Warrior Queens: Fu Hao

This dagger was dated around the time of the Shang dynasty. It is made from a “gray-green jade with white striations and bronze and green crystal inlay”. As the title of the dagger suggests one can assume that this dagger was used in ceremonies, possibly even performing the sacrificial rituals that took place during this time.

Although this weapon might not have been used during real battles it was mostly likely a part of Fu Hao's attire. A similar weapon was found in her tomb alongside many other burial objects. This dagger could have been worn and used during ceremonies symbolizing her status as a military general of high status.

Shang dynasty, Ceremonial Ko Dagger, 1523 B.C. - 1028 B.C. Grey-green jade with white striations and bronze and green crystal inlay, H.9-1/4 x W.3 x D.3/16 in, The Minneapolis Institute of Art; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Bequest of Alfred F. Pillsbury; 50.46.123; http://www.artsmia.org/. https://jstor.org/stable/community.15647416.

Fu Hao was buried in her tomb with over 130 weapons as a testament to her status as a female military leader and among these weapons was a bronze axe head. Research has shown that this particular type of decorated axe would have been used during sacrificial rituals as the executioner's weapon.

This axe would have been worn by Fu Hao during formal events like sacrificial rituals and most likely she even used the axe herself during these rituals. This axe might not have been used in battles but it was a significant symbol of her status as a military general of the king.

"War and Sacrifice: The Tomb of Fu Hao (Article).” Khan Academy. Accessed July 28, 2024. https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/art-asia/imperial-china/shang-dynasty/a/war-and-sacrifice-the-tomb-of-fu-hao.

Fu Hao was buried with her collection of decorative hair pins. These decorative hair accessories were carved from animal bone and depicted a range of different animals. These hair pins would have been a part of her formal attire and worn on a regular basis.

There is not much evidence pertaining to the style of armor she would have worn or if any. As Fu Hao was a military general and there is no evidence she herself would have fought alongside the soldiers. So these hair pins would have been very important to her attire as the royal consort to the king and second in command of the military.

"7 Everyday Objects from the Shang Dynasty.” History.com. Accessed July 28, 2024. https://www.history.com/news/everyday-objects-shang-dynasty.

During the mid-13th century B.C.E. chariots were introduced and were used as vehicles during battles to transport generals and high rank officers. Made from light material like bamboo and wood the chariot was able to be pulled by just two horses. Chariots are often grouped in with weapons but were also used as a form of protection therefore can be described also as armor.

During Fu Hao’s period many tombs of high ranking generals and royal figures have been found to contain evidence of chariots. Within her grave, “...contained a number of curved knives with ring terminals, one with an ibex head, all of which we should probably now see as tools for a chariot driver; pins with jingles accompanied these”. So it is possible that Fu Hao herself would have ridden in a chariot during battle.

Rawson, Jessica, Konstantin Chugunov, Yegor Grebnev, and Limin Huan. 2020. “Chariotry and Prone Burials: Reassessing Late Shang China’s Relationship with Its Northern Neighbours.” Journal of World Prehistory 33 (2): 135–68. doi:10.1007/s10963-020-09142-4.