritic102 same here

@@misslangleysoryuisiconic No wait! 25:06 made an appearance there. We all Gucci now 😆

And the world was better for it.

Empress Wang: I'll invite this nun into the palace to distract the emperor. what could possibly go wrong? Also Empress Wang: Why do I hear boss music?

I lowkey feel bad for her. Especially when she was known for being nothing but nice.

You don’t have the same last name as your sister? Or did you mean cousin?

@@Zhishan929 We have the same family name, yeah

Omg she should do the historical Chinese female figures! I knew of this badass female poet roasted bunch of male poets that would make incredible content by her storytelling lol!

I wonder if she'll get to Empress Cixi some time.

@@anirudhviswanathan3986 I'm personally hoping for something on Step Empress Ula-Nara Ruyi

There is a series

@@joshsun1446 pls, tell her name.

How well is subjective but they were never really starved or mistreated, really. So as long as they do not show signs of rebellion, they could even rise up to become high court officials. People can still trace their lineage that far back because of the customary tradition of allowing the previous dynasty's heirs to become Dukes.

Bro, Chinese dynasties weren't exactly angels either. Previous rulers and families were always at the risk of discreet accidents.

@@dylanrodrigues Only if the new Emperor has suspicion of them planning a coup, which is, surprisingly common. Li Shimin - Emperor Taizong is the Emperor who tolerated a lot of shit so he didn't lol.

Yeah instead of bashing babies heads, a little discreet poison could be used to get rid of the past

Yeah, imagine telling French revolutionaries to treat the king and the upper class well

She reminds me of Medea from Your Throne

@@your_dad_on_vacation absolutely! And Roxana from the way to save the female lead's older brother

I will let her

I need the name of the series, it’s sound freaking amazing

@@ataventurine7515 Ze Tian Ji