The Twilight of the Forbidden City: Princess Der Ling's Memoirs

Author: Princess Der Ling
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-09-01
Features: This is the Chinese translation of Princess Der Ling's English work Two Years in the Forbidden City. As a firsthand witness to history, Princess Der Ling recounts her experiences serving as an "Imperial Concubine's Attendant" to Empress Dowager Cixi, revealing many court secrets that ordinary people could never know. It was precisely because of this book that it attracted widespread attention both domestically and internationally, which in turn fueled the author's writing aspirations, leading her to write numerous other works such as The Fragrance of the Palace and The Tears of the Imperial Palace, all depicting the life in the late Qing court.
A princess of the last imperial dynasty, a woman nurtured by Western culture, faced with the clash of the new and the old, progress and decline—what path would she choose? How would she think? Here, through her personal experiences, the story unfolds, taking us into the early 20th century, where the beautiful and intelligent Princess Der Ling, daughter of the French Ambassador, steps into the mysterious, eerie, and perilous imperial palace.
Here, she witnesses the final struggles of a declining dynasty as it fades into the mists of history, experiences the violent tremors of the feudal monarchy in China as it faces the waves of social reform, and as a hybrid of East and West, she brings Western and Eastern cultures into collision within the Qing court, sparking a series of unexpected stories.
Based on the author's personal experiences, this book recounts her firsthand observations during her service to Empress Dowager Cixi, revealing many court secrets that few others could access. With extensive chapters, it details the daily life, attire, behavior, and character of China's highest female ruler at the time, Empress Dowager Cixi. Many chapters in the book can be cross-examined against actual historical events, making it undeniably credible and demonstrating its rightful historical value.