Empress Dowager Cixi: Shaping History through Photography
Empress Dowager Cixi: The Last Regent of China
Empress Dowager Cixi ruled China for over 45 years, from 1861 to 1908. She was a powerful and controversial figure, known for her ruthlessness and her use of photography to control her image.
Cixi was born into a Manchu noble family in 1835. She became a concubine to Emperor Xianfeng in 1852, and after giving birth to his only son, she rose to power. When Xianfeng died in 1861, Cixi staged a palace coup and became the regent for her young son, Emperor Tongzhi.
Cixi’s rule was marked by both progress and turmoil. She implemented a number of reforms, including the modernization of China’s military and the establishment of a new education system. However, she also faced a number of challenges, including the Boxer Rebellion of 1900.
Cixi and Photography
Cixi was a keen user of photography, and she used it to shape her image both at home and abroad. She commissioned a series of glass-plate negative portraits from the photographer Xunling, which she used as gifts for visiting dignitaries and for sale on the street.
Cixi’s photographs were heavily influenced by Western styles, and they often depicted her in a glamorous and idealized light. She used them to project an image of herself as a modern and progressive ruler, and to downplay her involvement in the Boxer Rebellion.
The Boxer Rebellion
The Boxer Rebellion was a violent uprising against foreign influence in China. It began in 1899, and by 1900 it had spread to Beijing. Cixi initially supported the Boxers, but after they began to attack foreign legations and missionaries, she turned against them.
The Boxer Rebellion was put down by a coalition of eight nations, including England, Japan, France, and the United States. Cixi was forced to flee Beijing, and she returned only after the foreign powers had agreed to a peace treaty.
Cixi’s Legacy
Cixi died in 1908, having appointed China’s last emperor, Puyi. Her legacy is complex and controversial. She was a powerful and ambitious ruler who modernized China in some ways, but she also presided over a period of great turmoil and instability.
Cixi’s use of photography to shape her image was a groundbreaking innovation. She was one of the first rulers in the world to understand the power of photography, and she used it to great effect. Her photographs continue to fascinate and intrigue people today, and they offer a valuable glimpse into the life and times of one of China’s most enigmatic rulers.
The Exhibition at the Freer and Sackler Galleries
The Freer and Sackler Galleries in Washington, D.C., are currently hosting an exhibition of Xunling’s photographs of Empress Dowager Cixi. The exhibition, which is titled “Empress Dowager Cixi: Photographs from the Last Days of the Qing Dynasty,” features 19 prints from the Smithsonian Institution’s collection of Xunling’s negatives.
The exhibition offers a unique opportunity to see Cixi’s photographs up close and to learn more about her life and times. It is a must-see for anyone interested in Chinese history, photography, or the intersection of the two.
