China has gone through many dynasties, but it is said that only the Qing Dynasty royal family has left precious images. At the end of the Qing Dynasty and the beginning of the Republic of China, the influx of Western culture gave the palace nobility their first exposure to many novel Western objects, one of which was the camera. These cameras recorded Cixi's true face, and these ** are now treasured in American museums.
The Lost Years: The Intersection of the Qing Dynasty and the West.
While Western countries achieved earth-shaking changes through the Industrial Revolution, the Qing Dynasty appeared to be somewhat conservative. After a long period of seclusion, the gap between the Qing Dynasty and the West widened. While the Western countries were on the rise, the Qing Dynasty was mired in civil strife and power struggles, becoming the target of Western colonization. However, the penetration of Western culture has also brought some positive influences, and advanced ideas have impacted feudal etiquette and religion, bringing some changes to Chinese society.
Camera: Western technology has changed court life.
In 1846, the Frenchman Jules Tiltier introduced the camera to China, recording precious moments for the people of the Qing Dynasty. This also allows the folk images of the late Qing Dynasty and the early Republic of China to be preserved, allowing us to get a glimpse of China more than 100 years ago through these black and white**.
Yu Deling: The origin of Cixi's camera.
Cixi's camera is thanks to a female official named Yu Deling. During his stay in France, Yu Deling was exposed to many Western cultures and advanced ideas, and after returning to China, he became Cixi's interpreter. She brought back many novelty Western items, including a portable wooden case camera born in France.
Cixi's camera romance.
At first, Cixi was not interested in Western objects, but when Yu Deling introduced the camera to her, her interest was piqued. Although Cixi was initially skeptical of the camera, believing that the device would suck people's souls, under Yu Deling's guidance, she gradually became interested in this Western invention.
Cixi's court life.
The introduction of the camera added laughter to Cixi's court life. Cixi often brought close people to the imperial garden to take pictures with her in the court. Among these, the pavilions of the palace, the gorgeous clothes of Cixi and the noble Zhu Hai on her head have all been truly recorded.
Cixi's true face.
Although they are in black and white, they show court life more realistically than traditional paintings. Cixi's true ** shows her youthful face and shows her majesty as the de facto ruler of the Qing Dynasty. These ** are preserved in American museums, becoming the last real images she left in the world.
Cixi's intimate anecdotes.
Cixi loved to take pictures, and after the introduction of the camera, the court left many figures of her. Interestingly, Cixi invented the photo-taking mantra, which we still use today. The word "eggplant" she shouted during the photo shoot became a tradition, but in fact this mantra was already widely used in Cixi's court more than a hundred years ago.
100 Years: The Influence of the Empress.
Cixi's private life is in the spotlight, and the cultural integration of the West has also enriched her life. Although only 100 years have passed since this history, it seems like it just happened yesterday. From Cixi's true **, we see the luxury of court life and have a deeper understanding of this once powerful woman.
This essay profoundly depicts the unique relationship between Cixi and the camera, as well as the social changes during this period of history. By introducing Cixi's exposure to Western technology and the introduction of cameras, the article succeeds in sketching a multifaceted picture of the late Qing dynasty.
First, the article looks at the cultural collision between the West and the Qing Dynasty. The Qing Dynasty was relatively conservative in the era of the Industrial Revolution in the West, while the West made great progress in science and technology, ideology, etc. This cultural gap is not only reflected in the social system, but also in people's ideas and lifestyles. As the ruler of the time, Cixi began to come into contact with Western culture through the guidance of Yu Deling and others, in which the camera became a magical medium connecting the two different worlds.
Secondly, the article shows the richness and variety of Cixi's court life recorded by the camera. As an advanced technological product, the camera injected new vitality into court life. Cixi is not only keen on shooting, but her real ** has also broken the stereotype of the harem concubines as beautiful as flowers to some extent. This allows readers to have a more realistic understanding of the living conditions of Cixi and the people around her through the lens of history.
In addition, Yu Deling plays an important role in the whole story. Through her experience living in France, she brought back many Western items, including a portable wooden case camera. Yu Deling's openness and talent set her apart from other court ladies and served as a bridge for Cixi to come into contact with Western culture. This detail not only fleshes out the story, but also highlights the importance of the individual in the course of history.
Finally, the article deftly reveals Cixi's initial resistance to the camera, and how an anecdote from the filming process changed her attitude towards this new thing. This shift from rejection to acceptance both makes Cixi appear to be self-reliant, but also shows her openness to new things.
Overall, by digging deeper into the intersection of Cixi and the camera, this article not only shows the cultural conflicts and social changes in the historical period, but also makes the history more vivid and interesting through individual narration.
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