In 1908, China in the late Qing Dynasty was in the midst of internal and external troubles. As an imperial state with thousands of years of history, the Qing Dynasty's leadership was no longer able to respond effectively to domestic and foreign pressures. The Guangxu Emperor, an emperor who had ascended the throne since he was four years old, was at the center of this turbulent period. His rule was controlled by his biological mother, the Empress Dowager Cixi, who became emperor in name but in reality a political puppet. The death of Emperor Guangxu and the subsequent funeral not only marked the end of an era, but also heralded the end of the entire imperial system.
On a cold morning in 1908, the atmosphere inside the Forbidden City was unusually heavy. After 34 years as a puppet, Emperor Guangxu finally closed his eyes in Yingtai's dormitory. When the news broke, the entire Forbidden City fell into a dead silence, but this tranquility was quickly broken by the sound of hurried footsteps.
A few days after this news broke, the Empress Dowager Cixi personally supervised and directed the preparations for the Guangxu Emperor's funeral. Despite the fact that Guangxu had little real power during his lifetime, Cixi decided to hold a grand funeral for him to show the dignity of the imperial family.
"Everything has to be prepared to the highest specifications." Cixi instructed her ministers with a blank face, "We want everyone in the world to know that the Qing Dynasty is still strong and orderly. ”
Preparations for a funeral are extraordinarily complex. From the chosen coffin, to the costume, to the route of the funeral, everything must be precise. Cixi specifically instructed that 128 strong men should be responsible for carrying the coffin, symbolizing the majesty and weight of imperial power.
On the day of the funeral, the atmosphere in the whole city of Beijing was extremely depressing. Tens of thousands of people and officials gathered on both sides of the street to watch the Guangxu Emperor's last journey. The funeral procession moved forward slowly, and 128 strong men carried heavy coffins on their shoulders, and the coffins were covered with yellow dragon silk, which looked solemn and mysterious.
A hawker whispered to the person next to him: "The emperor can finally rest in peace, this life is not easy." ”
"Yes, he never really held power, but he had to bear all the responsibility." Another responded.
During the hours-long funeral, the steps of the strong men were always steady and powerful, and their faces revealed deep sadness and respect. Along the way, the paper money scattered scattered was like snowflakes, sending the last blessing to the emperor's soul.
As the funeral team arrived at the imperial tomb, the coffin of Emperor Guangxu was slowly lowered into the tomb. Everyone present could feel the end of an era, and a wordless sadness permeated the air.
As the last handful of soil covered the tomb, the Empress Dowager Cixi stood aside with a complicated gaze. She knew that this was not only the end of Emperor Guangxu, but also the farewell of the entire imperial system. After the funeral, the crowd slowly dispersed, leaving behind the newly sealed imperial mausoleum and the increasingly thick shadow of history.
Cixi was silent in the sedan chair on the return trip, her heart full of unknown and worried. She knew that the days of the Qing Dynasty were numbered, and all she could do was to preserve the crumbling dynasty as much as she could for the rest of the day.
The life and funeral of Emperor Guangxu are like tragic dramas, slowly staged on the stage of history. Although his life was bleak, his funeral was incomparably magnificent. This contrast not only reflects the interweaving of individual destiny and the rise and fall of the country, but also reflects the helplessness and sorrow of an era. Guangxu's life and death remind us that history is often not only the narrative of the victors, but also the silent cry of countless individuals who are coerced by the times. When evaluating a historical figure, we should not only look at the level of his achievements, but also delve into the environment in which he lived and the challenges he faced. Guangxu's life is a profound reflection on the compromise between ideals and reality, as well as a heavy reflection on the past and the future.