Author jung chang describes in masterful prose, how cixi, in a ruthlessly male environment, leapfrogged over the heads of the emperor, princes and grandees. At the age of 16, in a nationwide selection for royal consorts, cixi was chosen as one of the emperors numerous concubines. Certain to become the standard by which all future biographies of the dowager empress are measured. A new york times notable bookempress dowager cixi 18351908 is the most important woman in chinese history. Oct 11, 20 read an extract from jung changs empress dowager cixi here. Empress dowager cixi by jung chang penguin books new zealand. This book tells the story of the men and women of fighter command who worked tirelessly in. The empress dowager cixi ruled china, mostly directly, from the death of her husband, emperor xianfeng, in 1861 to her own death in 1908, an era when foreign powers gnawed away at. Click download or read online button to get empress dowager cixi book now. This book will appeal to both those seeking history and those wanting just a good read. Most importantly, she brought medieval china into the modern age.
The future empress dowager cixi was born on the tenth day of the tenth lunar month in the 15th year of the reign of the daoguang emperor 29 november 1835. Jung changs empress dowager cixi the new york times. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. There are few leaders in modern chinese history more layered with prejudice begging to be stripped away than cixi, the dowager empress who ruled china for almost half a century until her death in 1908. Empress dowager cixi empress dowager cixi was the last dowager empress of china to hold power. At the age of sixteen, in a nationwide selection for royal consorts, cixi was chosen as one of the emperors numerous concubines. Empress dowager cixi, the concubine who modernised china. The manchu empress dowager cixi 18351908 is generally thought of as a conservative figure in chinese history, incapable of defending chinas interests in the second half of the 19th century. The dowager empress of china, tzuhsi or cixi, had started life in a minor manchu family in 1835. For decades, she was condescendingly referred to in the west as the old buddha, the she dragon, the usurper. Reviled as a devious reactionary, the formidable cixi, whose dour visage, in the minds of many, personifies qingera china in decay, was in fact a great modernizer, says chang, who discussed her new biography empress dowager cixi. At the age of sixteen, in a nationwide selection for royal consorts, cixi was c.
The book gives an alternative viewpoint on the politics and nature of empress dowager cixi using more recent written evidence gained from japan and europe. Pretty and charming, at 17 she was recruited to the harem of the son of heaven, the hsienfeng or xanfeng emperor, to whom the court eunuchs presented her naked within a red robe whenever he wanted her for the night. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. She ruled china for decades and brought a medieval. To say her life was difficult is a gross understatement, but the detail in this book reveals a person who always tried to improve china and the lives of its people. The dowager empress cixi was humane and far seeing. She ruled china for decades and brought a medieval empire into the modern age. No single book on cixi is adequate by itself, at a minimum, if you are interested in her story you must read at least 4 books. Empress dowager cixi download ebook pdf, epub, tuebl, mobi. Cixi, wadegiles romanization tzuhsi, also called xitaihou or xiaoqin xianhuanghou, byname empress dowager, born november 29, 1835, beijing, chinadied november 15, 1908, beijing, consort of the xianfeng emperor reigned 185061, mother of the tongzhi emperor reigned 186175, adoptive mother of the guangxu emperor reigned 1875. It was, unfortunately, the only book i managed to read on the topic, but it was fascinating. In april of 1881, empress dowager niuhuru suddenly died at the age of 44, possibly of a stroke. Her father was huizheng, a member of the bordered blue banner who held the title of a third class duke. A new york times notable book an npr best book of the year in 1852, at age sixteen, cixi was chosen as on samenvatting.
Simon sebag montefiore bbc history magazine a truly authoritative account of cixis rule. Empress dowager cixi jung chang 9780307271600 netgalley. I n her concluding judgment on the character and achievements of cixi, the qing dynastys legendary empress dowager, jung chang observes. Jul 01, 2014 if there is one woman who mattered in the history of modern china, it is the empress dowager cixiher conventional image is queried in this detailed and beautifully narrated biography, which at long last restores the empress dowager to her rightful place. Sep 26, 20 i am involved in a gr group, and we selected the dowager empress cixi as an area of focus for the first part of the year, so i ended up reading this. At this time, cixi was often bedridden with a liver ailment. Dowager empress cixi was the last ruler from the qing dynasty in china, and had been a concubine. Empress dowager cixi kindle edition by chang, jung. Empress dowager cixi book whatcom county library system. Simon sebag montefiore bbc history magazine a truly authoritative account of cixi s rule. Jung chang portrays the empress dowager cixi as a protofeminist who brought medieval china into the modern age. Jan 21, 2002 the empress dowager cixi 1835 1908 brought destruction to the qing dynasty, the last feudal dynasty in the long history of china.
