Original subtitles

(LIGHT MUSIC)

Downloaded from YTS.MX

(LIGHT DRAMATIC MUSIC) (PEOPLE HOLLERING)

Official YIFY movies site: YTS.MX

Narrator: 3,500 YEARS AGO, A GREAT AND POWERFUL DYNASTY

EMERGED FROM THE CENTRAL CHINESE PLAINS; THE SHANG.

THEIR ARMIES WERE LED BY A FIERCE AND BRILLIANT GENERAL.

HER NAME: FU HAO.

IN THE CITY OF ANYANG,

HER UNDISTURBED TOMB WAS DISCOVERED,

BUT THERE WAS SOMETHING VERY UNUSUAL

ABOUT THIS FAMOUS SHANG QUEEN.

ALONG WITH EXQUISITE JEWELRY AND ELABORATE BRONZE PIECES,

A MULTITUDE OF WEAPONS WERE FOUND.

THIS WAS THE GRAVE OF A GREAT WARRIOR.

Cao: THE TOMB OF FU HAO WAS ONE OF

THE MOST IMPORTANT ARCHEOLOGICAL DISCOVERY

OF THE BRONZE AGE.

Narrator: MANY ARCHEOLOGISTS BELIEVE THE SHANG

ARE THE FIRST DYNASTY OF CHINA.

Wilson: WE CAN TRACE THE ORIGINS OF CHINESE WRITING

TO THE SHANG DYNASTY.

IT'S THE ONLY ANCIENT WRITTEN LANGUAGE STILL IN ACTIVE USE.

Narrator: BASED ON THE LATEST RESEARCH

AND ARCHEOLOGICAL FINDINGS,

WE RECREATE THE LIFE OF THE SHANG PRINCESS

WHO BECAME A GENERAL,

(CHANTING IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

PRIESTESS, AND QUEEN.

(LIGHT DRAMATIC MUSIC)

AT THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF SCOTLAND,

AN EAST ASIA COLLECTION WAS CREATED IN THE 1850S.

IT HOLDS THE MOST IMPORTANT PIECE OF EVIDENCE

ABOUT CHINA'S FIRST FEMALE GENERAL;

A TINY INSCRIPTION ON A RITUAL TURTLE SHELL.

Cao: IN OUR COLLECTION, WE HAVE THIS PIECE OF ORACLE BONE,

SOMEONE DIVINED, FU HAO, RAISED 3,000 MEN,

JOINED WITH ANOTHER 10,000 MEN, FOR A MILITARY ATTACK.

THIS INSCRIPTION HAS THE LARGEST NUMBER OF A MILITARY FORCES

RECORDED FROM THE TIME.

THIS ORACLE BONE SHOWS THAT FU HAO

WAS A VERY CAPABLE MILITARY LEADER.

(LIGHT MUSIC) (REINS CLINKING)

Narrator: IN AROUND 1200 BCE,

HAO, THE DAUGHTER OF A LEADING SHANG LORD,

IS SENT TO THE CAPITAL FOR AN ARRANGED MARRIAGE TO THE KING.

AT THE BEGINNING OF THE TROJAN WARS,

THE NEW EGYPTIAN KINGDOM AND THE BABYLONIAN EMPIRE,

THE SHANG WERE ONE OF THE WORLD'S MOST ADVANCED

BRONZE AGE CIVILIZATIONS.

THEIR KINGS RULED FROM THE CAPITAL, DAYISHANG.

IN THE VALLEYS AROUND THE YELLOW RIVER,

THE SHANG LORDS HAD TRANSFORMED FORESTS

INTO FERTILE FARM LANDS WITH THE HELP

OF A MASSIVE PEASANT LABOR FORCE.

HAO AND HER ENTOURAGE CREATE A STIR.

Wilson: THE SIGHT OF HORSES AND CHARIOTS WOULD HAVE BEEN

A VERY RARE THING.

THEY'RE ASSOCIATED WITH THE SENIOR ELITE OF SOCIETY.

(LIGHT DRAMATIC MUSIC)

Narrator: HAO'S CHILDHOOD FRIEND, OFFICER YU,

HAS BEEN ENTRUSTED TO PROTECT THE PRINCESS

AT THE KING'S COURT.

