Empress Dowager Cixi

Definition

Empress Dowager Cixi was a powerful and influential figure in late Qing Dynasty China, serving as the de facto ruler from 1861 until her death in 1908. She effectively controlled the Chinese government through her position as the mother of the Tongzhi Emperor and later as regent for the Guangxu Emperor, playing a critical role in shaping China's response to internal and external pressures during a time of great upheaval.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Cixi originally rose to power as a concubine of the Xianfeng Emperor and became a significant political figure after his death, largely due to her ability to navigate court politics.
2. She was instrumental in both supporting and opposing modernization efforts in China, exemplified by her initial resistance to the Hundred Days' Reform followed by support for certain reforms after the Boxer Rebellion.
3. Cixi's policies significantly influenced China's international relations, as she attempted to balance foreign pressures while maintaining sovereignty over Chinese territory.
4. Her reign saw both the strengthening of traditional Confucian values and the challenges posed by Western ideas and imperialism, creating tensions within Chinese society.
5. Cixi's legacy is complex; she is often criticized for resisting necessary reforms that could have modernized China more effectively, yet also recognized for her political acumen in a male-dominated society.

Review Questions

• How did Empress Dowager Cixi's political strategies influence the Qing Dynasty's responses to internal reform movements?
  • Empress Dowager Cixi utilized her political savvy to navigate the challenges posed by reform movements like the Hundred Days' Reform. Initially resistant to these changes due to conservative beliefs, she later adapted her stance when faced with increased foreign pressure following the Boxer Rebellion. This duality in her approach shaped how the Qing Dynasty interacted with both reformists and foreign powers, ultimately reflecting her struggle between tradition and modernization.
• Discuss Empress Dowager Cixi's role during the Boxer Rebellion and how it affected China's international relations.
  • During the Boxer Rebellion, Cixi initially supported the Boxers as a means to counter foreign influence in China. However, when foreign powers intervened militarily, she found herself caught between nationalist sentiments and the need to maintain diplomatic relations. The outcome led to severe consequences for China, including indemnities and concessions that weakened its sovereignty, highlighting her complex role in balancing internal nationalism with external pressures.
• Evaluate the long-term impacts of Empress Dowager Cixi's policies on the decline of the Qing Dynasty and China's subsequent modernization efforts.
  • Cixi's policies had lasting impacts on both the decline of the Qing Dynasty and China's modernization efforts. Her initial resistance to comprehensive reforms contributed to social unrest and dissatisfaction among intellectuals and reformists. However, after realizing the necessity for change post-Boxer Rebellion, her later support for some reforms was too little and too late. This hesitation played a crucial role in weakening the Qing's authority and laid groundwork for revolutionary movements that ultimately led to the fall of the dynasty in 1911, marking a significant shift towards modernization in China.

Related terms

Qing Dynasty: The last imperial dynasty of China, ruling from 1644 to 1912, characterized by significant territorial expansion and cultural developments.

Hundred Days' Reform: A short-lived series of sweeping reforms in 1898 aimed at modernizing China's political, educational, and military systems, which faced strong opposition from conservative factions within the Qing court.

Boxer Rebellion: An anti-foreigner uprising in China from 1899 to 1901, driven by nationalist sentiments against foreign imperialism and Christian missionary activity, leading to significant conflict with foreign powers.