Empress Dowager Cixi, also known as the West Dowager Empress in China, is one of the most powerful women in Chinese history. Actually, she was the de facto ruler of Qing Dynasty for nearly half a century, from 1861 to her death in 1908.

Empress Dowager Cixi – Bio

In 1835, Cixi, surnamed Yehe Nala, was born in an ordinary official family.

In 1851, she was selected as one of the Xianfeng Emperor’s concubines and later was promoted to “Gui Ren”, the concubine of the fifth rank.

In 1856, after her son, as the only male heir of the Xianfeng Emperor, reached his first birthday, she obtained an elevation to “Noble Imperial Consort Yi”, the rank second only to the Empress.

In 1861, Emperor Xianfeng died and Cixi’s son became the new Emperor as Emperor Tongzhi. Cixi was honored as Holy Mother Empress Dowager and began her “rule behind the curtain”.

In 1862, she was crowned Empress Dowager Cixi by Emperor Tongzhi.

In 1874, Emperor Tongzhi died. Cixi’s nephew was selected to be the heir – Emperor Guangxu. She continued her ruling behind the curtain.

In 1889, Cixi retired to a summer home Peking and left the government up to the Emperor.

In 1898, Cixi returned to the throne and reinstated her power over the Emperor to stop the new Emperor’s reform.

On November 15th of 1908, Empress Dowager Cixi died.

In the Qing Dynasty and even Chinese history, Cixi is among one of the most influential people. She had great political ability and quite good at strategies.

However, she was considered as the main cause of the fall of the Qing Dynasty and the villain who should be responsible for the fall of China to foreign powers.

If you want to know more about her, I suggest you to watch a film named The Burning Of Imperial Palace.