The life of Emperor Tongzhi, one of the most controversial emperors of the Qing Dynasty. The cause of the untimely death of the emperor at the age of 19 is still a hotly debated topic among historians. Some say it is smallpox, some say it is flower willow disease, and how much of this is because of Cixi's severe persecution?
Emperor Tongzhi, formerly known as Aisin Jueluo Zaichun, was the tenth emperor of the Qing Dynasty, and his life was full of drama and tragedy. Although Emperor Tongzhi's reign lasted only ten short years (1861-1875), his life was full of twists and turns and controversy.
His mother, Empress Dowager Cixi, was one of the most powerful women in the history of the Qing Dynasty. Cixi's political skill and desire for power brought endless influence to the life of Emperor Tongzhi. In the tenth year of Tongzhi, at the draft women's ceremony, Cixi and Empress Dowager Ci'an launched an unknown power game. Cixi likes the Fucha clan, this seemingly innocent woman, but in fact she is a pawn in Cixi's heart to control the government. The Empress Dowager Ci'an tended to choose the Alut clan, a woman from a scholarly family and knowledgeable people, hoping that she could truly assist Emperor Tongzhi in governing the country.
Emperor Tongzhi had his own choice in his heart, Hesheri, a beautiful and intelligent woman, who he believed was the only one who could understand and deal with the conflict between him and Cixi. However, under the strong influence of the two queen mothers, Tongzhi finally chose the Arut clan as the empress, and the Hesheri clan as the concubine.
Emperor Tongzhi's life in the palace was not as beautiful as the outside world imagined. He often felt constrained by Cixi's power and control, and was even forced to stay away from the Hesheri clan, which he loved. This feeling of depression and powerlessness made him begin to seek solace outside the palace. It is said that Emperor Tongzhi would sometimes sneak out of the palace and have fun in the fireworks and willow alleys. This kind of behavior was extremely dangerous in the social environment of the time, and it was possible to contract diseases and become easy to be attacked by political opponents.
In 1874, Emperor Tongzhi suddenly fell seriously ill, and the cause has been disputed. Some say that it is smallpox, and some say that it is the flower willow disease contracted by looking for flowers and willows. At the beginning of her illness, the Empress Dowager Cixi and the Empress Dowager Ci'an were extremely concerned and frequently visited the Yangxin Palace. However, when Cixi was planning to listen to the government again, Emperor Tongzhi's condition suddenly deteriorated, and his waist and buttocks began to appear red and swollen, and soon after, they ulcerated and pus. The rapid deterioration of this condition has shocked and helpless everyone.
The last few days of Emperor Tongzhi were extremely painful, his entire body was almost in a state of total ulceration, and his spirit began to be in a trance. On the fifth day of the Lunar New Year in 1875, the young emperor finally returned to the West due to illness, ending his short and full of twists and turns.
Cixi bears unshirkable responsibility for the death of Emperor Tongzhi. Her strictness and control not only made Emperor Tongzhi feel great psychological pressure, but also indirectly pushed him to those dangerous places. Soon after her son's death, Cixi once again listened to the government, an act that led many to wonder whether Tongzhi's death was related to her ambition to return to power.
In that era when feudal etiquette was extremely strict, the emperor's every move was related to the safety of the country and the stability of society. The death of Emperor Tongzhi was not only the disappearance of an emperor, but also a microcosm of the decline of the Qing Dynasty. Behind his life and death, it reflects the cruelty and helplessness of the struggle between the imperial power and the ministers of the entire Qing Dynasty.
In this history, we can see that neither the emperor nor the empress dowager decided their fate by themselves. The tragedy of Emperor Tongzhi is not only a personal tragedy, but also a tragedy of the entire feudal system. From the very beginning, his life and choices have been shaped by the game of thrones and the interests of his family.
And the Empress Dowager Cixi, a strong woman in history, although she is very skilled in politics, her desire for power and desire for control ultimately constitutes a great sorrow of her political career. On the road to power, she sacrificed her family affection, and perhaps even her son.