Has it been such a long time?
Since I last blogged? My, the interface has certainly undergone a facelift. Nothing much to update on the family side, both rascals are growing like weeds, I have started to coach Greg in writing for the past few months. So far kid has been able to write his own name, all 24 alphabets (with a couple of mistakes) 0-9 and beyond, and a few chinese characters. I'm reasonably happy with his progress, and unashamedly admit I am definitely capable of being a kiasu mum.
Anyways recently I have been chasing Wu Mei Niang - simply, the biography of Wu Zetian, whom I believe need no introduction. The only female emperor in Chinese history certainly had a lot going for her.
I'm not going to go into detail about the drama or the "brastration (my self-invented term of the lopping off of mammaries)". What interested me more was the woman herself. The drama had attempted to portray a more human side of her - that she may not have been all pragmatic and ruthless in seizing the throne. As a mother I'm more inclined to believe their version of her story - especially the part about killing her own children to secure her position. Exile possible but outright murder?
I believe however that many others (some innocent, some not) were indeed eliminated on her path to become the sovereign ruler of China. She is one woman against so many odds. In a time where men were still thought to be vastly superior, it spoke of how formidable she had to become in order to not drown in the egos and scheming of her adversaries.
Women in history who had raised against the odds and succeeded fascinates me. It shows that it is in times of adversity that we become stronger, in mind and spirit.
Anyways recently I have been chasing Wu Mei Niang - simply, the biography of Wu Zetian, whom I believe need no introduction. The only female emperor in Chinese history certainly had a lot going for her.
I'm not going to go into detail about the drama or the "brastration (my self-invented term of the lopping off of mammaries)". What interested me more was the woman herself. The drama had attempted to portray a more human side of her - that she may not have been all pragmatic and ruthless in seizing the throne. As a mother I'm more inclined to believe their version of her story - especially the part about killing her own children to secure her position. Exile possible but outright murder?
I believe however that many others (some innocent, some not) were indeed eliminated on her path to become the sovereign ruler of China. She is one woman against so many odds. In a time where men were still thought to be vastly superior, it spoke of how formidable she had to become in order to not drown in the egos and scheming of her adversaries.
Women in history who had raised against the odds and succeeded fascinates me. It shows that it is in times of adversity that we become stronger, in mind and spirit.