Empress Dowager Cixi, historically known as Yehenara, was a legendary female politician at the end of the Qing Dynasty. She actually controlled the late Qing Dynasty for nearly half a century, during which her extravagant life has always been a topic of conversation for future generations. So, was the life of the Empress Dowager Cixi extremely extravagant? Let's start with the following aspects.
First of all, Cixi's daily life can be said to be extremely luxurious. As the de facto ruler of the Qing Dynasty, Cixi enjoyed supreme power and wealth. Her residence, the Chuxiu Palace and the Summer Palace in the Forbidden City, are all decorated with gold and luxury. Her diet is even more exquisite, with hundreds of dishes at each meal, precious ingredients, and beautifully made, which can be called a feast.
Secondly, the Empress Dowager Cixi was also famous for her luxurious pursuit of clothing. Her wardrobe is said to contain thousands of garments, including dragon robes adorned with pearls and precious stones, phoenix crowns, and a variety of elaborate embroidered garments. She is also particularly fond of jadeite, often wearing priceless jadeite jewelry.
In addition, Cixi was also extravagant in art and entertainment. She loves opera, often orders the palace opera troupe to perform for her, and even invites famous actors to perform in the palace at any cost. She also enjoys collecting art, including famous paintings, antiques, and various curiosities.
However, Empress Dowager Cixi's extravagance was not only reflected in material comforts. She also built many magnificent buildings, such as the Summer Palace and the Summer Resort, which consumed a lot of manpower and material resources, and also reflected her pursuit of luxury.
It is worth mentioning that the extravagant life of the Empress Dowager Cixi was in stark contrast to the corruption and weakening of the national power of the late Qing Dynasty. Under her rule, the Qing Dynasty faced internal and external troubles, and the people were struggling to make a living, and her extravagance undoubtedly exacerbated the economic burden of the country and accelerated the decline of the Qing Dynasty.
To sum up, the life of the Empress Dowager Cixi can be said to be extremely extravagant. Her life is full of supreme power and an infinite pursuit of luxury. However, this extravagant lifestyle also reflected the decay and decline of the late Qing society to a certain extent, and became an important footnote in history.