(MAN SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

Narrator: TRAVEL OUTSIDE THE SHANG SETTLEMENTS

COULD BE DANGEROUS.

(MAN SHOUTS IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

NOMADIC BANDITS LIE IN WAIT FOR THE TRAVELERS.

(DRAMATIC MUSIC) (HOOVES THUDDING)

YU AND HIS GUARDS FIGHT OFF THE RAIDERS,

HELPED BY HAO'S ARCHERY SKILLS.

(DRAMATIC MUSIC CONTINUES) (MEN GRUNTING)

IN THE 1970S, HAO'S TOMB WAS DISCOVERED IN YINXU

BY CHINESE ARCHEOLOGIST ZHENG ZHENXIANG

AT THE SITE OF THE SHANG CAPITAL.

Cao: IN FU HAO'S TOMBS WE FOUND A VERY LARGE NUMBER OF WEAPONS,

BOTH MADE IN BRONZE, AND ALSO JADE.

HER LIFE WERE MUCH INVOLVED IN MARTIAL ACTIVITIES

AND ALSO IN MILITARY ENGAGEMENTS.

(MAN SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

Narrator: VICTORY BRINGS BENEFITS.

THE CAPTURED BANDITS ARE A CURRENCY IN THE SHANG WORLD.

Wilson: SOME OF THEM MAY HAVE BEEN USED FOR CONSCRIPT LABOR

IN THE FIELDS, MAYBE AS TRIBUTE SUBMITTING THEM

TO THE SHANG KING.

(MAN SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

Narrator: THE PROSPECT OF BECOMING

A KING'S TRIBUTE TERRIFIES THE PRISONERS.

(WOMAN SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

(LIGHT DRAMATIC MUSIC)

Narrator: HAO ARRIVES AT DAYISHANG.

OVER 100,000 PEOPLE ARE LIVING HERE.

(BIRDS SQUAWKING) (LIGHT DRAMATIC MUSIC)

Wilson: I CAN ONLY IMAGINE WHAT MUST HAVE GONE THROUGH HER HEAD

WHEN SHE FIRST CAUGHT SIGHT OF THE SHANG CAPITAL,

IT MUST'VE BEEN THE LARGEST SETTLEMENT IN CHINA AT THE TIME,

ONE OF THE LARGEST SETTLEMENTS ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD.

Narrator: AT THE HEART OF THE CAPITAL

ARE THE LUXURIOUS ROYAL PALACES AND TEMPLES

NEXT TO A MANMADE LAKE.

IT WAS HOME TO THE SHANG KING, WU DING.

WU DING WAS A MILITARY KING WHO PERSONALLY LED

HIS ARMIES TO EXPAND THE SHANG HEARTLAND IN ALL DIRECTIONS.

Cao: KING WU DING CERTAINLY

BROUGHT STABILITY TO THE SUN STATE.

WU DING, IN CHINESE MEANING MARTIAL DING,

WHICH INDICATES HE WAS A VERY CAPABLE MILITARY GENERAL.

Narrator: HAO ARRIVES WELL-PREPARED FOR THE MOMENT

SHE MEETS HER FUTURE HUSBAND.

(WOMAN SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

Narrator: A GRIM FATE AWAITS HAO'S PRISONERS

AT THE HANDS OF THE KING.

(LIGHT MUSIC)

HAO TAKES ONE LAST LOOK AT HER OLD FRIEND, YU,

KNOWING HER LIFE WILL NEVER BE THE SAME.

(LIGHT MUSIC CONTINUES)

(MAN SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

Narrator: THE KING'S FIRST QUEEN IS FU JING,

WHO IS DETERMINED TO DEFEND HER STATUS IN COURT.

(WOMAN SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

Narrator: A SHANG KING ALWAYS FAVORS THE RIGHT,

SO THAT IS WHERE HIS FAVORITE QUEEN SHOULD SIT.

FOR NOW, PRINCESS HAO MUST ACCEPT HER SEAT TO THE LEFT.

Cao: PRINCESS HAO, WHEN SHE ARRIVED AT THE SUN COURT,

SHE WOULD HAVE FACED SOME VERY COMPLICATED SOCIAL

AND PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS.

THE KING HAD AT LEAST 64 WIVES,

AND SHE WOULD HAVE BECOME ONE OF THE THREE ROYAL CONSORTS.

