Empress Dowager Cixi (1835-1908) rose from concubine to politician to become one of the most powerful women in China’s history.
Every weekday, listeners explore the trials, tragedies, and triumphs of groundbreaking women throughout history who have dramatically shaped the world around us. In each 5 minute episode, we’ll dive into the story behind one woman listeners may or may not know -- but definitely should. These diverse women from across space and time are grouped into easily accessible and engaging monthly themes like Leading Ladies, Activists, STEMinists, Hometown Heroes, and many more. Encyclopedia Womannica is hosted by WMN co-founder and award-winning journalist Jenny Kaplan. The bite-sized episodes pack painstakingly researched content into fun, entertaining, and addictive daily adventures.
Encyclopedia Womannica was created by Liz Kaplan and Jenny Kaplan, executive produced by Jenny Kaplan, and produced by Liz Smith, Cinthia Pimentel, Grace Lynch, and Maddy Foley. Special thanks to Shira Atkins, Edie Allard, Luisa Garbowit, and Carmen Borca-Carrillo.
We are offering free ad space on Wonder Media Network shows to organizations working towards social justice. For more information, please email Jenny at jenny@wondermedianetwork.com.
You can find Mindful by Design and exclusive guided meditations on the Himalaya Learning platform. Himalaya Learning is an audio learning platform that provides an extensive library of courses from the world's greatest minds like Malcolm Gladwell, Tim Ferriss, Seth Godin, and more. Go to himalaya.com/mindful and enter promo code MINDFUL to get your first 14 days free.
Follow Wonder Media Network:
Hello! From Wonder Media Network, I’m Jenny Kaplan. And this is Encyclopedia Womannica.
There are some public figures who become so mythical, so shrouded in rumors, that it can be hard to tell where the fiction ends and the truth starts. Today’s politician has been described by some as a tyrannical despot, clinging to power by any means necessary; by others, as a ruler who was unfairly burdened with the anger of a fallen dynasty. Regardless, she rose from concubine to politician, to become one of the most powerful women in China’s history.
Let’s talk about Empress Dowager Cixi.
Lady Yehe Nara was born on November 29, 1835 in Beijing. China was in its third century of Qing rule, a dynasty led by the Manchu, an ethnic minority who had ruled China since 1644. Lady Yehe Nara’s father was a low-ranking, Manchu duke.
At 16, Lady Yehe Nara was chosen to be a consort for the Xianfeng Emperor. In 1852, she was brought to the Forbidden City, the palatial heart of China. Lady Yehe Nara rose through the ranks, quickly becoming one of Xianfeng’s favorite concubines.
Unlike many of the other women in the imperial household, Lady Yehe Nara could read and write. Her skills brought her closer to Xianfeng, and allowed her to grow her political knowledge. Lady Yehe Nara was later given the nickname Tzu Hsi, meaning “empress of the western palace.” [note: today it’s spelled Cixi]
In 1856, Cixi gave birth to the emperor’s only son. When Xianfeng died a few years later, Cixi’s son became the Tongzhi Emperor at just 5 years old. At first, state business was overseen by a council of eight elder officials. But after a few months, Cixi and Xianfeng’s former senior consort, Ci’an, led a coup with Prince Gong, Xianfeng’s brother. Power was transferred to Cixi and Ci’an. Gong became prince counsellor.
Under this three-pronged rule, the Qing dynasty entered a period of restoration. Mass rebellions and the aftermath of the Opium Wars had left China struggling. Cixi applied “practical knowledge,” while working to restore traditional order. Schools were established to teach foreign languages. Attempts were made to cut down on government corruption. The first foreign service office in China was installed. But this was not, by any means, a move towards modernization.
Historians still debate whether this period, which Cixi named the Tongzhi Restoration, actually stopped the decline of the Qing dynasty or just delayed the inevitable.
In 1873, Cixi gave up her regent ruler status. Her son, Tongzhi, had turned 17, and it was time for him to govern on his own. But just two years later, Tongzhi died. Cixi was once again in charge, this time as regent ruler for her three-year-old nephew, whom she adopted.
It was here, in the arguments over who would succeed Tongzhi, that rumors first began swirling about Cixi. Tongzhi didn’t have an heir, but his favorite consort, Alute, was pregnant. Before a decision could be made, Alute, supposedly, committed suicide. But because her death allowed Cixi to step back into power, the timing roused suspicions.
Nevertheless, Cixi, Ci’an and Gong re-formed their triumvirate regency. The trio was fractured in 1881, when Ci’an died suddenly. Suspicion, again, fell on Cixi. Three years later, Cixi dismissed Gong. Cixi, then, became the sole ruler in her adopted son’s stead.
In 1889, the Guangxu Emperor aged into power. Cixi, once again, retired -- though she remained a sort of advisor.
In 1898, after China’s defeat in the Sino-Japanese war, Guangxu announced the Hundred Days of Reform. The radical proposals were designed to modernize China’s government, eliminating corruption in the process. Conservative officials began rallying instead around Cixi. A military coup emerged, the reforms were reversed, and Cixi, for a third time, regained the regency.
Anti-foreign sentiments were popular among the Conservative officials who had led Cixi back to power. She backed them, declaring war on Western powers, as the Boxer Rebellion reached its peak in 1900. Roughly 100 foreigners were murdered. In response, the Eight Nation Alliance of America, Austro-Hungary, Great Britain, France, Italy, Japan and Russia sent some 20,000 troops.
Cixi was forced to flee and accept what were felt to be embarrassing peace terms. When she finally returned to Beijing two years later, Cixi began to implement some of the reforms Guangxu had initially pushed for years before.
In 1908, Cixi passed away. But the day before Cixi died, Guangxu’s death was announced. For nearly a century, it was rumored that Guangxu had been murdered. In 2008, Chinese researchers and police officials announced that he’d been poisoned with arsenic. No one was named as the culprit -- but Cixi, to this day, remains a suspect. Four years later, in 1912, the Qing dynasty came to an end.
As the last imperial empress of China, Cixi shoulders an immense amount of national anger. Was she the downfall of the dynasty, or was she just its last tender, minding the flame until it flickered out? Was she a murderous leader, poisoning those who stood in her way, or was she a powerful woman, when powerful women were inherently a frightening thing? The truth is likely somewhere in the middle.
All month, we’re talking about Politicians. For more on why we’re doing what we’re doing check out our newsletter Womannica Weekly. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram @encyclopediawomannica and follow me directly on twitter @jennymkaplan.
Special thanks to my favorite sister and co-creator, Liz Kaplan.
Talk to you tomorrow!