The real photos of Emperor Guangxu were exposed, and the image in the original historical TV series

Mondo History Updated on 2024-02-22

Emperor Guangxu is real*** It turns out that the image in the historical TV series is distorted!

* Emperor Guangxu: The adventures and legends of a journalist.

In 1902, when Qing rule was in jeopardy, Empress Dowager Cixi and Emperor Guangxu were besieged by the Eight-Nation Alliance in Beijing and forced to flee to Xi'an. On their way to escape, they passed through the Zhengyang Gate at the south gate of Beijing, which was an important passage for the emperor to enter and exit.

Outside the Zhengyang Gate, there is a tall city tower with a small window facing the emperor's palanquin. In this window, a foreign correspondent is hidden, holding a camera, ready to photograph the emperor's true face.

This **operation was dangerous and thrilling, and it was also the first time in Chinese history that someone photographed the emperor**. This ** was later made public to the world and became the only surviving ** of Emperor Guangxu, and it is also the most authentic historical witness of the late Qing Dynasty.

Backstory: An independent foreign correspondent.

Why is there such a ** action? It all started in 1898. In that year, Emperor Guangxu tried to implement the Wuxu Reform Law and reform the Qing Dynasty's politics, economy and other aspects in order to save the country from crisis. However, the reform was opposed by the Empress Dowager Cixi and conservatives, which eventually led to the Wuxu coup d'état, and the Guangxu Emperor was deposed.

Under the tyrannical rule of the Empress Dowager Cixi, the situation at home and abroad became increasingly severe. The outbreak of the Boxer Rebellion led to the invasion of the Eight-Nation Alliance, and the Qing Dynasty fell into an unprecedented crisis.

In the process of fleeing, the Empress Dowager Cixi and Emperor Guangxu faced various difficulties and dangers. They had to change their attire, ride in ordinary sedan chairs or carriages, and march along mountain or water roads. On the way, they also had to face various challenges such as the defection of the Qing army and the Boxers, the extortion of local **, and the indifference or hostility of the people.

In this case, their true colors are also exposed to the eyes of the outside world. Some foreign journalists and envoys took the opportunity to track their whereabouts and tried to photograph their ** as news reports or historical materials. One of the most successful was the ** operation outside Zhengyang Gate in 1902.

The story of Huiluan: the return of the Empress Dowager Cixi and Emperor Guangxu.

On February 7, 1902, Empress Dowager Cixi and Emperor Guangxu returned to Beijing from Xi'an, which became known as "Huiluan". This was their second return to Luan, the first in January 1901, when they hurried back to Beijing after learning that the Eight-Nation Coalition had agreed to peace talks in Xi'an.

However, due to the presence of enemy troops in the city, they had to live in the Summer Palace in the western suburbs. It was not until January 1902 that all enemy forces withdrew from Beijing, and the Empress Dowager Cixi and Emperor Guangxu were able to return to the Forbidden City again.

On their way back to Luang, a foreign journalist accidentally obtained the emperor's itinerary. The New York Times correspondent in China, named Eric Matson, decided to take advantage of this rare opportunity to photograph the emperor's **.

The Qing Dynasty has always regarded the emperor as a sacrosanct existence, and no one is allowed to take pictures of his face at will. However, for Mathiessen, being able to photograph the Emperor's ** would be a huge news exclusive and a precious historical record.

Mattheeson found a suitable location – a tower outside the Zhengyang Gate, the main city gate in the south of Beijing. There is a small window in the tower of this castle, which happens to be facing the palanquin where the emperor is passing.

When he learned of the emperor's return to Luang, he sneaked into the castle tower a day earlier and hid himself and his camera behind a window. He was ready to press the shutter as the emperor passed by.

Early the next morning, Empress Dowager Cixi and Emperor Guangxu set off from the Summer Palace and marched east along Chang'an Avenue. They rode in gorgeous sedan chairs and carriages, with thousands of Qing troops and ** guards in front and behind.

Thousands of people watched and welcomed along the way. When they arrived at Zhengyangmen, it was already past ten o'clock in the morning. Mattiessen held his breath nervously, waiting for his chance.

The first to pass by was the sedan chair of the Empress Dowager Cixi. The Empress Dowager Cixi was dressed in a yellow dragon robe and sat motionless in a sedan chair. She looked majestic and kind, but for Mathieson she was not his subject.