Narrator: OFFICER YU PRESENTS ANOTHER SPECIAL

WEDDING GIFT FROM HAO'S CLAN; PRIZED OX SHOULDER BLADES

USED FOR IMPORTANT DIVINATION CEREMONIES

FOR THE SHANG ANCESTORS.

(LIGHT DRAMATIC MUSIC)

IN DAYISHANG, TENS OF THOUSANDS OF ORACLE DIVINATION BONES

HAVE BEEN DISCOVERED IN PITS AROUND THE PALACE COMPLEX.

THE FRAGMENTARY BONES AND TURTLE SHELLS WERE COVERED

WITH DETAILED INSCRIPTIONS ABOUT CHILDBIRTH,

HARVESTS AND WARFARE.

OFFERING HELP AND ADVICE TO THE LIVING

FROM THE DECEASED ANCESTORS AND THE SHANG GODS.

(MAN SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

Narrator: THE KING CALLS HIS DIVINER

TO PREPARE A CEREMONY PREDICTING THE OUTCOME

OF HIS MARRIAGE TO HAO.

IN ORDER TO SHOW OFF HIS STATUS,

THE DIVINER PRESENTS PRECIOUS TURTLE SHELLS

AS AN OFFERING FROM HIS OWN CLAN INSTEAD.

(LIGHT DRAMATIC MUSIC)

HIS GIFT REJECTED, THE DIVINER IS HUMILIATED.

Wilson: THE DIVINER WAS PROBABLY SOMEONE WHO WAS THOUGHT

TO POSSESS SPECIAL POWERS, SPECIAL SENSITIVITIES.

THEY MAY, IN FACT, HAVE FUNCTIONED ALMOST

LIKE A KIND OF SENIOR PRIESTHOOD.

Narrator: IN THE ROYAL TEMPLE,

AS THE ORACLE BONES ARE PREPARED,

THE DIVINER AND THE JEALOUS FIRST QUEEN SCHEME

TO DERAIL HAO'S WEDDING CEREMONY.

(LIGHT DRAMATIC MUSIC) (FIRE CRACKLING)

(MAN SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

Narrator: IN THE SHANG DYNASTY CAPITAL OF DAYISHANG,

KING WU DING SEEKS APPROVAL FROM THE ANCESTORS

FOR HIS MARRIAGE TO HAO.

TO OBTAIN THEIR ANSWER, THE DIVINER INSERTS

A HEATED POKER TO CRACK THE OX BONE.

Wilson: THIS IS A FRAGMENTARY TURTLE SHELL THAT

WAS SPECIALLY PREPARED FOR THE DIVINATION CEREMONY.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE BACK OF THE SHELL,

YOU CAN SEE THERE'S SPECIALLY PREPARED NOTCHES

THAT WERE CUT INTO THE BACK.

AND IT WAS THE APPLICATION OF HEAT IN THESE HOLLOWED AREAS

ON THE BACK OF THE BONE THAT ACTUALLY

CAUSED THE BONE OR THE SHELL TO CRACK.

Narrator: THE WAY THE BONE CRACKS WILL SHOW

THE ANCESTORS' ANSWER.

THE DIVINER INSISTS THAT THE ANCESTORS DISAPPROVE

OF THE KING'S FORTHCOMING MARRIAGE TO HAO.

Wilson: THE DIVINATION DID NOT ALWAYS LEAD TO A CLEAR ANSWER.

THE DIVINER COULD HAVE BEEN INVOLVED

IN INTERPRETING THE CRACKS,

THE KING COULD HAVE BEEN INVOLVED

IN INTERPRETING THE CRACKS.

(LIGHT DRAMATIC MUSIC)

Narrator: PRINCESS HAO INTERVENES.

SHE KNOWS THE DIVINER TAMPERED WITH THE BONE.

SHE SPOTS ANOTHER CRACK WITH A QUITE DIFFERENT OUTCOME;

A SIGN THAT HER MARRIAGE WILL BRING GOOD FORTUNE.

Wilson: THE SYSTEM CERTAINLY, TO MODERN EYES,

APPEARS THAT IT COULD HAVE BEEN MANIPULATED.

