Page 40 - A Re-examination of Late Qing Dynasty Porcelain, 1850-1920 THESIS

Chapter 1: Empress Dowager Cixi

1.1 A Brief History of the Empress Dowager and Her Reign

Cixi 慈禧 was born to the Yehenala clan on November 29, 1835 during the reign

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of the Manchu-established Qing dynasty (1644–1911). She was the daughter of the

mid-level official Huizheng 惠徵(1805–1856). Historically, very little is known about

Cixi’s early life. Her family’s position most likely allowed her to learn fundamental

skills such as reading, writing, drawing, and sewing. She was raised with traditional

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Manchu values, which at times differed from the customs of the Han Chinese. As a

Manchu, Cixi never bound her feet, although the custom was widely prevalent within

China during her lifetime. Throughout her life Cixi continued to adhere to Manchu

styles, incorporating the hairstyles and garments traditionally associated with her

upbringing. Despite maintaining these connections to her Manchu roots, Cixi was known

to learn and appropriate many Han Chinese traditions that became part of her daily life

once she entered the Forbidden City. Cixi mastered speaking, calligraphy, painting, and

court protocols that were associated with customs of the Han Chinese court. Her broad

incorporation of both Manchu and Han styles historically allowed Cixi to stand out and

provided her with the confidence and determination to maintain her own individual

freedoms within the court.

In 1851, at the age of 16, Cixi entered the imperial palace. She was given the title

of Lan Guiren 蘭貴人, making her the fifth-rank imperial consort of the Xianfeng

10 The Yehenala clan is a Bordered Blue Banner, this is in the lower tier of the eight-banner
system. In 1861, this banner would be elevated to a Bordered Yellow Banner which was typical
for the families of imperial consorts.
Xu Che 徐徹, Cixi dazhuan 慈禧大傳 (Shenyang: Liaoshen shushe, 1994), 22-34.
11 The Qing dynasty was comprised of Manchus, a minority group from Northern Asia.
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