The history of the Qing Dynasty is about the history that Chinese knows best, but this understanding is largely derived from TV dramas, which is very different from the real Qing Dynasty. In the TV series, the Qing Dynasty flourished, beautiful women were like clouds, and ordinary people wore silk silk. But what did the real Qing Dynasty look like? A hundred years ago, China was published in French newspapers, how did you feel after reading it?
Newspapers are the guides of public opinion of an era, and they are also the things that can best reflect the spiritual outlook of an era. So, how did the French newspapers at that time report on China? Chinese what kind of appearance did Chinese show himself in the newspapers at that time? Who was able to enter the "eyes of the French" at that time? Today we will talk about the famous people in french newspapers 100 years ago.
Speaking of the influential figures of the late Qing Dynasty, we have to mention Cixi. Cixi was the real ruler of the late Qing Dynasty, and although she did not become emperor, the emperor was actually under her control. It was for this reason that Cixi became a figure in the world's attention at that time. Chinese hope that she will pay more attention to the lives of ordinary people and reduce the pressure of survival of ordinary people; while foreigners hope that she will give more benefits to foreigners and let foreigners make a fortune.
Let's take a look at the picture of Cixi in this newspaper, which is completely different from the photo of Cixi and the stills of Cixi that we saw. In this picture, Cixi wears a dragon robe and a headdress that doesn't look much like a Qing Dynasty headdress. Most importantly, the newspaper portrayed Cixi as a serious, fierce, and dull character, and she looked like a boring and old-fashioned person, very scary.
In addition to Cixi, the most concerned figure in the Qing Dynasty was Guangxu. Guangxu was actually under Cixi's control, but he was eager to change, especially for the politics and science of foreigners, and had a deep yearning. Even after Cixi announced the "abolition of the emperor", Guangxu received the support of foreigners, so he was able to retain the throne. But he appeared in French newspapers at his funeral.
Guangxu died on November 14, 1908 — some say Cixi was poisoned, but there is no evidence — and Cixi died of illness after November 15. The deaths of the two men made a huge splash in China, and the French also actively reported on the funeral. However, from the pictures in the French newspapers, cixi and Guangxu are painted in zombie-like colors – which is obviously contrary to the truth, and the picture is full of ugly feelings, which are rendered eerie by the newspapers.
And the Fact that the French put Cixi and Guangxu together should also be contrary to the facts, because it is contrary to basic Chinese etiquette and common sense—where is the practice of the emperor and the empress dowager lying together? The ministers who saluted them in front of Cixi and Guangxu were also skinny and dark-faced. To the left of Cixi and Guangxu there was a guard with a knife, wearing a red hat and a black and green face, looking like a "goblin", which looked unusual.
In addition to Cixi and Guangxu, the figure who attracted the attention of the French at that time in the late Qing Dynasty was Li Hongzhang. As the mainstay of the Qing Dynasty at that time, Li Hongzhang's role in the Qing Dynasty and the French was very great. For example, in the Sino-French War, it was Li Hongzhang who finally dealt with the French. However, the French do not have any good feelings for Li Hongzhang, as we can see from the portrait of Li Hongzhang painted by french newspapers.
The Li Hongzhang in the picture seems to be more like some kind of ancient creature, not like a person. He had an exaggerated beard, and his mouth appeared particularly large, as if it were the bloody mouth of a beast. But he closed his mouth tightly again, as if he did not dare to raise his eyebrows and exhale. He has very obvious wrinkles on his forehead, which is probably more realistic - because Li Hongzhang is really exhausted.
At the same time, he also painted Li Hongzhang with a pair of ugly and dull little eyes, looking like an extremely dull old antique. The whole painting is far from the real photo of Li Hongzhang, in fact, Li Hongzhang is not a small eye, the lines on the face are relatively soft, if you dress up a little fashionable, you may be more handsome. But the portrait in this newspaper directly painted him as a monster.
In fact, after seeing these pictures, our hearts are very heavy. The late Qing Dynasty is indeed not a good era, but the ugly marks on this photo are too eye-catching, right? They not only scandalized those in power such as Cixi, Guangxu, and Li Hongzhang, but also civil organizations such as the Boxer Rebellion. In their pen, the Boxers became thugs who burned and looted, and they were the spokesmen for justice, which made people feel like a dream.
But is this all a problem for the French? Not all of them, why can't even protect their basic dignity in the late Qing Dynasty? This is surprising. Our own image should be established by our own strength, like the Han and Tang dynasties, which were praised by the four directions, rather than being ugly by others and having nothing to say.