(MAN SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

(MAN SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

Narrator: FROM NOW ON, HAO IS ASSURED

SHE WILL BECOME A QUEEN.

THE OUTCOME IS INSCRIBED IN THE BONE.

OVER 50,000 SHANG ORACLE BONES WERE DISCOVERED IN ANYANG.

THE 3,000 YEAR OLD INSCRIPTIONS RECORD

THE STORY OF FU HAO, KING WU DING,

AND THE HISTORY OF THE SHANG DYNASTY.

Wilson: YOU CAN SEE THE CRACK AND YOU CAN ALSO SEE

THE INSCRIPTIONS THAT NARRATE THE SUBJECT

OF THE DIVINATION CEREMONY.

THE CHARACTERS ARE VERY PICTOGRAPHIC;

YOU CAN SEE A DEPICTION OF A FOUR LEGGED ANIMAL

DOWN HERE IN THE CORNER.

(MAN SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

Narrator: IN WASHINGTON, DC,

THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF ASIAN ART IS PART

OF THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION,

WHICH FUNDED SOME OF THE EARLY EXCAVATIONS

OF THE ANCIENT SHANG CAPITAL THAT WAS LATER NAMED YINXU.

(MAN SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

(LIGHT DRAMATIC MUSIC)

Narrator: IN DAYISHANG, A CEREMONY IS HELD

FOR HAO'S WEDDING, LED BY QUEEN FU JING.

THE CAPTIVES ARE TO BE SACRIFICED

AS AN OFFERING TO THE ANCESTORS.

(LIGHT DRAMATIC MUSIC CONTINUES)

(METAL CLINKS)

(MAN SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

Narrator: FOR HER WEDDING CEREMONY,

THERE WAS ONE MORE OFFERING TO THE ANCESTORS;

MEAT COOKED IN AN ELABORATE CAULDRON

CAST IN THE FINEST BRONZE IN CHINA.

THIS 2,000 POUND RITUAL VESSEL WAS DISCOVERED AT ANYANG.

IT IS THE HEAVIEST BRONZE WORK IN THE ANCIENT WORLD

INSCRIBED FROM KING WU DING TO HIS QUEEN FU JING.

IN THE PALACE TEMPLE, FU JING RELUCTANTLY PRESIDES

OVER A CEREMONY FOR THE NEW QUEEN.

(WOMAN SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

Narrator: FU HAO JOINS FU JING AND FU GUI

AS THE THIRD QUEEN, ALL FROM THE MOST LOYAL

AND POWERFUL CLANS OF THE SHANG.

FU HAO PREPARES FOR HER FIRST NIGHT WITH THE KING.

A LOT DEPENDS ON THIS FOR HER CLAN'S STATUS AT COURT.

(CRICKETS CHIRPING)

Narrator: FU HAO'S FUTURE AND THE STANDING OF HER CLAN

RESTS ON HER FIRST NIGHT WITH THE KING.

(WOMAN SINGING) (HAUNTING MUSIC)

Cao: FOR A YOUNG WOMAN, SHE WAS FACING MANY CHALLENGES,

AND ALSO SHE WOULD HAVE COMPETITIONS FROM OTHERS.

Narrator: THE NEXT MORNING, HAO IS TAKEN AWAY

FROM THE KING'S CHAMBERS BY FU JING.

(WOMAN SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

FU HAO REALIZES THAT SHE IS NOW JUST ONE OF MANY.

HAO SEEKS SOLACE IN A BEAUTIFUL JADE PHOENIX

GIVEN TO HER BY HER FATHER AS A SYMBOL

OF HER CLAN'S STRENGTH.

SHE IS DETERMINED NOT TO BE ONE OF

THE KING'S FACELESS MARRIAGE TROPHIES.

(HAUNTING MUSIC CONTINUES)

(MAN SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

Narrator: FU HAO'S TOMB CONTAINED 865 PIECES

SIMILAR TO THESE MADE OF JADE AND MARBLE,

THE MOST VALUABLE MATERIALS OF THE SHANG PERIOD.

NEXT TO THE 564 BEAUTIFUL CARVED IVORY AND SHELL OBJECTS,

MORE HIGH STATUS JEWELRY WAS DISCOVERED.

