In time Cixi revealed
herself a master of court
intrigue and a power bro-
ker to reckon with. She
resided in luxurious iso-
lation in the imperial
palace within the so-
called Forbidden City,
where commoners were
prohibited. Cixi herself
was forbidden from
showing her face in pub-
lic, so she received visi-
tors and dignitaries from
behind a yellow-silk
screen, listened to their
presentation, and barked
commands. Her son came
of age in 1874 and was
crowned Emperor Tong-
zhi, but he died three
years later. Moving
quickly, Cixi managed to
have his four-year-old
cousin installed in his
place. This was a direct
violation of Qing succes-
sion rules, since he was not of the same gen-
eration as Tongzhi. But through artful deceit
and coercion, Cixi made the usurpation stand.
Moreover, when he came of age in 1886 to be-
come Emperor Guangxu, Cixi refused to give
up the regency until his marriage 23 years
later. Thereafter, she ruled the weak-willed
emperor as her personal puppet, using every
possible maneuver to increase her own power
and authority. When coregent Cian died in
1881, she became the de facto ruler of China.
China at this time could ill afford such self-
centered policies, for it was being besieged by
numerous foreign powers intent upon colo-
nizing and controlling it. Attempts at modern-
ization, unfortunately, were thwarted and de-
feated by court conservatives like Cixi, who
viewed change as a threat to their rule. When
the government raised large sums of money
to build and acquire modern warships, Cixi
appropriated the funds for her own use, re-
building the lavish Sum-
mer Palace with, among
other attractions, a steam-
boat entirely carved from
marble! The effects of
such neglect were clearly
apparent during the Sino-
Japanese War (1894–
1895), wherein the effi-
cient, modern Japanese
navy swept antiquated
Chinese vessels from the
sea. Emperor Guangxu,
alarmed by this continual
foreign encroachment, in-
stituted a series of re-
forms to update Chinese
political and economic
institutions, the so-called
Hundred Days. These
changes only peripherally
threatened Manchu con-
trol of the country, but
Cixi arranged a coup
whereby the emperor
was placed under house
arrest, and six leading re-
formers were executed. “Old Buddha,” as she
came to be known, now assumed the regency
for life.
In 1900, the stress of war, natural disasters
like famine and flooding, and rising resent-
ment against foreign intrusions all culminated
in a violent, xenophobic outbreak known as
the Boxer Rebellion. This upheaval was led by
a secret organization, the Society of Righ-
teousness and Harmony, an exponent of tradi-
tional Chinese martial arts (hence, “Boxers”).
They also drew upon Chinese mysticism, in-
voking spells and potions that would al-
legedly protect them against European bul-
lets. Furthermore, propelled by their hatred
of foreigners, the Boxers initially included the
Manchu Dynasty on their violent agenda.
However, Cixi was herself repelled by West-
erners, and after some contemplation she
openly supported the goals of the uprising.
The Chinese government subsequently de-CIXI
Cixi
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