The Princessehof National Museum of Ceramics in Leeuwarden is set to unveil a landmark exhibition dedicated to Wu Zetian (624–705), the only female emperor in Chinese history, through a monumental collaboration with Chinese cultural institutions. Developed in partnership with Art Exhibitions China and the Henan Administration of Cultural Heritage, the exhibition brings a vast collection of rarely loaned artifacts from some of China’s most esteemed museums to European audiences for the first time. With additional support from the Palatina Cultural Group, the exhibition highlights a unique moment in both cultural and diplomatic exchange.

Empress Wu Zetian’s life, marked by ambition, reform, and a powerful influence during the Tang dynasty (618–907), is captured through over 100 rare artifacts, including intricate ceramics, exquisite jewelry, bronze mirrors, and tomb artifacts. These items, loaned from museums across Henan province—including the ancient city of Luoyang, Wu Zetian’s capital—bring to life the period’s art, commerce, and cultural fusion. The Silk Road trade routes flourished under her rule, establishing China as a global nexus that connected East Asia with regions as far-reaching as East Africa and the Middle East. 

This exhibition not only showcases items such as magnificent earthenware camels and gold vessels but also introduces artifacts from the famed Longmen Grottoes, where Buddhism, brought to China through the Silk Road, reached its height during Wu Zetian’s reign. The grottoes near Luoyang, expanded under her influence, are adorned with thousands of sculptures, pagodas, and memorial stones, embodying the religious and artistic achievements of the era.

The exhibition, running from October 26, 2024, to May 25, 2025, fulfills a long-held vision for the Princessehof to feature Wu Zetian’s legacy on such a significant scale. Made possible by the Province of Friesland and supported by key partners like the Chinese Embassy in the Netherlands, the Mondriaan Fund, and Leeuwarden’s cultural foundations, the exhibition is expected to be one of the museum’s most prestigious to date.

Through the partnership between Dutch and Chinese cultural organizations, this exhibit offers European audiences a rare glimpse into the life and times of one of history’s most influential female rulers, narrating her journey from concubine to empress, whose reforms in trade, agriculture, and governance left an indelible mark on Chinese history.