Everyone in the world knows that the Empress Dowager Cixi fled west in a hurry in the Gengzi Rebellion, but few people know all kinds of strange things when she returned to Luan. In January 1902, the Empress Dowager Cixi finally returned to the Forbidden City after a 17-month fugitive career. However, this once glorious imperial city has long since lost its former glory, and even the front gatehouse, which was the face of the façade, was reduced to ashes in the war. In the face of such a devastated scene, how did the officials who greeted Cixi whitewash the peace? Why do they find Western journalists ridiculous? What's even more interesting is how Cixi herself felt about this?
Everyone knows that the Forbidden City is the center of power of the Qing Empire, but they don't know that this once splendid imperial city was reduced to a ruin after the Gengzi Rebellion. In August 1900, the Eight-Nation Coalition invaded the city of Beijing, and the Empress Dowager Cixi fled in a hurry, leaving behind the Forbidden City as a spoils of war for the wanton acts of the foreign powers.
At that time, the scene inside the Forbidden City was shocking. The Jinshui Bridge in front of the Taihe Hall was blown up, and the former magnificent hall could not escape the doom. The glazed tiles of the Taihe Hall were overturned, the throne of Jinluan was looted, and even the dragon pillars in the hall were savagely cut down. Important palaces such as Qianqing Palace and Kunning Palace were looted, and precious cultural relics and antiques were either looted or wantonly destroyed.
The most distressing thing is what happened to the Forbidden City's iconic building, the Qianmenlou. This 40-meter-high tower, once a place where countless courtiers knelt and worshipped, has now been reduced to ashes in the war. The collapse of the front gate tower is not only the destruction of a building, but also symbolizes the collapse of the majesty of the Qing Empire.
What the Eight-Nation Coalition did inside the Forbidden City was simply outrageous. They turned the royal garden into a military camp, set up tents in the imperial garden, and even used the steps in front of the Taihe Hall as a stable. The precious court relics became their playthings, the porcelain used by the emperor was used as a target to shoot at random, and the priceless silk tapestries were cut down to be used as carpets.
The Forbidden City's library has not been spared. Tens of thousands of precious ancient books were looted, some burned as waste paper, and some brought back to Western countries. Some of these lost artifacts are still scattered in museums around the world, bearing witness to the decline of the Qing Empire.
However, there is nothing more embarrassing than the ordinary people in the Forbidden City. During the invasion of the Eight-Nation Alliance, many civilians hiding in the Forbidden City were subjected to inhumane treatment. Some were used as slaves, and some were even killed. These tragic encounters, although few people know about them, are the truest portrayal of that era.
After the Gengzi Rebellion, the Forbidden City became a "ghost city". The once splendid palace has become a ruin, and the once prosperous and lively harem has become deserted and depressed. Some of the surviving palace maids and eunuchs fled in all directions, while others hid in the corners and waited for an unknown fate.
In this mess, in January 1902, the Empress Dowager Cixi, who had been in exile in Xi'an for 17 months, decided to return to Luan. Faced with such a tragic situation, the officials who greeted them had to rack their brains and try to whitewash the peace. In just a few days, they want to turn the devastated Forbidden City into a seemingly prosperous imperial palace. The enormity of this task can be imagined.
Unbeknownst to them, however, their actions not only failed to conceal the decline of the Qing Empire, but instead became the laughing stock of Western journalists. How exactly are these face projects carried out? And why did it provoke ridicule from Western journalists?
Faced with the devastation of the Forbidden City, the officials who welcomed the Empress Dowager Cixi's return to Luan fell into an unprecedented predicament. They knew very well that if the Queen Mother was allowed to see the true tragic situation of the imperial city, the consequences would be unimaginable. As a result, a huge "face project" was launched.
The first is the paint covering project. Officials mobilized a large number of craftsmen to work day and night to paint the dilapidated building. The walls that could not be repaired were covered with bright red paint, trying to hide the traces left by the war. For a while, the Forbidden City was filled with the pungent smell of paint, and even the cats in the palace were sneezed again and again.
However, the paint masking project is far from enough. For those serious damage that could not be covered up with paint, the officials came up with a much bolder method - decorating them with colored satin. They collected countless pieces of colorful silk from all over the capital and hung them on the broken facades of buildings. Colorful silks flutter in the breeze, and from a distance, it really has a bit of royal style.
The most ironic thing is the whimsy of papier-mâché houses. In order to make up for the collapsed buildings, officials have come up with a way to use papier-mâché fake buildings. They found skilled craftsmen, built a skeleton out of wood, and pasted it with colored paper, and from a distance, it really looked like that. Although these papier-mâché pavilions are gorgeous on the outside, they are empty on the inside, just like the true portrayal of the Qing Dynasty at that time.