(MAN SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

(HAUNTING MUSIC)

Narrator: HAO'S OLD FRIEND, YU,

DOES HIS BEST TO TAKE CARE OF THE VALUABLE HORSES.

HAO SHOWS HIM THE CORRECT AMOUNT OF FEED.

SHE HAS AN AFFINITY WITH HORSES.

THE KING IS INTRIGUED BY HAO'S INDEPENDENT

AND DETERMINED NATURE, AND IMPRESSED BY HER HORSEMANSHIP.

(HAUNTING MUSIC CONTINUES)

Wilson: THE TRANSMISSION OF HORSE CULTURE IS SOMETHING

THAT IS STILL A LITTLE BIT OF A MYSTERY.

IT'S THOUGHT THAT THE IDEA OF HORSES CAN BE ASSOCIATED

WITH FU HAO'S TIME.

IN FU HAO'S TOMB, WE'VE FOUND A PARTICULAR KIND

OF SKINNING KNIFE THAT OFTEN HAS A HORSE HEAD HANDLE

THAT SUGGESTS TO US THAT SHE MAY

HAVE HAD A CLOSER PERSONAL CONNECTION.

(BIRDS CHIRPING)

Narrator: BY DEMONSTRATING HER SUPERIOR RIDING SKILLS,

HAO SHOWS SHE IS TRULY DIFFERENT FROM THE OTHER QUEENS.

(WOMAN SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

(SPEAR THUDS)

(LIGHT DRAMATIC MUSIC)

(SPEAR THUDS)

THE FLOURISHING SHANG KINGDOM WAS SURROUNDED

BY MANY DANGEROUS TRIBES,

CONSTANTLY CHALLENGING AND ATTACKING HIS DEFENSES.

KING WU DING IS DESPERATE FOR NEWS FROM HIS ARMY

FIGHTING IN THE TROUBLED BORDER REGION.

THE FIRST QUEEN, FU JING, WAS WITH HIS TROOPS.

(WOMAN SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

Narrator: IN THE ROYAL TEMPLE, THE KING SEEKS GUIDANCE

ABOUT HIS MILITARY RESPONSE.

(MAN SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

Narrator: NO ONE IN THE PALACE KNOWS WHO WILL

BE CHOSEN AS GENERAL TO SUPPRESS THE TROUBLE AT THE BORDER.

(MAN SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

Narrator: THE ANCESTORS' ADVICE MEANS THAT FU HAO

HAS BOOSTED HER STATUS;

SHE IS NOW A QUEEN AND A GENERAL.

Wilson: THE SHANG WAS ALMOST CONSTANTLY AT WAR,

AND WARFARE WAS AN IMPORTANT ASPECT

OF THE RULER'S RESPONSIBILITY

MAINTAINING AND PROTECTING THE STATE.

(LIGHT DRAMATIC MUSIC)

Narrator: THE MANY BRONZE WORKSHOPS IN DAYISHANG

RELIED ON SECURE TRADE ROUTES FOR THE SUPPLY

OF TIN AND COPPER FROM THE SOUTH.

THE URBAN SETTLEMENT ALSO TRADED HORSES,

SALT AND JADE FROM THE NORTH.

THE FLOURISHING TRADE HAD TO BE PROTECTED AT ALL COSTS.

TO DEAL WITH THE UNREST ON THE NORTHWESTERN BORDER,

FU HAO IS ADVISED BY THE EXPERIENCED GENERAL, JU.

(MAN SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

(WOMAN SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

Narrator: FU HAO HAS A CORE UNIT OF PROFESSIONAL SOLDIERS

WHO WILL BE SUPPLEMENTED ALONG THE WAY BY CONSCRIPTS.

(CART RATTLING)

(MAN SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

Narrator: IN THE CENTER OF MODERN DAY ANYANG,

NOT FAR FROM THE OLD PALACES,

WE FIND THE ROYAL BURIAL COMPLEX AT XIAOTUN.

HERE, CHARIOTS AND THEIR HORSES FOUND ALL ACROSS

THE SHANG CAPITAL HAVE BEEN BROUGHT TOGETHER.

AS A GENERAL, FU HAO NEEDS TO CONSCRIPT MORE SOLDIERS.

SHANG ARMIES RELIED ON PEASANT FARMERS TO BOLSTER THE RANKS.

