Cixi's anecdotes and allusions
Statement 1: In the early years of Guangxu, Empress Dowager Cixi just turned 4. In order to achieve the purpose of listening to politics for the second time, she used various means, but she was afraid of opposition from the DPRK and was unhappy all day long. Li Lianying, a trusted eunuch, guessed the truth, so that a Buddha was built behind the Ursa Major Hall in manjuji.
After it was completed, Li Lianying went to tell Cixi, saying, "I heard that there are often two Buddhas in manjuji Daxiong Hall, which is a sign of good luck. I want to invite the Queen Mother to visit." Empress dowager cixi was very surprised when she listened, so she started to drive out of the palace. Get out of Xizhimen, get off the high beam bridge, get on the imperial boat, and follow the long river until manjuji (now Beijing Art Museum). Cixi went to the dock, entered the mountain gate, and went straight to the Ursa Major Hall. When I entered the temple, I saw that the original III Buddha was still worshipped, and I was furious: "Obviously it is the original III Buddha, where did the double Buddha shine?" At that time, the slave cheated his master to kill his head, but Li Lianying knew it well and said quickly, "Calm down, Empress Dowager, please visit the back hall."
After Empress Dowager Cixi slowly moved to the III Buddha, she found a kind-hearted Guanyin sitting in the center of the temple, and the abbot of this temple and the civil and military ministers of Cixi were also here. At this time, Li Lianying shouted: "Lafayette is here." Others immediately knelt down and shouted, "Welcome to Lafayette!" Cixi understood half of it, but she pretended to be puzzled and asked, "Which Lafayette are you welcoming?" Li Lianying, they replied: "It is to meet the Queen Mother, you Lafayette!" "You are the avalokitesvara bodhisattva who helps the poor today!" "Now that the emperor is driving first, the new emperor is still young, and the country can't be ownerless for a day. The subjects please take care of the affairs of state affairs, and you can save the common people in from the mire!" The words made Cixi feel elated. Since then, the name Galeries Lafayette has spread from manjuji to Beijing, and the whole country has called Cixi "the Empress Dowager Galeries". Cixi also listened to politics with a clear conscience.
It is said that this Guanyin was shaped in the image of Cixi in Li Lianying. Later, Cixi came to manjuji to burn incense and pray for longevity. Because she appreciated this Guanyin very much, she also put on the Guanyin clothes prepared for her by the abbot of the temple. Li Lianying pretended to be the protector Wei Tuo, with his hands folded across his wrists. They also took a picture in front of this Buddha statue, which was once seen.
statement 2: in the history of China, besides the names of temples, posthumous title and honorifics, some emperors also had special names. For example, the special title of the emperor in Song Dynasty is called "official", the special title of the emperor in Ming Dynasty is called "master", and the special title of the emperor in Qing Dynasty is called "Galeries Lafayette". In some historical novels, movies and operas, Empress Dowager Cixi is called "Lafayette". In fact, the title of "Lafayette" is not exclusive to Cixi, and the special names of emperors in the Qing Dynasty are all called "Lafayette". The reason why the Qing emperors used the name "Lafayette" was because the ancestor of Manchu, the leader of the Jurchen nationality, was first called "Manzhu". "Full column" is the transliteration of the Buddhist name "Manshu", which means "Buddha" and "auspicious". Later, some prominent families and hereditary leaders were named "Manzhu". After the founding of the People's Republic of China, Manchu translated "Manzhu" into "Buddha" and took it as the special name of the emperor. It is generally believed that Cixi is a Manchu with a blue flag, and the jade book clearly records that she is "the daughter of Yehenala's Huizheng". According to Ye Henala Genzheng's oral records, Cixi was born in Xicipai Hutong, Beijing, and is now Bicai Hutong.
However, some scholars have also put forward different views, thinking that Empress Dowager Cixi is probably a Han nationality.
In June, 1989, Zhao Fawang, a 77-year-old villager from Xiaqin Village, a suburb of Changzhi City (formerly Changzhi County), found the Changzhi Local Records Office with a joint letter from him and Song Shuanghua, Song Liuze, Song Dewen and Song Dewu from Shangqin Village. Zhao Fawang said that Cixi was from Shangqin Village. He is the fifth generation nephew of Empress Dowager Cixi, and Song Shuanghua, Song Liuze and others are the fifth generation nephews of Empress Dowager Cixi. They asked the government to help clarify their feelings. Since then, Liu Qi has embarked on the research road of Cixi's childhood. With the continuous enrichment of supporting materials, Liu Qi's confidence has been enhanced, and relevant writings have also been reported in newspapers. In April, 212, Liu Qi's "Uncovering the Mystery of Cixi's Childhood" won the first prize at the "Fifty Years Seminar on Socialist Literature and Art in the Republic of China" hosted by the Chinese Academy of Art of the Ministry of Culture. This 7-word paper focuses on the life experience of Cixi.
according to Liu qi's research, in 1835, cixi was born into a poor Han peasant family in xipo village, Changzhi county, Shanxi province, and was named "Wang Xiaoying". At the age of 4, she was sold to Song Siyuan, a female in Shangqin Village of this county, and changed her name to "Song Linge". At the age of 12, she was sold to Hui Zheng, the magistrate of Lu 'an Prefecture, and changed her name to "Yulan" (Laner), and was carefully cultivated in the special study of Yaxi Garden. In the second year of Xianfeng (1852), as the daughter of Yehenala Huizheng, she should be elected to the palace and rise to the top until the empress dowager. When Cixi's mother celebrated her seventieth birthday, she didn't have time to celebrate her mother's birthday, so she asked the courtiers to send her a lot of things, including a calligraphy written by her own hand. This calligraphy has been preserved for several generations and was finally destroyed in the Cultural Revolution.