The restoration of the Summer Palace is even more of a farce. As the favorite palace of the Empress Dowager Cixi, the Summer Palace has been unrecognizable under the sack of the Eight-Nation Alliance. In order to allow the Queen Mother to see a familiar scene when she returned to Luan, the officials did not hesitate to buy a batch of antique furniture and decorations. The precious cultural relics that originally belonged to the Summer Palace have long since disappeared and have been replaced by some shoddy fakes.
In this vigorous "face project", the most laughable thing is the "repair" of the Imperial Garden. The officials came up with a brilliant idea to replace the flowers and trees that withered in the war. As a result, a spectacle of "evergreen" suddenly appeared in the imperial garden, and peonies and chrysanthemums made of plastic bloomed so brilliantly in the cold winter wax moon.
In order to create a scene of prosperity, officials have even used human resources. They recruited a large number of people from all over the capital, and asked them to disguise themselves as palace maids and eunuchs, and walked back and forth in the Forbidden City. These temporary "actors" were strictly cautioned to keep smiling and not to show any sad or sad expressions.
However, these efforts were ultimately in vain. Those Western journalists quickly saw through the botched performance. They mocked mercilessly in their report: "The Qing court is like a dying patient, still covering his pale face with a thick layer of fat powder." "
What is even more ironic is that this costly "face project" did not achieve the desired results. When Empress Dowager Cixi's Luan drove slowly into the Forbidden City, she was keenly aware of the abnormality of her surroundings. Those overly colorful satins, those "antiques" that are too new to speak, and those "palace maids and eunuchs" with stiff expressions all tell a cruel truth: the Qing Empire can no longer return to the past.
This farcical "face project" not only failed to cover up the decline of the Qing Empire, but became another proof of its decline. In their report, the Western journalists wrote: "Looking at these ridiculous disguises, we can't help but ask, how long can this once powerful empire last? "
However, for the Empress Dowager Cixi and her courtiers, this "face project" seemed to be far from enough. How will they respond to domestic and foreign pressures in the coming days? And how will they deal with those Western journalists who are watching from the sidelines?
In this farce of Empress Dowager Cixi's return to Luan, Western journalists play a unique and crucial role. Their keen observation and merciless brushstrokes left a precious historical record for future generations, and at the same time, they also became the mirror that the Qing court was most reluctant to face.
George ·Morrison, a correspondent from The Times, was one of the first Western journalists to arrive in Beijing. In his report, he vividly described the process of "changing face" in the Forbidden City. Morrison wrote: "The Forbidden City, which was in ruins yesterday, is now like magic. But look closely, and you'll see that it's nothing more than a botched show. Beneath the bright colored satin, there are irreparable scars; In those shiny paints, there is a panic that is difficult to hide. "
Sam ·Williams, a special correspondent for The New York Times, praised the "creativity" of the officials "highly." In his report, he wrote: "The officials of the Qing court displayed an astonishing imagination. They made palaces out of paper and evergreen gardens out of plastic. If the most creative government in the world is selected, the Qing court undoubtedly deserves it. These words may seem like praise, but they are actually full of irony.
Pierre ·, a journalist for the France newspaper Le Figaro, took a keen interest in the common people who temporarily played the role of palace maids and eunuchs. In his report, he described in detail the expressions and movements of the "actors": "Their smiles are stiff like masks, and their walking postures are very strange. Apparently, they knew nothing about court etiquette. This clumsy performance may not be able to deceive even the most uninformed audience. "
However, nothing is more absurd than the attitude of officials towards the Empress Dowager Cixi. Chicago Tribune reporter John · Cooper wrote: "These officials seem to have forgotten that not so long ago they were cheering the arrival of the Eight-Nation Alliance. Now, they put on a loyal face to welcome the queen mother who had abandoned them. This inconsistent attitude is really incredible. "
The reports of Western journalists are not only descriptions of appearances, but also exposing the deep-seated problems of the Qing Empire. Henry · Blake, a reporter for the London Daily Mail, pointed out in an in-depth report: "The problem of the Qing court is not only the superficial decoration, but also the internal decay. They spend a lot of manpower and material resources to whitewash the peace, but they ignore real reforms. This practice is tantamount to drinking water to quench thirst. "
The reports of these Western journalists quickly attracted a lot of attention internationally. Through these reports, readers in many Western countries learned for the first time in real terms about the decline of the Qing Empire. A Washington Post reader wrote: "After reading these reports, I can't help but sigh at how much this once-glorious empire has now fallen. Isn't it the best portrayal of self-deception that they deceive themselves with papier-mâché palaces and plastic flowers? "
However, the reports of Western journalists are not all ridicule and criticism. Some journalists also expressed their respect for Chinese culture and history. William ·, a reporter for the Manchester Guardian, wrote in the report: "Although the Qing court is now in turmoil, we must not forget how much glory this ancient civilization has created. Those ruined palaces and cultural relics, each of them is a treasure of human civilization. The sight of them suffering is heart-wrenching for anyone of conscience. "
The reports of these Western journalists not only left valuable historical materials for future generations, but also had a profound impact on the Qing court at that time. Some enlightened officials began to realize that cosmetic embellishments alone could not save the Qing Empire. They began to think about how they could make real reforms to bring the old empire back to life.
