Empress Dowager Cixi, born 1835 and given the name “Yehenara,” was the de-facto ruler of China for nearly five decades during the late Qing dynasty. She was born into a Manchu military family and orphaned at a young age. At the age of 16, Yehenara was chosen to be the concubine of the recently deceased Xianfeng Emperor, bringing her to the Forbidden City and giving her a unique opportunity to rise within the Chinese imperial court.
In 1861, Emperor Xianfeng died due to his declining health, and Yehenara, now known as Cixi (meaning ‘auspicious’), immediately took control of the court as regent for the four-year-old Tongzhi Emperor. She then effectively seized power from the eight regents appointed by Xianfeng, who had wanted to continue their control of the government until Tongzhi came of age. Cixi thus began a long career of consolidating power, which led to her becoming one of the most powerful rulers in Chinese history.
The first step Cixi took to strengthen her power base was to appoint her supporters to various influential positions in the government. She also appointed her close relatives and allies to her new Board of Regents and inner circle of advisors, which would give her more control over the proceedings. In addition to placing her own supporters throughout the court, Cixi also removed existing officials who opposed her rule and strategically divided the parts of government that she could not influence directly. This ensured that she could control lawmaking, taxation, and all other matters of state.
Cixi also worked to strengthen her grasp on power through shrewd manipulation of her family’s wealth and resources. She sought out wealthy and influential women to marry her father, brother, and other male relatives; this enabled the Yehenara clan to grow in both wealth and status. Cixi made sure to keep her family’s wealth shielded from public view, allowing her to use it as a source of strength, rather than vulnerability.
Additionally, Cixi was able to gain more control by restricting the freedoms of the country’s intellectuals and scholars. She issued a series of edicts in which she denounced works of literature and philosophy as subversive to her rule. On July 22, 1861, Cixi issued a decree that called for the execution of prominent Chinese writers and intellectuals who were deemed to be a threat to the stability of the dynasty. This effectively silenced any opposition in the scholarly community and ensured that Cixi had complete control over the country.
Cixi also used her powers to cultivate alliances with the Western powers, which played an important role in strengthening her reign. In 1862, she signed the Treaties of Tientsin which opened five ports to trade with foreign powers, a move which many conservative Chinese viewed as a sign of submission to the West. Through these treaties, foreign ministers were allowed to travel to Beijing and established a permanent foreign legation. This gave Cixi access to a new source of power in the form of diplomatic relationships with countries such as France, England, and the United States.
Finally, Cixi was able to gain absolute control over the Chinese government by skilfully exploiting the weaknesses of her enemies. By replacing her opponents with her own supporters in key positions, she managed to limit their influence and ultimately weaken them while strengthening her own power. She used her newfound authority to restructure the government and pass laws that solidified her rule.
Therefore, in conclusion, Cixi’s rise to power was a long, carefully calculated process that involved a series of strategic moves and alliances. Through her shrewd manipulation of resources and personnel, as well as her ability to exploit her enemies’ weaknesses, Cixi was able to gain and consolidate her hold on power. Her ability to maintain her position for nearly half a century is a testament to the skills she employed in order to gain her power and remain one of the most influential figures in Chinese history.