Editing Fu Hao (section)

== Military role ==
Fu Hao is known to modern scholars mainly from inscriptions on [[Shang dynasty]] [[oracle bone]] artifacts unearthed at [[Yinxu]].<ref name="britMus">{{cite web |url = http://www.ancientchina.co.uk/staff/resources/background/bg7/bg7pdf.pdf |title = The Tomb of Lady Fu Hao |publisher = [[British Museum]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160327180140/http://www.ancientchina.co.uk/staff/resources/background/bg7/bg7pdf.pdf |archive-date=2016-03-27}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xQiJWZNQZfgC&q=lady+hao&pg=PR7|title=Images of Women in Chinese Thought and Culture: Writings from the Pre-Qin Period Through the Song Dynasty|last=Wang|first=Robin|date=2003|publisher=Hackett Publishing|isbn=978-0872206519|language=en}}</ref>

In her military role, she was responsible for conquering enemies and neighbours of the Shang dynasty.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=f_HDWG-OaLwC&q=lady+hao&pg=PA59|title=Ancient Queens: Archaeological Explorations|last=Nelson|first=Sarah M.|date=2003|publisher=Rowman Altamira|isbn=9780759103467|language=en}}</ref> The Tufang ({{lang|zh|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 people|Yi]], [[Qiang (historical people)|Qiang]] and [[Ba people|Ba]] followed; the latter is particularly remembered for being the earliest recorded large-scale ambush in Chinese history.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cMXP9RO0DVMC&q=lady+hao+military&pg=PA257|title=In Pursuit of Gender: Worldwide Archaeological Approaches|last1=Nelson|first1=Sarah M.|last2=Rosen-Ayalon|first2=Myriam|date=2002|publisher=Rowman Altamira|isbn=9780759100879|language=en}}</ref> With up to 13,000 soldiers and important generals Zhi and Hou Gao serving under her, she was the most powerful Shang general of her time.<ref name="colorQWorld">{{cite web|url=http://www.colorq.org/Articles/article.aspx?d=asianwomen&x=fuhao|title=Fu Hao – Queen and top general of King Wuding of Shang|publisher=Color Q World|access-date=August 4, 2007}}</ref>

This highly unusual status is confirmed by the many weapons, including great battle-axes, unearthed in her tomb.<ref name="washUni1" />

While Fu Hao's achievements were notable and unique, other women in this period were also active in military roles; in a similar manner [[Fu Jing (Shang dynasty)|Fu Jing]] was also thought to have served in the military based on the presence of many weapons and military equipment in her tomb. Oracle bones also revealed records of at least six hundred women participating in the military during this era.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kJ4ECwAAQBAJ|title=Notable Women of China: Shang Dynasty to the Early Twentieth Century|last=Peterson|first=Barbara Bennett|date=2016-09-16|publisher=Routledge|isbn=9781317463726|language=en}}</ref>