Autonomous Variation: From Lü Hоу to Cixi

Author: Men Kui
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2002-10-01
Features: The Variations of Autocracy tells the stories of extraordinary women from Empress Lü to Empress Dowager Cixi, depicting the lives of concubines from the Han to the Qing dynasties who refused to be confined to the imperial harem. Unwilling to submit to the rule of men, they ignored the prohibition against political involvement in the harem. Using various means and employing their wits and strategies, they seized opportunities and fought desperately for political power, ultimately reaching the throne of the highest rulers in the feudal dynasty. Although their methods differed—some manipulated emperors from behind the scenes, some directly presided over court sessions behind a screen, and some even declared themselves emperors—all these actions together composed the variations of feudal autocracy.