The poem says, "Parents are the truest in the world, and tears and blood melt into their children's bodies. Exhausting one's heart and soul will eventually become a child, poor inherit the wind! " In the Qing Dynasty, there were countless gold and silver jewelry of Empress Dowager Cixi. There were such a pair of "emerald watermelons", which were the palm treasures of Empress Dowager Cixi. According to legend, after the death of Cixi, two "emerald watermelons" were buried in Cixi's tomb. In 1928, after Sun Dianying robbed Dongling, the two "watermelons" disappeared.
Empress Dowager Cixi purchased American tourmaline mostly through the world-famous Tiffany Company, and most of the tourmaline gems were appraised by the gemologist J·L· Tanrumbom of Tiffany Company. The unique two-color combination of emerald watermelon was almost only available in tourmaline mine in San Diego at that time. So there is no doubt that the emerald watermelon of Empress Dowager Cixi came from San Diego, USA. Located in the Great Mesa Plain, California, USA, ibarra Yabi Tourmaline Mine became famous in the world in the late 19th century. From the end of 19th century to the beginning of 2th century, most of tourmalines mined by ibarra Ya Mine were exported to China for the court of Empress Dowager Cixi. With the overthrow of the Manchu dynasty in the Revolution of 1911, the luxurious life of the dynasty came to an end. As a result, the tourmaline products of ibarra Ya Mine were unsalable because of the collapse of the China market, and the mine was forced to close. It was not until December 212 that the mine was redeveloped. 194 was the 7th birthday of Empress Dowager Cixi. Many officials tried their best to present gifts, among which one cabinet phonograph won the appreciation of Empress Dowager Cixi, that is, the world's earliest cabinet phonograph (sample machine) produced by Victor Company of the United States.
Empress Dowager Cixi enjoyed all her life, leading a fashionable life. In the face of developed western industries, she never missed a drop and took the lead. Photographs, electric lights, foreign cars and cabinet phonograph are all available. The world's earliest cabinet phonograph is placed in her bedroom, and melodies are often heard. The contents of the records include China's ditties and foreign waltzes.
In 194, Victor designed and trial-produced a few samples of cabinet machines, and this cabinet phonograph was fortunate to be a gift of Empress Dowager Cixi for her 7th birthday in 194.
from 193 to the beginning of 198, Liang Cheng was an envoy of the Great Qing Dynasty to the United States, Peru, Cuba and other countries, and traveled to many countries for the sake of the Great Qing Dynasty. Liang Cheng, a native of Guangzhou, was educated by western culture in his early years and deeply influenced by western culture. He likes phonographs very much. During my stay in the United States, I did a lot of great things that were beneficial to my country.
In p>194, Victor introduced the first batch of samples of cabinet phonographs. Because they were not commercial machines, only some senior government officials in the United States had the opportunity to use such high-grade phonographs. In that year, American officials gave this phonograph to Liang Cheng, and Liang Cheng gave this phonograph to Lafayette Empress Dowager Cixi as a gift for her 7th birthday.
Queen Elizabeth once said, "Cixi is much better than me. I am just a person who is neither great nor small." In 194, Empress Dowager Cixi, who once regarded foreigners as beasts, fell in love with western circus, Waltz and photography. During this time, ladies-in-waiting often heard that there was melodious waltz coming from Cixi's bedroom, which was the sound made by her huge foreign phonograph. On one occasion, Empress Dowager Cixi specially asked two princesses, De Ling and Rong Ling, to dance Waltz at lunch. She squinted and watched intently. When they finished dancing, Cixi said happily that it was a beautiful dance. Don't you feel dizzy when you keep spinning in circles like this?
According to Memoirs of Princess De Ling, Empress Dowager Cixi said to us, "Dance while I eat!" We turned over the whole score before we found a waltz, which was suitable for us, while most of the others were China ditties. After the contents of the Sino-Russian Secret Treaty were made public, public opinion at home and abroad was in an uproar. The people all over the country were furious and denounced the Qing government's traitorous behavior, which further promoted the in-depth development of the revolutionary movement nationwide, while the Qing government was in a very embarrassing predicament. Under the pressure of strong public opinion at home and abroad, the Qing government had to give up the plan to sign the Sino-Russian Secret Treaty.
