Tzu-hsi was a low-ranking concubine of the Emperor Hs'en Feng. However, when she bore his only son, she experienced a dramatic rise in status. After the Emperor�s death and her son's succession, every decree had to be approved by her. She became heavily involved in state affairs and refused to give up her ruling even when her son came of age. She used state funds to build herself a palace, which some resented, particularly after the Chinese were defeated by the Japanese in the 1890s. In 1898 the new emperor instituted radical proposals to stop China's corruption, and Tz'u Hsi didn't like them. Therefore, she confined him in the palace and took the power of the regency again. In 1900 the Boxer Rebellion occurred and she was forced to flee Peking for her life and to accept the peace agreement's terms. A few years later, she reverted in her thoughts and decided to finally eliminate China's corruption as best she could. Tz'u Hsi died in Peking, China, on November 15, 1908, the day after the real emperor died.
Article by Alexander S
No comments:
Post a Comment