Matthisen was only interested in Emperor Guangxu. It was followed by the palanquin of Emperor Guangxu. Emperor Guangxu was also wearing a yellow dragon robe and sat in a sedan chair with his head bowed.

He looked emaciated and depressed, and Mathieson's heart jumped, this was him, the last emperor of China.

Mathiessen quickly pointed his camera and pressed the shutter. He heard a slight click, and he knew he had succeeded. He photographed Emperor Guangxu's **, which was the first and only time in history.

Excited, Mattheeson hurriedly put away his camera and prepared to leave the castle tower. However, he did not expect that his actions had already been discovered by the Qing army.

When he reached the gate of the tower, he saw several Qing soldiers rushing towards him. They were armed with knives and guns, and their faces were filled with anger and murderous intent. They believed that Matthieson was a spy for an enemy country and wanted to assassinate the emperor. They shouted, "Catch him!" Kill him! ”

Mathieson was terrified and ran out as fast as he could. Fortunately, there was a group of foreign envoys and reporters outside the city tower who were returning to Luang for the ceremony. They witnessed the Qing army chasing Mathieson and immediately rushed to the rescue. They explained to the Qing army that Matthieson was just a journalist, with no malice, and just wanted to photograph the emperor's **. But the Qing army did not believe him and insisted on arresting him. As a result, foreign envoys and journalists clashed fiercely with the Qing army, and the scene was chaotic.

At this time, the Empress Dowager Cixi and Emperor Guangxu had already entered the Zhengyang Gate. Hearing the commotion outside, they sent someone to check on the situation. When they learned that someone was filming the emperor, they were furious.

The Empress Dowager Cixi said angrily: "This is an insult to my Qing imperial family!" It is a provocation to the national prestige of our Great Qing Dynasty! It is a contempt for the laws of the Qing Dynasty! This foreigner must be severely punished! She ordered Mattheeson to be arrested and handed over to the Criminal Department for interrogation. Emperor Guangxu was also in a very heavy mood, silent, just bowed his head and said nothing.

The 1902 Huiluan Incident: The tragedy and helplessness of Emperor Guangxu.

Matthissen was forcibly taken away by the Qing army and sent to the prison of the Criminal Department. There, he was brutally tortured and interrogated. The Qing army wanted to know from him the true purpose and impact of filming the emperor's **. Mathieson insisted that he was just a journalist, that he had no offense intended, and that he simply wanted to document history. But the Qing army did not believe it and wanted to increase the punishment.

Just when Mattison was in danger, Robert McWorky, the U.S. minister to China, learned of the incident. McWorm was an influential and courageous diplomat who participated in the Eight-Nation Alliance's assault on Beijing and negotiated with the Empress Dowager Cixi.

McWorm believes Mattheison is an innocent journalist who should not be abused. He decided to help.

McWormie, with several American soldiers, forced his way into the prison cell. He saw Mattieson in an iron cage, scarred and in pain.

He angrily reprimanded the Qing army: "Release people!" He is an American citizen, and you have no right to treat him like this! The Qing army was not convinced and wanted to contend with it. McWorm drew his pistol, pointed it at the top of the Qing army's head, and warned: "If you dare to move, I will shoot!" ”

McWommy's appearance frightened the Qing army. They knew that McWorm was in a prominent position and did not dare to offend him.

Mathieson had to be released and McWorm taken away. McWorm picked up Mathieson and left the prison together. He reassured: "Don't be afraid, it's okay, I'll protect you." Mathieson was grateful to him: "Thank you for saving my life." ”

The true face of the last emperor of China: the first in history**.

After Mattiessen recuperated for a while, he sent the photographed Emperor ** back to the United States. This ** was published on the front page of the New York Times, causing an uproar.

The world was amazed to see the last emperor of China in real life. This ** is also in the collection of the Library of Congress and has become an important evidence of the history of the late Qing Dynasty.

* It shows the grief and helplessness of Emperor Guangxu. He was ambitious and talented, but he was subject to the restrictions and house arrest of the Empress Dowager Cixi.

He has friendship and love, but he has lost family affection and freedom. He had ambitions and ideals, but he had to face the decline of the Qing Dynasty.

As a monarch, he has dignity and glory, but he is peeped at and insulted by foreigners. His life is full of sadness and helplessness, but no one can understand or save him.

Related Pages