(BIRDS CHIRPING) (LIGHT DRAMATIC MUSIC)

GENERAL FU HAO'S RECRUITERS ARRIVE IN WHAT SEEMS

TO BE A DESERTED VILLAGE.

(MAN SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

(MEN YELLING) (METAL CLINKING)

(WOMAN SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

Narrator: FU HAO IS IMPRESSED BY THE WOMEN'S COURAGE.

SHE NEGOTIATES WITH VILLAGE LEADER, PANG,

AND OFFERS RICH AWARDS FOR THE MEN TO JOIN THE ARMY.

(WOMAN SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

Narrator: FU HAO RECRUITS THE VILLAGE WOMEN TO HER ARMY.

(MAN SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

(LIGHT DRAMATIC MUSIC)

Narrator: FU HAO STILL NEEDS MORE SOLDIERS,

BUT THAT'S A PROBLEM FOR THE LOCAL SHANG LORDS.

PEASANT LABOR WAS VITAL TO FARM THEIR LANDS.

(MAN SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

Narrator: FU HAO HOLDS A SPECIAL SACRIFICE CEREMONY

FOR THE ANCESTORS IN SUPPORT OF HER FOR MILITARY CAMPAIGN.

(WOMAN SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

(LIGHT DRAMATIC MUSIC CONTINUES)

Narrator: THE SHANG ALWAYS GAVE ONE SYMBOLIC

DRINK TO THEIR ANCESTORS.

(WOMAN SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

(MAN SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

(WOMAN SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

Wilson: IT'S THOUGHT THAT IN THE SHANG,

REALLY THE MEASURE OF WEALTH WAS PROBABLY

MORE BASED ON LABOR.

THE NUMBER OF ABLE-BODIED HANDS YOU HAD FOR CLEARING FIELDS,

FOR BUILDING, FOR FARMING, RATHER THAN OWNING LAND ITSELF.

Narrator: TO BREAK THE DEADLOCK,

GENERAL FU HAO SUGGESTS THAT THE LORDS WILL BE SACRIFICED

IF THEY DON'T DELIVER TROOPS.

(DRAMATIC MUSIC)

HER RUTHLESS MESSAGE BRINGS THEM BACK INTO LINE.

(DRAMATIC MUSIC CONTINUES)

Cao: THERE WAS CONSTANTLY SHIFTING OF POWERS,

AND ALSO ALLIANCES, AND CERTAINLY

FROM ORACLE BONE INSCRIPTION WE KNOW SOME GROUPS

WERE ALLIES OF THE SHANG,

AND THOSE LATER SHIFTED TO BE ENEMIES.

(DRAMATIC MUSIC)

Narrator: ON THE MORNING BEFORE BATTLE,

GENERAL FU HAO INSPECTS HER TROOPS ONE LAST TIME.

SHE IS PROUD TO SEE PANG AND HER WOMEN FIGHTERS

AMONGST THE MEN.

(MAN SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

(EVERYONE CHANTS IN FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

Narrator: GENERAL FU HAO LEADS HER ARMY

INTO BATTLE AGAINST THE ENEMY,

CARRYING THE AX OF A SHANG COMMANDER.

Wilson: TWO LARGE AXES LIKE THIS WERE FOUND IN FU HAO'S TOMB.

THEY'RE LARGE AND VERY HEAVY.

TO FIND AN OBJECT LIKE THIS IN A SHANG ELITE TOMB

SUGGESTS THAT THE OCCUPANT OF THE TOMB

WAS A GREAT MILITARY LEADER, OR MAYBE A RITUAL LEADER.

(MAN SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

Narrator: FU HAO LINES UP HER TROOPS

FOR HER FIRST BATTLE AS A QUEEN AND GENERAL.

(LIGHT DRAMATIC MUSIC)

Narrator: GENERAL FU HAO PREPARES TO LEAD HER ARMY

INTO COMBAT FOR THE FIRST TIME.

(LIGHT DRAMATIC MUSIC CONTINUES)

(PEOPLE HOLLERING)

THEN THE ROYAL GUARD AND THE QUEEN HERSELF JOIN THE BATTLE.

(EVERYONE HOLLERING)

(METAL CLINKS)

THE CONFLICT DESCENDS INTO A CHAOTIC MELEE

OF HAND-TO-HAND COMBAT OVER A LARGE AREA.