However, in the face of these sharp criticisms and ridicules, how would the Empress Dowager Cixi and her courtiers react? Will they choose to face up to the problem, or will they continue to hide their ears and steal the bell? And where will the ordinary people who were temporarily recruited to play the role of palace maids and eunuchs go?
Empress Dowager Cixi's Luan finally drove into the Forbidden City. In this well-planned "welcome ceremony", the Queen Mother's reaction became the focus of everyone's attention. However, to the surprise of many, the Queen Mother did not show obvious dissatisfaction with the botched performance in front of her.
According to the recollection of one of the eunuchs who was present at the time, the Empress Dowager Cixi had an elusive smile on her face the moment she entered the Forbidden City. She looked around slowly, lingering for a moment on the bright satin and fresh paint, and then moved on as if nothing had happened. This apparent calm has made many officials secretly breathe a sigh of relief.
However, the Queen Mother's calm does not mean that she is ignorant of the truth. Over the next few days, she took a series of actions that showed her sober awareness of the current situation.
First, the Empress Dowager ordered the removal of the most obvious disguises. The fake pavilions made of paper were dismantled overnight, and the fake flowers made of plastic were quietly cleaned up. This move was interpreted by some observers as a rejection of the "face project" by the Queen Mother.
Secondly, the Empress Dowager summoned several high-ranking officials involved in the "restoration" work. Although there was no public punishment, it is said that these officials trembled and sweated in front of the Queen Mother. The Queen Mother's attitude made them understand that this kind of whitewashing of the peace was not approved.
Even more remarkable is that the Queen Mother began to focus on the real restoration work. She sent someone to investigate the actual damage to the Forbidden City and the Summer Palace, and ordered funds to be allocated for real repairs. This move shows that the Queen Mother is not completely immersed in false prosperity, but is beginning to face reality.
However, the Queen Mother's reaction was not entirely rational. She appeared unusually angry when she learned of the mocking reports of Western journalists. She is said to have harshly rebuked officials in charge of receiving foreign journalists, accusing them of failing to fulfill their responsibilities to "protect the face of the Qing Dynasty." This reaction exposed the empress dowager's sensitivity to outside public opinion and her concern for the international image of the Qing Dynasty.
The Queen Mother also took a number of measures to restrict the activities of foreign journalists. She ordered the palace to be on higher alert, prohibiting foreign journalists from approaching certain areas. At the same time, she also instructed officials to be cautious and not to disclose information to foreigners lightly. While these actions do not stop the spread of negative reports, they at least control the flow of information to some extent.
For those ordinary people who were temporarily recruited to play the role of palace maids and eunuchs, the queen mother's attitude was somewhat contradictory. On the one hand, she expressed her dissatisfaction with this practice, believing that it was detrimental to royal majesty. On the other hand, she also realized that the presence of these people was necessary, at least in the short term, to maintain the normal functioning of the palace. Therefore, she ordered simple training for these people, teaching them basic court etiquette so that they could better fulfill their "role".
These reactions of the Queen Mother have triggered various speculations from both the government and the opposition. Some believe that the Empress Dowager was aware of the plight of the Qing Empire and was looking for ways to change. It is also believed that the Queen Mother is still immersed in the glory of the past and cannot accept reality. In any case, every decision of the Queen Mother touched the nerves of the entire imperial court.
In this complicated situation, some enlightened officials began to try to advise the Empress Dowager and suggest deeper reforms. They believed that superficial embellishments alone could not save the Qing Empire's decline. However, it is still unclear whether these suggestions will be adopted by the Queen Mother.
At the same time, those Western journalists did not stop their reporting because of the restrictions imposed by the Queen Mother. On the contrary, they showed greater interest in the Queen Mother's reaction. They began to dig deeper into the decision-making process of the Empress Dowager, trying to reveal the power structure and decision-making mechanism of the Qing court.
