The Secret History of Empress Dowager Cixi

Author: Cai Dongfan
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2006-06-01
Features: The mother empress ruling the court has been historically frowned upon. In history, only one empress, Empress Xuanren of the Song Dynasty, was hailed as a "female Yao and Shun." In the Han and Tang dynasties, when empresses ruled, their relatives and court eunuchs seized power, causing chaos and ruining the empire. Thus, historians have warned against the practice, viewing it as a disaster and a crime against the state.
Revealing the essence. During my time in the late Qing Dynasty, I couldn’t comment on all past empresses. Only the Qing empresses’ curtain rule began in the early years of the Tongzhi reign. After Emperor Xianfeng’s death in Rehe, his heir, Prince Zaitong, ascended the throne under the reign name Tongzhi. The young Tongzhi Emperor was too young to rule, so his mother, Empress Dowager Cixi, who was highly intelligent, relied on historical precedent and insisted on the curtain rule. Several high-ranking officials opposed her, but she overruled them, killing or executing those who dared to stand in her way. The entire court was terrified, and no one dared to oppose her. Thus, Empress Dowager Cixi began ruling from behind the curtain.
Brilliant. However, the Tongzhi Emperor also had a stepmother, Empress Dowager Nurhaci, who was virtuous and had no intention of ruling. Cixi, though elevated by her son’s status, couldn’t ignore her stepmother. So, she created a unique system, bringing both mothers to rule behind the curtain. This was unprecedented in history.
At that time, the country was in dire straits. The remnants of the Hong and Yang rebellions were entrenched along the Yangtze River, the Li and Zhang bandits roamed the Yellow River region, and foreign powers took advantage of the chaos, with the Anglo-French forces advancing into the capital. The city was forced to surrender, ceding territory and paying indemnities, nearly draining the empire’s vitality.
After the two empresses took the curtain rule, they appointed capable officials and implemented policies that suited the situation. They gradually suppressed the rebellions and strengthened diplomatic ties, stabilizing the country both internally and externally. The land was restored, and the nation saw a semblance of revival. The people praised the empresses’ virtue, and foreign nations admired them too. The titles of Empresses Cixi and Taitai (Empress Dowager Ci’an) were celebrated for a time. Among them, Empress Dowager Cixi’s reputation was even more renowned.
Empress Dowager Ci’an was mild-natured and avoided exercising absolute power, leaving most affairs in Empress Dowager Cixi’s hands. Empress Dowager Cixi was wise and strong-willed, and her words and actions always succeeded. No one in the palace or court dared to contradict her or question her judgment.
To catch something, first let it go. After the Tongzhi Emperor’s death, the Guangxu Emperor ascended the throne as a young prince, and the two empresses continued to rule. When Empress Dowager Ci’an passed away, Empress Dowager Cixi took full control of state affairs. It was only natural when the Guangxu Emperor came of age and Empress Dowager Cixi retired to the Summer Palace, ostensibly staying out of politics but secretly still involved.
However, when the Sino-Japanese War broke out, China’s naval and land forces suffered a decisive defeat. The officials, unaware of the truth, blamed the Guangxu Emperor for lacking Cixi’s wisdom, further boosting Cixi’s prestige. The Guangxu Emperor, frustrated and angry, longed to turn the tide of defeat but had no means to do so. The reform-minded officials Kang Youwei and Liang Qichao became his confidants, and the Hundred Days’ Reform began, with new edicts pouring out, leaving officials in confusion.
Soon, complaints and criticism rose, and the court was divided between conservative old officials and progressive ones. The conservatives spread rumors and slandered the empresses, bringing Cixi back to power for a third time behind the curtain. They believed she could save the empire and restore its fortune.
But fate took a turn, and talent waned. The flatterers and sycophants had no real ability, and the situation only worsened. Some relatives of the imperial family, watching Cixi’s moves, conspired with eunuchs to manipulate the court.
What use are the strong if they cannot act? Over time, a great disaster broke out, nearly destroying the 22 provinces and 400 million people of China! Fortunately, foreign powers restrained each other, preventing a full-scale division of the empire. They exchanged glances, unable to act, and the crisis was delayed. Eventually, no one dared to challenge, and they chose to spare the Qing court and restore peace.
Though the crisis was averted, the people’s strength was depleted. The indemnity of 450 million taels drained China’s resources and bled its people dry. As a result, Empress Dowager Cixi’s reputation plummeted.
Who succeeds the song? Who praises the murderer? A wave of slander swept the nation, with some openly mocking and slandering her, portraying her as worthless and even a criminal of the nation.