Throughout the imperial history of China, many female regents ruled on behalf of the reigning Emperor. However, only one women step forward to proclaim herself a female emperor in her own right.

Wu Zhe Tian, 武则天, aka Wu Zhao, 武曌, (625 – 705) ruled China for almost half a century as empress, co ruler and later as the empress dowager during the Tang Dynasty.

Finally in 690, she proclaimed herself as Emperor of Zhou dynasty and ruled as a female emperor for 15 years before being forced to abdicate. She was the only woman in Chinese history to have founded a dynasty and to rule as an emperor. As the Beyonce song goes – who rules the world, GIRLS! Actually, most nations of note have had at least one great female leader but not the United States!