A new york times notable book empress dowager cixi 1835 1908 is the most important woman in chinese history. Empress dowager cixi november 29 1835 november 15 1908, often known in china as the west dowager empress was from the manchu yehe nara clan. Mar 03, 2014 the empress dowager cixi ruled china, mostly directly, from the death of her husband, emperor xianfeng, in 1861 to her own death in 1908, an era when foreign powers gnawed away at the chinese empire. All of this adds up to make empress dowager cixi a powerful read. Chang presents a sympathetic portrait of the empress dowager cixi, who unofficially controlled the manchu qing dynasty in china for 47 years, from 1861 to her death in 1908. However, author jung chang wild swans has uncovered new research and debunked the mythmakers to bring us empress dowager cixi in all her complexity. Nov 20, 20 empress dowager cixi 18351908 is the most important woman in chinese history. It is also an insight into the life of a concubine, the complexity of life inside the forbidden city and the effect of western pressure and greed on 19th century china. At age 16, cixi was chosen as one of the emperors concubines, albeit a lowranking one. Changs book relies heavily on the vast holdings in the imperial archives in beijing. Jan 06, 2020 nonetheless, by the end of empress dowager cixi, the reader has gotten to know the doughty and clever woman so thoroughly that changs glowing epilogue seems apt and spoton. In this groundbreaking biography, jung chang vividly describes how cixi fought against monumental obstacles to change china. She ruled china for decades and brought a medieval empire into the.
Jan 30, 2014 the book, empress dowager cixi, has immense historic value and i would suggest it as a must read to every history enthusiast, for even though it is a history book in itself, it does not, in case make you feel as if youre back in a classroom, trying to cram all that uninteresting dates, names and events. Empress dowager cixi book king county library system. A brilliant account of the life and times of the dowager empress cixi, who began life at the chinese court as a minor concubine. In her absorbing new book, she laments that cixi has for so long been deemed either tyrannical and vicious, or hopelessly incompetent or. I am involved in a gr group, and we selected the dowager empress cixi as an area of focus for the first part of the year, so i ended up reading this. Empress dowager cixi 18351908 is the most important woman in chinese history. Nonetheless, by the end of empress dowager cixi, the reader has gotten to know the doughty and clever woman so thoroughly that changs glowing epilogue seems apt and spoton. Read an extract from jung changs empress dowager cixi here. Naturally, rumors quickly spread through the foreign legations that cixi had poisoned her, although cixi was herself. This book tells the story of the men and women of fighter command who worked tirelessly in air bases scattered throughout britain.
Chang argues that cixi has been deemed either tyrannical and vicious, or hopelessly incompetentor both, and that this view is both simplistic and inaccurate. A new york times notable book an npr best book of the year in 1852, at age sixteen, cixi was chosen as one of emperor xianfengs numerous concubines. The book, empress dowager cixi, has immense historic value and i would suggest it as a must read to every history enthusiast, for even though it is a history book in itself, it does not, in case make you feel as if youre back in a classroom, trying to cram all. In this groundbreaking biography, jung chang vividly describes how empress dowager cixi fought against monumental obstacles to change china. This site is like a library, use search box in the widget to get ebook that you want. Naturally, rumors quickly spread through the foreign legations that cixi had poisoned her, although cixi was herself probably too ill to have had any part in a plot. At the age of sixteen, in a nationwide selection for royal consorts, cixi was chosen as one of the emperors numerous concubines and sexual partners. Nov 21, 20 called both a tyrant and a reformer, empress dowager cixi 18351908, who led china for nearly fifty years, belongs on any list of ind.
Empress dowager cixi the concubine who launched modern china book. Empress dowager cixi kobo ebook the elliott bay book company. Contrary to tradition and policy she exercised enormous power, opposed foreign influence and supported the 18981900 boxer rebellion. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read empress dowager cixi. When he died in 1861, their fiveyearold son succeeded to the throne. Jung changs revisionism means that this book reveals a new and different woman. The history of empress dowager cixi is an essential part of understanding modern china and provides the hows and whys behind this great nations relationship with the wider world. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading empress dowager cixi. The manchu empress dowager cixi 18351908 is generally thought of as a conservative figure in chinese history, incapable of defending chinas interests in. A new york times notable book empress dowager cixi 18351908 is the most important woman in chinese history. Empress dowager cixi, the concubine who launched modern. In some four decades of absolute power, her political. Written with remarkable charm and verve, this book is a delightful exploration of the history of her extraordinary life and long reign, relating both historical facts and apochryphal anecdotes about her private affairs. Pretty and charming, at 17 she was recruited to the harem of the son of heaven, the hsienfeng or xanfeng emperor, to whom the court eunuchs presented her naked.
She ruled for decades and brought a medieval empire into the modern age. The daily beast jung chang has written a pathbreaking and generally persuasive book. Under her the ancient country attained virtually all the attributes of a modern state. The empress dowager cixi 1835 1908 brought destruction to the qing dynasty, the last feudal dynasty in the long history of china. In her absorbing new book, she laments that cixi has for so long been. Empress dowager cixis legacy was manifold and towering. The concubine who launched modern china by chang, jung isbn. Called both a tyrant and a reformer, empress dowager cixi 18351908, who led china for nearly fifty years, belongs on any list of ind. Oct 15, 20 if there is one woman who mattered in the history of modern china, it is the empress dowager cixiher conventional image is queried in this detailed and beautifully narrated biography, which at long last restores the empress dowager to her rightful place. Empress impact on china was significant asia society. The unknown story, the extraordinary story of the woman who singlehandedly dragged china into the modern age empress dowager cixi 18351908 is the most important woman in chinese history.
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