Chinese emperors guaranteed male successors by taking multiple wives, in some cases hundreds and even thousands.
Besides ambitious empresses and concubines, these vivid stories of the Imperial polygamous family are also populated with prolific emperors, wanton women, libertine me.
Women Shall Not Rule offers a fascinating history of Imperial Wives and concubines, especially in light of the greatest challenges to polygamous harmony-rivalry between Women and their attempts to engage in politics.
Chinese emperors guaranteed male successors by taking multiple wives, in some cases hundreds and even thousands