{"product_id":"the-empress-and-the-dragon-throne-imperial-women-of-the-early-ming-dynasty-hardcover","title":"The Empress and the Dragon Throne: Imperial Women of the Early Ming Dynasty - Hardcover","description":"\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cp style=\"text-align: right;\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/reportcopyrightinfringement.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eReport copyright infringement\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cp\u003eby \u003cb\u003eEllen Soulliere\u003c\/b\u003e (Author)\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eHow empresses and consorts were indispensable to the Ming dynasty and its politics and governance.\u003c\/b\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e The Ming dynasty is often remembered for its rigid hierarchies and patriarchal order, yet the women of the imperial court played vital roles in shaping the empire's political and social landscape. \u003ci\u003eThe Empress and the Dragon Throne \u003c\/i\u003echallenges the prevailing narrative that renders these women invisible, uncovering their agency in court politics and family networks. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e Ellen Soulliere draws on rich material evidence and reads historical texts \"against the grain\" to reveal how imperial women navigated the multigenerational Ming court from the dynasty's founding in 1368 to the end of the Tianshun reign in 1465. Through intricate family alliances and strategic influence, they contributed to the very structures that defined Ming rule. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e Lavishly illustrated and deeply researched, this book offers a fresh perspective on the often-overlooked power of women at the heart of one of China's most formidable dynasties.\u003ch3\u003eAuthor Biography\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eEllen Soulliere\u003c\/b\u003e is an honorary research associate at Massey University in New Zealand.\u003c\/p\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNumber of Pages:\u003c\/strong\u003e 304\u003c\/div\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePublication Date:\u003c\/strong\u003e September 14, 2025\u003c\/div\u003e\n            ","brand":"BooksCloud","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47520948453597,"sku":"9789888900787","price":127.44,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0811\/9867\/8237\/files\/yRVl27jT3W9789888900787.webp?v=1772249059","url":"https:\/\/handfulofbooks.com\/products\/the-empress-and-the-dragon-throne-imperial-women-of-the-early-ming-dynasty-hardcover","provider":"Handful of Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}