Recent history has inscribed a name that has become almost synonymous with disgrace. In that chaotic era, Cixi was in power, and the rise of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom was worried internally, and the invasion of Western powers was external. Not only did she fail to stop the surging crisis, but she also passed on the pressure of hardship to the people, which had no effect on her prosperity and wealth. At that time, how many patriots wanted to pull her down from the altar, but Cixi sat firmly on the throne of power for 47 years, what is the reason?
Although Cixi came from an ordinary background, she surpassed almost all the emperors of the Qing Dynasty in cruel methods. During the lifetime of Emperor Xianfeng, she did not show too much radical behavior. However, after Xianfeng's death, Cixi and the second Empress Dowager Ci'an became regents, and the eight ministers assisted them. However, these eight ministers despised Cixi and Ci'an, and disdained their suggestions. Cixi conspired with Prince Gong to launch a coup d'état, and the eight ministers were either executed or dismissed, and power was soon concentrated in Cixi's hands.
Later,, who was made the king of parliament, posed a threat to Cixi's authority, and Cixi ruthlessly dismissed him from his position. Especially in the Guangxu period, she pushed the cruelty to the extreme. Emperor Guangxu's favorite concubine Zhen offended Cixi, and when the Eight-Nation Alliance invaded Beijing, Cixi found a reason at random and threw Concubine Zhen into a well in the capital.
After the failure of the Wuxu Reform, the Six Gentlemen**. Cixi ordered the executioner to cut Tan Sitong with a blunt knife, and Tan Sitong was dripping with blood on the execution ground, but he still did not lose his breath. Such a ruthless Cixi, who would dare to provoke it easily?
Cixi actually deprived the two emperors, Tongzhi and Guangxu, of their powers. Tongzhi was her biological son, and when he died before the age of 20, the power of the court was basically in Cixi's control. If Tongzhi had lived to adulthood, perhaps Cixi would have relented, but that didn't happen. As for the Guangxu Emperor, he was the son of Cixi's own sister, and Cixi became a legitimate regent at a young age. If there was an older heir, perhaps Cixi would not have such influence.
In modern history, there has been a famous reform movement - the Wuxu Reform. This reform began on June 11, 1898, and was intended to translate Western classics, disseminate new ideas, hire new talents, encourage private industrial and commercial enterprises, and open new schools. Although the reform was ostensibly an attempt at innovation, it was in fact a confrontation between the reformers led by Emperor Guangxu and the conservative faction led by the Empress Dowager Cixi. However, the old school was deeply entrenched and more powerful than the reformers.
On September 21, 1898, the Empress Dowager Cixi, under the impetus of the old guards, suddenly made a difficult move to put Emperor Guangxu under house arrest. The two advocates of the Restoration, Kang Youwei and Liang Qichao, fled overseas. The change lasted only 103 days before it failed. The Wuxu Reform touched the interests of the old school and was strongly opposed, and Cixi was embraced for representing the interests of the old school.
Cixi, with her ruthless means and talent for scheming, ruled an era of turmoil and conflict. She is a highly controversial figure in recent history, leaving a deep historical mark and having a long-term impact on Chinese society.
As a controversial figure in Chinese history, Empress Dowager Cixi's reign and behavior have sparked many profound discussions and reflections. With her arbitrariness and ruthlessness, Cixi left a complex and profound mark on Chinese history.
Her style of rule is a model of totalitarianism, and the brutality of her methods is often staggering. With no mercy in dealing with political opponents, it is even unbelievable that under her rule, executions or house arrest of political opponents became commonplace. The Empress Dowager Cixi's brutal suppression of the Restoration, which led to the failure of the reform, was an important turning point in China's modern history and reflected the strong resistance of conservative forces to reform at the time. Her methods, although disgraceful, show her cunning and wisdom as a politician to a certain extent.
However, Cixi was not entirely known for her violence and cruelty. During her reign, China also saw some progress and changes, such as the spread of Western culture and the establishment of new schools. Although these reforms were not of her own volition, they also show that she is not conservative.
Empress Dowager Cixi's way of governance brought many reflections to Chinese history. Her rule and hard-line methods reflected the weakness of the political environment at the time, and also showed the corruption and rigidity of China's political system at that time. Her extreme repression of political dissent and resistance to change also hindered China's social development at the time.
When evaluating Cixi, it is necessary to look at her reign comprehensively and objectively. She did maintain the rule of the Qing Dynasty to a certain extent, but at the same time, she also left a cruel and unignorable political shadow in the long river of history. Her way of ruling has become a lesson in China's history, reminding us of the importance of taking a deep look at the contemporary political system and focusing on democracy, justice and human rights.
Overall, Empress Dowager Cixi's reign brought great political turmoil and social challenges to China. As a historical figure, whether it is positive or negative, she has shaped the trajectory of China's historical development to a certain extent.
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