Imperial Private Archives The Sunset Emperor

Author: Sheng Ye (Editor), Yin Nan (Photographer)
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-05-01
Features: Step into the realm of the Qing Dynasty, where real and illusory mysteries intertwine, to truly experience the imperial life that is either thrilling, tender, unrestrained, or filled with intrigue. Get close to their inner depths, touch their beating hearts, and explore the hidden world behind the twelve emperors. Although Emperor Guangxu's reign as a ruling emperor was extremely brief and, like his name, only emitted a few faint, dim lights before vanishing into the vast flow of history, these fleeting sparks ignited the underground anger that had been brewing for a long time. After several twists and turns, it gradually spread like a wildfire, ultimately reducing the feudal dynasty that had lasted for thousands of years to ashes on this magical land in the East, turning it into fertile soil for the next spring.
The personality and formative factors of Emperor Guangxu; his attitude toward women; the vision and wisdom of his advisors; the mutual constraints and struggles among the various factions in the court; the rapidly changing domestic and international situations; the apathetic state of the people—all of these tell us that Emperor Guangxu could not escape his heavy tragic fate. The Qing Dynasty could not avoid its humiliating, dark, and brutal history. Every past event, every detail, truly tells us that history is not a product of "accidents," and the fate curve of a person or even a nation cannot be adjusted or changed by "what ifs."
The extraordinary life of Emperor Guangxu was destined to leave the world with many unsolved mysteries: Why did Empress Dowager Cixi choose Emperor Guangxu in the first place? After entering the palace, why did Emperor Guangxu and Empress Dowager Cixi transform from an initial "honeymoon" to an irreconcilable "cold war"? Why did the young Emperor Guangxu die the day before Empress Dowager Cixi? And why did the Battle of the Yellow Sea, which held the fate of the Qing Dynasty, end in an outcome that defied understanding? These mysteries that the world yearns to uncover are believed to be fully explained in this book.