Empress Dowager Cixi, who became angry from embarrassment, cruelly ordered the journalist Shen Zhou to be "beheaded". Later, fearing that the execution would affect the "celebration" of Empress Dowager Cixi's birthday, Empress Dowager Cixi issued an imperial decree: "Hitachi will shoot the staff if you start."
on July 31, 193 (the eighth day of the sixth lunar month), eight jailers in the lobby of the punishments department prepared to execute them with special wooden sticks. Facing the jailer, Shen Zhou said loudly, "Hurry up!" As a result, eight jailers beat Shen Zhou's limbs and back in turn for four hours. Shen Zhou was beaten to pieces, and his bones were like powder, which was terrible, but Shen Zhou didn't make a sound from beginning to end. At this time, Tang Si thought that Shen Zhou was dead and ordered to stop beating. Don't want to at this moment, Shen Zhou said in a weak voice, "Hurry ... Twist with a rope ..." Seeing that Shen Zhou was not dead, the Tang Si ordered that he "strangle his neck with a rope before he breathed his last".
So Shen Zhou became the first journalist who died in the line of duty in the history of China. Readers who have seen the movie "Listening to the Politics from the Curtain" must be deeply impressed by the plot of Cixi's cruel persecution of another concubine of Xianfeng Emperor in the movie. In the film, Cixi and Li Fei are rivals in love.
Li Fei is charming, good at singing and dancing, and deeply loved by Xianfeng. She doesn't care about Cixi at all. Cixi, who wanted to be pampered and tried her best to climb up, was jealous of her. After the death of Emperor Xianfeng, Cixi successfully launched a Xin You coup, and became the actual ruler of the Qing Dynasty. After rooting out her political opponents and eliminating hostile forces, she went back to punish Li Fei, who had competed with her in the past. Cixi followed Lv Hou's method of persecuting Lady Qi in the Han Dynasty, and cut off all the hands and feet of Li Fei and put them in a jar, which was extremely insulting to her. This plot is eerie in the film, and it tries its best to portray Cixi as a vicious woman who is mean, ungrateful and vengeful. So, is there really such a person as Li Fei in history, and is her relationship with Cixi really as described in the film? Did Cixi really persecute her in that cruel way?
According to historical records and archives of the Qing Dynasty, Li Fei is the daughter of Qing Hai, the master, and she is Tatara. Born on February 27, 1837, Daoguang was 6 years younger than Emperor Xianfeng, 2 years younger than Cixi and the same age as Ci 'an. In the first year of Xianfeng (1851), Li Fei and Cixi were both selected. Li Fei was made a noble lady, and
Cixi was made a noble lady. In the second year of Xianfeng (1852), they entered the palace at the same time. In the fourth year of Xianfeng (1854), Li Fei was named Li Ai and Cixi was named Yi Ai. On the seventh day of May in the fifth year of Xianfeng (1855), Li Fei gave birth to the eldest daughter of Emperor Xianfeng, and was promoted to Li Fei three days later. On March 23rd, the sixth year of Xianfeng (1856), Cixi gave birth to Zai Chun, the eldest son of Emperor Tongzhi, and was promoted to Yifei on the same day. Less than three months after the death of Emperor Xianfeng, Cixi, in the name of Tongzhi Emperor, honored her as the imperial concubine of the Li Dynasty with the title of "Li Fei served the imperial examination for many years and gave birth to big princess", surpassing the imperial concubine level and rising two levels at a time. In November, 13th year of Tongzhi (1874), Cixi made an imperial decree, honoring Li Huanggui as Li Huanggui Taifei, ranking second only to the Empress Dowager.
For many years, Li Fei was sickly and often took medicine. She died on November 15th, 16th year of Guangxu (189) at the age of 54. On the third day after her death, Emperor Guangxu personally went to the golden coffin to drink a libation and salute. Her golden coffin is temporarily at Tamura Funeral Palace. On April 18th, 19th year of Guangxu reign (1893), Li Fei's golden coffin was buried in Dingling Princess Garden of Qing Dongling. There are 15 treasure roofs in the backyard of this imperial concubine's garden, which are divided into three rows. Li Fei's treasure top is located in the middle of the first row, in the most distinguished position of this garden.
Li Fei's daughter was the only daughter of Emperor Xianfeng, so she was loved by Emperor Xianfeng and other concubines. She was named Princess Rong 'an Gulun in 187 after nine years of Tongzhi. Qing Dynasty system: Only the daughters of the Empress can be named Princess Gulun, and the concubines can only be named Princess Heshuo. According to this regulation, the daughter born to Li Fei should be named Princess Heshuo, but Cixi made an exception and named her Princess Rong 'an Gulun.
The above historical facts show that Li Fei was not persecuted by Cixi, but received special care and a series of courtesy from Cixi, indicating that the relationship between Li Fei and Cixi was very harmonious. From this point of view, Cixi, who is often overbearing and cruel, also has a warm and compassionate side. It may also be because Li Fei herself is docile and obedient, and after Cixi firmly grasped the power of the country and the harem, Li Fei did not pose any threat to her, so she was treated with such courtesy. And once someone dares to disobey her will and challenge her authority, Cixi reveals another face. This is evident from her attitude towards her daughter-in-law.