Wu Zetian - Names and Titles

Names and Titles

Further information: Chinese name

In Chinese history and literature Wu Zetian ) was known by various names and titles. Mention of her in the English language has increased the multiplicity of this. A difficulty in English translations from Chinese is that English translations tend to specify a particular gender (as in the case of "emperor" versus "empress" or "prince" versus "princess"); whereas, in Classical Chinese, words such as hou (后, "sovereign", "prince", "queen") or huangdi (皇帝, "imperial supreme ruler", "royal deity") are of a grammatically indeterminate gender.

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Famous quotes containing the words names and/or titles:

    “It is a sad truth, but we have lost the faculty of giving lovely names to things. Names are everything. I never quarrel with actions. My one quarrel is with words.... The man who could call a spade a spade should be compelled to use one. It is the only thing he is fit for.”
    —Oscar Wilde (1854–1900)

    “Lear. Dost thou call me fool, boy?
    Fool. All thy other titles thou hast given away; that thou wast born with.”
    —William Shakespeare (1564–1616)