Fu Hao

'Lady [surnamed] Hao')[a] died c. 1200 BC, posthumous temple name Mu Xin (母辛), was one of the many wives of King Wu Ding of the Shang dynasty and also served as a military general and high priestess.

[2] Minimal evidence detailing Fu Hao's life and military achievements survived the Shang dynasty, and the records may have perished over the course of time.

The Shang dynasty had two most important activities: ritual matters and battles; Lady Hao played extraordinary roles in both at that time.

Fu Hao is known to modern scholars mainly from inscriptions on Shang dynasty oracle bone artifacts unearthed at Yinxu.

[11] From these inscriptions and from the presence of weapons in her tomb, it can be determined that Fu Hao was a general in charge of several military campaigns for the Shang dynasty.

[13] The Tufang (土方) had fought against the Shang for generations until they were finally defeated by Fu Hao in a single decisive battle.

Further campaigns against the neighbouring Yi, Qiang and Ba followed; the latter is particularly remembered for being the earliest recorded large-scale ambush in Chinese history.

The King later made many sacrifices there in hopes of receiving her spiritual assistance in defeating the attacking Gong, who threatened to wipe out the Shang completely.

The sacrificial bronze vessels and tortoise shells inscribed prepared by Fu Hao discovered in her tomb are further evidence of her status as a high priestess and oracle caster.

Jade human figure, tomb of Queen Fu Hao. The design is probably a derivation from the Central Asian Seima-Turbino culture . [ 9 ] [ 10 ]
Fu Hao's tomb, museum display
Shang dynasty bronze ibex-headed knife with ring, 13th-11th century BCE, of the type found in Fu Hao's tomb. These weapons are similar to those of the steppes. [ 19 ]