
Contents
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The Mother of Laozi The Mother of Laozi
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Mother Li and her Son in Early Tang Daoism Mother Li and her Son in Early Tang Daoism
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The Elevation of the Mother of Laozi at Bozhou in 666 The Elevation of the Mother of Laozi at Bozhou in 666
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Mother Li in Wu Zhao’s Growing Pantheon of Female Divinities Mother Li in Wu Zhao’s Growing Pantheon of Female Divinities
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Twinned Mothers of Li and Grand Dowagers: A Timely Reaffirmation Twinned Mothers of Li and Grand Dowagers: A Timely Reaffirmation
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From Sage Mother to Emperor: Phasing Out Laozi’s Mother From Sage Mother to Emperor: Phasing Out Laozi’s Mother
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Clues from Emperor Xuanzong’s Daoist Ritual Innovation Clues from Emperor Xuanzong’s Daoist Ritual Innovation
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Conclusion Conclusion
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Nine The Mother of Laozi and Wu Zhao: From One Grand Dowager to Another
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Published:June 2015
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Abstract
This chapter explores the role played by Mother Li, the mother of Daoist founder Laozi, in amplifying Wu Zhao's political authority. Du Guangting's tenth-century perspective shows that the mother of Laozi was a powerful Daoist divinity who filled multiple roles: world creator, mother-educator of Laozi, and transcendent divinity. These multiple roles—mother, demiurge, and divine goddess—would all prove important to the affiliation Wu Zhao sought with the mother of Laozi. This chapter considers the connection Wu Zhao contrived between herself and Mother Li and how, as Gaozong's coruler and grand dowager–regent, he utilized Mother Li's identity as progenitor (of the Li clan, the ruling family of the Tang dynasty) to situate herself symbolically as queen mother of the imperial house. It also discusses the various strategies Wu Zhao devised to exalt the mother of Laozi in ways that might redound upon her own political authority.
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