Have you ever wondered how women in history stood out and even held power in a patriarchal society? Empress Dowager Cixi, a legendary woman. She not only influenced two generations of emperors, but also played an extremely key role in the changes in the late Qing Dynasty. However, did she really assassinate Emperor Guangxu as the legend suggests?
Empress Dowager Cixi, this name is undoubtedly extremely controversial in Chinese history. Her life is almost a microcosm of the late Qing Dynasty history, complex and full of drama. Cixi's original name was Yehenara Jiashi, born in the Manchurian aristocracy, because of her intelligence and outstanding political skills, she jumped from an ordinary palace maid to a strong woman who controlled the Qing Dynasty.
When it comes to Cixi's political career, it has to be mentioned how she wielded real power. In 1849, at the age of 25, Cixi entered the imperial palace through the draft and became the concubine of Emperor Xianfeng. She soon won Xianfeng's favor with her wisdom and strategy. After the death of Emperor Xianfeng, her son Emperor Tongzhi succeeded to the throne, and due to the young age of Tongzhi, Cixi and Empress Dowager Ci'an co-regent, which began her nearly half-century-long journey to power.
Cixi's methods were very clever. In 1861, she united with the Empress Dowager Ci'an and Prince Gong to launch the Xinyou coup, which successfully eliminated many political opponents and effectively seized the power of the court. Since then, both Tongzhi and the later Guangxu Emperor have more or less become her puppets.
But Cixi was not just a power machine, she was also a complex politician. Under her rule, although the Qing Dynasty faced many internal and external troubles, such as the Taiping Rebellion and the invasion of foreign powers, she stabilized the situation at home and abroad through witty diplomacy and certain reforms. Cixi's reign was also controversial, especially her control and suppression of the Guangxu Emperor.
When it comes to Emperor Guangxu, his life is undoubtedly tragic. He was originally an emperor with a desire for reform, and in 1898 he vigorously promoted the Wuxu Reform in an attempt to revitalize the Qing Dynasty. But all this was crushed by Cixi in the name of the "Wuxu Coup". Cixi put Guangxu under house arrest in Yingtai and continued to be regent herself. In 1908, Guangxu died of a sudden illness, and just a day later, Cixi also died.
There have been many, many speculations about Guangxu's death. Some people say that Guangxu died of illness, and there are also rumors that it was Cixi who poisoned Guangxu in order to prevent future troubles. How the truth is, remains a mystery to this day. But this series of coincidences undoubtedly cast a mysterious and dark color on the image of Cixi.
In addition to engaging in power magic, Cixi also made achievements in culture, and she attached great importance to the preservation and development of culture, especially in the renovation of the Forbidden City and the support of traditional theater. These cultural achievements are often overshadowed by her political cruelty and authoritarianism.
Empress Dowager Cixi's personality was very contradictory. She has both iron-fisted decisiveness and maternal tenderness, and this dual personality allows her to handle court politics and family affairs with ease. However, her dedication to power and ruthless blows to challengers have also made her a strong woman representative in the minds of many people.
In fact, Cixi's life was full of drama and challenges. She needs to face not only the battle of the inner palace, but also the pressure of foreign powers and the wave of change at home. In such an environment, she has been able to sit firmly in the country for nearly half a century, which indeed shows her extraordinary political ability and outstanding survival wisdom.
It was this extreme desire for power that made her more suspicious and cruel in her later years. The way she treats Guangxu is a clear proof of this. Although there are many rumors and speculations about her relationship with Guangxu in the outside world, in any case, Cixi's control and suppression of Guangxu is an indisputable fact. It also makes her image of Chinese history more complex and difficult to judge.
Discussing Cixi, we have to mention her later years. In 1908, Guangxu and Cixi died one after another, marking the end of an era. The cause of Cixi's death is also a mystery, with some saying that she died of illness, while others speculate that she knew that her time was short, so she deliberately arranged to go first. In any case, Cixi's death brought greater turmoil and uncertainty to the Qing Dynasty.
In the life of the Empress Dowager Cixi, we see a controversial image of a woman. She has both extraordinary political talent and an inextricable desire for power. Under her influence, the Qing Dynasty maintained a semblance of stability, but there was growing resistance to internal corruption and reform. The story of Cixi is not only a demonstration of personal ambition and ability, but also a microcosm of social contradictions and conflicts in the late Qing Dynasty.