Study Guide: Empress Dowager Cixi

1. Overview

Full Name: Yehe Nara Xingzhen

Title: Empress Dowager Cixi (慈禧太后)

Birth: November 29, 1835

Death: November 15, 1908

Role: Chinese noblewoman, concubine, regent of the Qing dynasty

Duration of Influence: 47 years (1861-1908)

2. Historical Context

Dynasty: Qing Dynasty

Time Period: Late 19th century to early 20th century

Significance: Controlled Chinese government during a period of transformation and external pressures.

3. Key Facts

Early Life: Born into the Manchu Yehe Nara clan. Entered the Forbidden City as a concubine of Emperor Xianfeng.

Rise to Power: Became the mother of the Tongzhi Emperor, and later effectively controlled the Qing government as regent for both the Tongzhi and Guangxu Emperors.

4. Insights from Jung Chang’s Book

Personal Background: Jung Chang highlights Cixi’s humble origins and her rise from concubine to one of the most powerful figures in Chinese history. Her early life and experiences in the Forbidden City shaped her leadership style.

Governance: The book portrays Cixi as a shrewd and pragmatic leader who navigated through internal and external crises with a combination of traditionalist and reformist strategies.

Reforms and Modernization: Chang emphasizes Cixi's role in initiating significant reforms, including military modernization and attempts to address corruption. Her efforts were often a balancing act between modernization and maintaining traditional power structures.

Political Maneuvering: Jung Chang details Cixi's adeptness at political maneuvering, including her management of court factions and her handling of the various rebellions and foreign pressures facing China.

Public Perception and Legacy: Chang's work argues that Cixi has often been misrepresented as a conservative despot, suggesting instead that she was a more complex figure who played a crucial role in China's transition toward modernity.

5. Major Achievements

Political Control: Maintained control over Qing governance and successfully managed several crises.

Modernization Efforts: Implemented military and administrative reforms, including the establishment of modern arsenals and a reformed civil service.

6. Challenges and Controversies

Taiping Rebellion: Managed a major internal rebellion that significantly impacted the Qing Dynasty.

Boxer Rebellion: Her involvement in the Boxer Rebellion and the resulting foreign intervention was a contentious aspect of her rule.

Criticism: Despite reforms, her conservative tendencies and the slow pace of change led to criticism and contributed to the eventual downfall of the Qing Dynasty.

7. Legacy

Historical Impact: Her rule was a transitional period that bridged the gap between imperial China and the modern republican state.

Modern View: Viewed by some as a pivotal figure in China's modernization efforts, though her legacy remains debated.

8. Additional Resources

Wikipedia: Empress Dowager Cixi

Encyclopedia Britannica: Empress Dowager Cixi

Asia Society: Empress Dowager Cixi

Book: Empress Dowager Cixi by Jung Chang

Podcast: Episode 20 - Empress Dowager Cixi

9. Key Concepts to Review

Regency and Governance: How Cixi's governance shaped Qing policies and China’s transition to modernization.

Reforms: Analyze the reforms initiated under Cixi’s rule and their impacts.

Political Strategies: Examine Cixi’s political strategies and how they influenced her long tenure.

10. Practice Questions

How did Empress Dowager Cixi’s background influence her approach to governance?

What were the major reforms introduced during Cixi’s regency, and how did they impact China?

Discuss Cixi’s role in the Taiping Rebellion and Boxer Rebellion. How did these events shape her legacy?