Wu Zetian

In the almost 2000-year existence of the Chinese empire, all its rulers had one thing in common: they were men. Empress Wu Zetian (624-705) is the only exception. Countless books have been written and films made about her fascinating life, yet there has never been an exhibition devoted to her on this scale in Europe. Using impressive objects of unprecedented quality that rarely leave China, the exhibition follows the unlikely journey of a young girl who entered the imperial court as a concubine and rose through unbridled ambition to become Wu Zetian, China’s only empress. 

The Silk Road

Wu Zetian’s story is fascinating not only because of her personal history, but also because it is set in the Tang dynasty (618-907), also the apogee of the famous Silk Road. China was the centre of trade connecting East Asia, the Middle East and East Africa. The capital Chang’an (present-day Xi’an) teemed with merchants selling the most refined products from all corners of the world. Wu Zetian left a clear mark on her time. Among other things, she introduced numerous agricultural and trade reforms and lowered taxes. During her lifetime, trade flourished as never before.

Unprecedented quality

For The Princessehof National Museum of Ceramics in Leeuwarden, presenting this exhibition will fulfil a long-cherished wish. From October 26, 2024, to May 25, 2025, an array of high-quality, scarcely loaned artifacts will grace the halls of this museum in Leeuwarden, including earthenware grave goods depicting camels, horses, musicians, merchants, luxurious jewellery, bronze mirrors, elegant porcelain, as well as vessels crafted in gold and silver. Additionally, other discovered items from Luoyang and its surrounding regions, such as the magnificent roof tiles once adorning imperial palaces, will serve as the crowning jewels of the exhibition.

The tomb where both Empress Wu Zetian and her husband, Emperor Gaozong, were laid to rest remains sealed to this day, leaving people to envision the valuable treasures lying beside them, awaiting their use in the afterlife. In contrast, numerous artifacts have been unearthed from the tombs of those connected to the empress, offering fascinating insights for understanding Wu Zetian and the era she lived in. Visitors to the exhibition in Leeuwarden will have the chance to witness the splendour of these artifacts.

There will also be several artifacts from the renowned Longmen Grottoes, famous worldwide, specifically for this exhibition in the Netherlands. Buddhism, introduced via the Silk Road, became the predominant religion in China during Wu Zetian’s rule. The cave, situated near Luoyang, was expanded under the empress’s reign, resulting in the addition of thousands of towering Buddhist sculptures, memorial stones, and pagodas, marking the peak of its grandeur.

Narrating the story of one of the most powerful women in world history through over a hundred Chinese artifacts rarely seen in Europe, the exhibition is anticipated to be one of the most prestigious exhibitions in the history of the Princessehof National Museum of Ceramics. It has received substantial support from the Embassy of China in the Netherlands and the Province of Friesland in the Netherlands.

This exhibition is made possible by the support of the Province of Fryslân, the Mondriaan Fund, Gemeente Leeuwarden, Angela E. Fund, Stichting St. Anthony Gasthuis, Leeuwarder Ondernemersfonds and Stichting Het Nieuwe Stads Weeshuis.

Partners of the Princessehof: Ottema-Kingma Foundation, Society of Friends of the Princessehof and Club Céramique.

The Princessehof National Museum of Ceramics is co-funded by the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science and the Municipality of Leeuwarden.