In this difficult situation both internally and externally, the Queen Mother and her courtiers were under tremendous pressure. They needed to find a balance between preserving the dignity of the Qing Empire and advancing the necessary reforms. And this balance point will directly affect the future direction of the Qing Empire.
How will the Queen Mother's attitude change over time? Will the reform-minded officials be able to convince the Empress Dowager to accept their proposals? And how will those Western journalists continue their reporting? The answers to these questions will be revealed in the coming days.
Although the Empress Dowager Cixi's return to Luan was short-lived, its impact was far-reaching and long-lasting. This farce not only exposed the weakness of the Qing court, but also became the fuse that pushed for a series of changes.
First of all, within the imperial court, this incident sparked a heated debate. A group of young reformist officials took this as an opportunity and began to speak out for fundamental reforms. They believed that in order to survive in the new international environment, the Qing Empire must abandon the old way of thinking and learn from the advanced systems and technologies of the West. Among these officials, the most famous are Zhang Zhidong and Yuan Shikai. They jointly wrote a letter proposing the implementation of a new policy, including reforming the education system, developing industry, and strengthening military construction.
At the same time, conservatives, led by Prince Alcohol, strongly opposed the reforms. They believe that the Qing Empire was in trouble precisely because it had over-embraced Western influence. They advocated a return to tradition and a return to the old system. The debate between the two factions lasted for months and ended in the victory of the reformers. After weighing the pros and cons, the Empress Dowager Cixi decided to support the implementation of the new policy.
This decision marked the beginning of the last large-scale reform in the history of the Qing Empire. On January 29, 1901, the Empress Dowager Cixi issued an edict officially announcing the implementation of the new policy. The new policy covered a wide range of areas, including the abolition of the imperial examination system, the establishment of new-style schools, the reform of the military system, and the development of industry. Although these reforms came a little late, they still gave impetus to China's modernization process to a certain extent.
On the diplomatic front, the Empress Dowager Cixi's return to Luang also had a far-reaching impact. The reports of Western journalists made the whole world see the weakness of the Qing Empire, which directly affected the formulation of national policies towards China. Some countries are beginning to step up pressure on China to make more concessions on their interests. For example, Russia seized the opportunity to make a claim to occupy Manchuria, which led to the subsequent Sino-Russian negotiations.
However, the incident has also made some Western countries realize that adopting an overly tough policy towards China could be counterproductive. In his report to his own government, the United Kingdom minister to China, Saudrey, wrote: "We must be careful not to push China too far. Otherwise, we could lose this potentially huge market. To a certain extent, this viewpoint influenced the subsequent adjustment of Western countries' policies toward China.
At the social level, the Empress Dowager Cixi's return to Luan has also triggered extensive reflection. Many intellectuals are beginning to realize that superficial embellishments alone will not save the country. They began to study more actively the science, technology and political systems of the West. During this period, the number of international students increased dramatically, and many of them later became important forces in China's modernization.
At the same time, the incident also deepened the dissatisfaction of ordinary people with the imperial court. The people who were temporarily recruited to play the role of palace maids and eunuchs, after returning to their hometowns, told more people what they had seen and heard in the Forbidden City. These stories were widely circulated among the people and became the talk of ridicule at the imperial court. This popular discontent provided the soil for the later revolutionary movement.
At the cultural level, the Empress Dowager Cixi's return to Luan also left a deep imprint. This event became the fodder for many literary works, including novels, plays, and poems. These works, either satirical or lamentative, reflect the complex mentality of the intellectuals of the era. For example, the famous writer Liu He alluded to this incident in his novel "The Travels of the Old Remnant", depicting a corrupt and incompetent officialdom.
In the field of art, this event also had an impact. Some painters created works depicting scenes from the Empress Dowager Cixi's return to Luang, which not only recorded history, but also reflected the painter's attitude towards reality. Some of the paintings are superficially respectful, but in fact full of irony, and became the artistic jewels of the era.
In addition, this event gave a boost to journalism. The reports of Western journalists have made Chinese intellectuals aware of the power of journalism. In the years that followed, the number of local newspapers and magazines in China increased dramatically, providing an important platform for later public opinion supervision and social reform.
In general, although the Empress Dowager Cixi's return to Luan was only one of many events in the last years of the Qing Dynasty, it was like a mirror, clearly reflecting the various contradictions and problems of that era. It is both the end of an era and the beginning of a new era. The impact of this event continues to this day and serves as an important window into our understanding of that history.