WOMEN THROUGHT HISTORY: BIOGRAPHY OF THE EMPRESS DOWAGER CIXI


Name: Cixi.

Posthumous Name: Short (Empress Xiao-Qin Xian Tsu)/Full (Empress Xiao-Qin Ci-xi Duan-You Kang-Yi Zhao-Yu Zhuang-Cheng Shou-Gong Qin-Xian Chong-Xi Pei-Tan Xing-Sheng Xian).

Birthdate: 29 November 1835.

Deathdate: 15 November 1908, aged 72 in Hall of Graceful Bird, Zhongnanhai, Beijing, Qing Empire.

Nationality: Chinese.

Why is she remembered?

She is remembered because she was regent of Qing China, her regency was from 11 November 1861 to 15 November 1908, the monarchs were her son, Tongzhi Emperor (1861-1875) and her nephew Guangxu Emperor (1875-1908). Cixi was one of the Xianfeng emperor's low-ranking concubines, but in 1856 she bore his only son. At age 16, she was brought to the Forbidden City to join Emperor Xianfeng's harem-which may sound like punishment to modern ears, but was consiered a swank role for chinese women of her time. The tenure was from 22 August 1861 to 15 November 1908, she was co-dowager (Empress Dowager Ci'an) 1861-81. Her son was Tongzhi Emperor, and her father was Yehenara Huizheng and her mother Lady Fuca.

Important Achievements

The Empress Dowager Cixi of the Manchu Yehenara clan, was a chinese empress dowager and regent who effectively controlled the chinese government in the late Qing dynasty for 47 years from 1861 until her death in 1908. She took power as empress, contrary to tradition and policy and wielded enormous power, opposing foreign influence and supporting the 1898-1900 Boxer Rebellion.