Empress Dowager Cixi was an empress dowager of the Qing Dynasty, and her life has always been a hot topic of discussion. She is an extremely luxurious person with an amazing array of luxury living. Here are some descriptions of Empress Dowager Cixi's extravagant life.
Empress Dowager Cixi's residence palace was extremely luxurious and lavishly furnished, and every place was shaped by her meticulous taste and endless wealth. Her bedroom was decorated as a huge luxury cottage, covered with ornate carpets, hung with damask curtains, surrounded by ornate vases and gilded furniture. Her bed was a huge wooden bed frame surrounded by ornate red drapery, adorned with faucet heads and jewelry. Her bed also has various cushions, pillows and quilts that make her feel very comfortable.
Empress Dowager Cixi's diet was also very luxurious. She is rumored to eat at least 300 dishes a day, and at some point, the number even reached 600. Her chefs are uncompromising in preparing ingredients, whether seafood, meat or vegetables, the best quality ingredients have been selected and prepared. Moreover, her dining table is very large, more than 20 meters long, covered with silk tablecloths, and on the table are placed various gold and silver utensils, where her precious tableware is placed.
Empress Dowager Cixi's requirements for clothing were also extremely high. Her clothes were often made of the finest silks, gold threads and precious stones, and her garments were also gorgeous, often inlaid with jewelry, jadeite and gold jewelry. She also has a dedicated jewelry room filled with jewelry, including necklaces, earrings, bracelets, and rings set with diamonds and other gemstones.
In addition to these, Empress Dowager Cixi also had a series of very extravagant entertainment. She often played mahjong, enjoyed flowers, listened to music and watched Peking Opera with the nobles of the court. Empress Dowager Cixi also often went to the Summer Palace in the summer, where there are many beautiful gardens and buildings, where Empress Dowager Cixi can enjoy the cool pond and beautiful garden. The most famous building in the Summer Palace is the Daguan Tower, a seven-story wooden building with ornate interiors that once lived where Empress Dowager Cixi lived.
Empress Dowager Cixi's extravagance was not only reflected in her residence and food, but also in her vast collection of clothing and jewelry. According to historical records, during the reign of Empress Dowager Cixi, the annual clothing expenditure reached millions of taels of silver. Her favorite costumes are ornate dragon robes and robes, sometimes accompanied by gold crowns and jewelry. Empress Dowager Cixi's jewelry collection is unparalleled, including precious diamonds, jadeite, agate, amber and coral.
Such a luxurious life is certainly not affordable for everyone. But Empress Dowager Cixi lived this life until her grandson was overthrown. Her life is extremely extravagant, which is one of the reasons why she is criticized by many people.