Cao: FROM THE FRAGMENTED EVIDENCE

WE HAVE ON ORACLE BONES.

THEY'RE SOME CAMPAIGN TOOK QUITE A LONG TIME.

IT IS UNLIKELY ONE LARGE MILITARY CAMPAIGN

COULD BE SETTLED BY ONE DECISIVE BATTLE.

(PEOPLE HOLLERING) (METAL CLANKS)

Narrator: GENERAL JU FIGHTS ALONGSIDE THE VILLAGE WOMEN.

(MAN SCREAMS) (LIGHT DRAMATIC MUSIC)

(DRAMATIC MUSIC)

(MAN SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

(DRAMATIC MUSIC) (PEOPLE HOLLERING)

Narrator: FU HAO SPOTS THE ENEMY COMMANDER.

(DRAMATIC MUSIC) (METAL CLINKING)

THE SHANG WIN THE DAY,

BUT NOT WITHOUT LOSS.

(LIGHT MUSIC)

(MAN SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

Narrator: IN A SPECIAL CEREMONY

IN HONOR OF HER VICTORY,

FU HAO CONSULTS THE SHANG ANCESTORS.

(LIGHT DRAMATIC MUSIC) (FIRE CRACKLING)

THE CRACKS IN THE ORACLE BONE DECREE THAT THE PRISONERS

OF WAR ARE TO BE SACRIFICED.

(LIGHT DRAMATIC MUSIC CONTINUES)

Wilson: IT MAY BE SHOCKING TO US,

BUT HUMAN SACRIFICE WAS A VITAL PART OF SHANG LIFE.

WHOLE SKELETONS, SKULLS, BEHEADED SKELETONS

ARE FOUND IN VARIOUS COMBINATIONS,

SOMETIMES IN ASSOCIATION WITH ROYAL BURIALS,

AND SOMETIMES IN OTHER LOCATIONS AT THE SHANG SITE.

IT SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN

AN IMPORTANT PART OF RITUAL PRACTICE.

(LIGHT DRAMATIC MUSIC)

(WOMAN SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

Narrator: AFTER HER VICTORY,

FU HAO'S PROMINENCE IN COURT IS ESTABLISHED.

SHE TAKES OVER MANY OF THE KING'S DUTIES.

Cao: SHE WOULD HAVE

MANY DIFFERENT ROLES ON THE MANAGEMENT

OF STATE AFFAIR, TO AGRICULTURAL WORK,

OR TO PERFORM DIVINATION ON BEHALF OF THE KING.

Narrator: THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF SCOTLAND

HOLDS AN IMPORTANT COLLECTION OF SHANG ORACLE BONES.

AMONG THE ANCIENT BONE FRAGMENTS

WE FIND EVIDENCE OF FU HAO'S CONTINUING SUCCESS

ON THE BATTLEFIELD.

Cao: THIS ORACLE BONE HAS THE DATE OF THE DIVINATION,

AND NOW WE LOST THE DIVINERS NAME,

BUT WE DO HAVE THE QUESTION, WHICH IS:

"IF QUEEN FU HAO RAISED 3,000 MEN,

AND JOINED THEM WITH ANOTHER 10,000 MEN FOR A CAMPAIGN,

WOULD SHE RECEIVE ASSISTANT?"

BUT IT SHOWS FU HAO WAS TRUSTED WITH SUCH LARGE FORCES

AND INDICATES HER ABILITY AS A MILITARY LEADER.

(LIGHT MUSIC) (FIRE CRACKLING)

Narrator: OVER THE YEARS, HAO HAS BECOME

WU DING'S FAVORITE QUEEN.

(MAN SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

Narrator: THE KING INSTRUCTS HIS DIVINER TO PREPARE

A CEREMONY TO PREDICT THE SEX OF THEIR CHILD.

(MAN SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

Narrator: AS HIS MOST TRUSTED ADVISOR,

FU HAO NOW SITS ON THE RIGHT OF WU DING

AS THEY RECEIVE THE RESULTS OF THE DIVINATION.

(MAN SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

(LIGHT MUSIC)

Narrator: FU HAO GAVE BIRTH TO A BOY.

