In modern Chinese history,Empress Dowager CixiUndoubtedly a highly controversial figure. Her life was full of intrigue and struggle, and her decisions affected the fate of the entire Qing Dynasty. On November 15, 1908, this powerful female politician ushered in the last day of her life. On this day, from dealing with the aftermath of Emperor Guangxu to putting on her longevity clothes, history seems to have pressed the fast-forward button at this moment, which makes people feel a lot of emotion.
On November 14, 1908, Emperor Guangxu died in the Hanyuan Hall of Yingtai in Zhongnanhai at the age of 37。The young emperor had many disasters in his life, and his death plunged the entire court into shock and chaos. Empress Dowager Cixi, as the adoptive mother and de facto ruler of Emperor Guangxu, was undoubtedly complicated in her heart in the face of this sudden change. On the one hand, she must deal with the aftermath of Emperor Guangxu and ensure the smooth inheritance of the throne; On the other hand, she may have indescribable sadness for this son who had tried to reform and challenge her authority.
After the news of Emperor Guangxu's death came, the Empress Dowager Cixi acted quickly. She ordered the eunuch to put on a longevity robe for Emperor Guangxu and prepare for the aftermath. This move is not only a compliance with traditional etiquette, but also an arrangement for the transition of power. While dealing with the aftermath of Emperor Guangxu, the Empress Dowager Cixi did not forget to consolidate her position of power. By deleting and altering the edict, she portrayed Emperor Guangxu as an incompetent monarch and portrayed herself as a wise and martial empress dowager。This modification not only tarnished the image of Emperor Guangxu, but also provided legitimacy for Cixi to remain in power.
In the process of dealing with the aftermath of Emperor Guangxu, the Empress Dowager Cixi made a series of important decisions. She quickly issued a decree appointing Pu Yi, who was only three years old, to inherit the throne, and appointed Pu Yi's biological father, Zaifeng, as regent. This decision was clearly well thought out, in keeping with the tradition of succession to the throne and facilitating his continued control of the court. The appointment of Zaifeng as regent is a kind of appeasement and wooing of Zaifeng's family, and it is also to ensure a stable transition of the government.
Just when people thought that the Empress Dowager Cixi would continue to control the government, she suddenly put on a shroud. This act seemed to foreshadow the imminent end of her life. Before putting on the shroud, she did not forget to give the last two wills: one is to appoint Zaifeng as the regent of the country; The second is to raise the specifications of its own mausoleum to an unprecedented height. These two wills fully demonstrate the Empress Dowager Cixi's desire for power and her helplessness for life. She has pursued power and status all her life, refusing to let go even in the last moments of her life.
Reflections and Enlightenment of History
The life of the Empress Dowager Cixi was spent in the game of power and life. Her last day seemed to be the best summary of her life. Her power game ended in tragedy of her own. The life of the Empress Dowager Cixi shows us the double-edged sword effect of power, as well as the difficulty of a woman struggling to survive in a patriarchal society. Her story is not only a historical record, but also a profound revelation for future generations: power and status are not the only criteria to measure a person's value, and the true meaning of life lies in how we live our own value and how we create happiness and joy for ourselves and others.
Conclusion
In the long river of history, the story of the Empress Dowager Cixi and Emperor Guangxu is like a bright star, illuminating the night sky of that era. Their lives are full of legends and tragedies. Their death marks the end of an era and heralds the arrival of a new historical period. Today, when we look back on this period of history, we can not only feel the changes of that era, but also draw wisdom from it and think about how to make the right choice on our own life path!
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