OVER THE YEARS, THE COUPLE ENJOY SPENDING TIME TOGETHER

ALONE IN THE ROYAL FORESTS.

Cao: HUNTING HAS MANY DIFFERENT FUNCTIONS;

IT'S NOT JUST AN OCCASION OUT AND CAPTURE THE GAME FOR FOOD,

BUT IT'S ALSO A WAY OF MARTIAL TRAINING

FOR THE KING AND ALL FOR THE OTHER ELITES.

(MAN SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

(LEAVES RUSTLING)

(LIGHT MUSIC)

Narrator: THE ROYAL COUPLE'S TIME

WOULD SOON BE CUT SHORT.

(LIGHT MUSIC CONTINUES)

Narrator: SOMETIME IN THE 12TH CENTURY BCE,

SHANG KING REALIZES THAT HIS IRREPLACEABLE QUEEN IS DYING.

(LIGHT MUSIC CONTINUES) (WOMAN SINGING)

FU HAO WAS JUST 33.

Cao: IT IS LIKELY KING WU DING WOULD BE DEVASTATED

WHEN FU HAO PASSED AWAY AT A RELATIVELY YOUNG AGE.

THIS IS MOSTLY LIKELY BECAUSE FU HAO

WAS A VERY CAPABLE WOMAN AND SUPPORTED THE KING

IN MANY ASPECTS OVER THE STATE'S GOVERNANCE.

(MAN SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

Narrator: KING WU DING MISSES HIS QUEEN,

PRIESTESS AND GENERAL SO MUCH

THAT HE INSISTS ON BURYING HER NOT IN THE ROYAL CEMETERY,

BUT RIGHT NEXT TO HIS PALACE.

Wilson: IT'S REMARKABLE THAT THE KING DIDN'T WANT HER BURIED

FAR FROM HIM AND SUGGESTS A DESIRE TO KEEP

THAT KIND OF PROXIMITY, THAT KIND OF CONNECTION

EVEN AFTER HER DEATH.

(LIGHT MUSIC) (FIRE CRACKLING)

Narrator: THE GRIEVING KING ASSEMBLES VALUABLE

GRAVE GOODS TO COMFORT FU HAO

IN THE WORLD OF THE SHANG ANCESTORS.

ANOTHER TRADITION WAS FOR CLOSE FRIENDS OR FAMILY

TO ACCOMPANY THE DECEASED.

FU HAO'S GUARDIAN, YU, MAKES A SPECIAL REQUEST.

(MAN SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

Cao: FROM THE ARCHEOLOGICAL EVIDENCE,

BASED ON THE ROYAL TOMBS, WE CAN DEDUCT THAT

SOME OF THE SACRIFICED HUMAN WERE LIKELY

TO HAVE HAD A CLOSE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE KING

OR OTHER ROYAL FAMILY MEMBERS.

IN SHANG'S BELIEF SYSTEM, THE DECEASED WOULD CONTINUE

TO INFLUENCE THE LIVING WORLD.

WU DING CONSIDERED FU HAO COULD CONTINUE

SUPPORT HIM, ADVISE HIM.

Narrator: WU DING IS RECEIVING A SPECIAL AMBASSADOR,

BUT WITHOUT HIS BELOVED ADVISOR,

HE STRUGGLES WITH STATE AFFAIRS.

Cao: IT IS REALLY FASCINATING TO THINK THIS PIECE OF BONE

ON MY PALM NOW IS 3,000 YEARS OLD.

WHEN THEY PERFORMED THIS DIVINATION,

KING WU DING AND FU HAO WOULD BE PRESENT IN THE SAME SPACE,

AND HOW AMAZING THAT IS.

(MAN SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

Cao: TO ME, PERSONALLY, FU HAO WAS AN EXTRAORDINARY WOMAN.

SHE ALLOWS US TO REEVALUATE HOW WE THINK ABOUT

WOMEN'S ROLE IN THE ANCIENT WORLD.

Narrator: THANKS TO THE DISCOVERY OF HER TOMB,

THE LEGACY OF FU HAO, THE SHANG DYNASTY,

AND THE BIRTH OF THE CHINESE CIVILIZATION LIVES ON.

(WOMAN SINGS) (LIGHT MUSIC)

(DRAMATIC MUSIC)

(LIGHT DRAMATIC MUSIC)