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Please read the short excerpts from Jung Chang's 2013 book Empress Dowager Cixi (for Tuesday) and chapters 1-5 (20 pages) of Princess Der Ling's 1911 book Two Years in the Forbidden City (for Thursday). What was your impression of Cixi after reading the two short chapters titled "Making Friends with Westerners" and "Cixi's Revolution"? How's Princess Der Ling's account support or contradict Chang's portrayal of Cixi? Use brief quotations with page numbers to support your observation in the first paragraph of your response.
Do some research on Cixi, Princess Der Ling, Jung Chang and the controversy surrounding her books on China. Write a reflective paragraph focusing on how reading these two excerpts written by two women who lived almost 100 years apart complicate your understanding of gender politics in China from the early twentieth century to the contemporary moment.
Your two-paragraph response will be due as a comment to this post on Wednesday Jan. 29 by 8 pm. Your short "reply" to two other responses will be due the same day by 10 pm. I look forward to reading your responses!
Upon reading both the Jung Chang excerpt and Princess Der Ling's account of her time serving Empress Cixi, I felt that there were some very interesting similarities in the writings of both women, particularly with regard to their differences in relation to some of the other writings that we are often exposed to about the Empress, but there were also some key differences. Jung Chang's writing highlights the comments of Mrs. Conger (who was gifted numerous items by the Empress: a jade baby, a Pekinese with basket and harness, jade ornaments for her granddaughter - all of these referenced on page 314 of the Jung Chang excerpt) and also those of Katherine Carl, the painter who spent nearly a year with Cixi (Chang, 318). The latter is said to have "come to really love [Cixi]" and that "The feeling was mutual" (Chang, 321). And yet, the Der Ling narrative reveals (or tells us) that Cixi actively kept tabs on Mrs. Carl and didn't want her to exercise much freedom at all while going about the task of completing Cixi's portrait. Although there isn't a lot of nuance to the commentary here, I thought it was interesting that two women wrote so positively of her and yet had the diversity of perspective that may very well be a direct result of their place in the hierarchy of China's court life. All are women, yet all are clearly not equal, including Jung Chang. As an author writing a century after the fact, her perspective is divorced from the "truth," if you will, by time - not by her position in court.
ReplyDeleteI thought this week's readings were particularly fascinating in light of the contrast to last week's, which were all about women in the world of men. These readings are about women in the world of women, and each woman has a measure of her own power. Cixi, as the Empress, rules over China and we see highlighted some of the changes she made while in power. Der Ling, multi-lingual and a world traveler, has a place in court that makes her deeply envied by the other court ladies. The foreign women interject themselves into this sacred, walled-off world of Cixi's court and become intimates of hers to some degree, which cannot be said of their husbands and other male officials. Of course, each of these women also finds herself powerless in some respects (Cixi can't even allow simple things without the input of the officialdom, Der Ling cannot approach Cixi about reform issues, the foreign women are shut out of the true inner workings of the court by Cixi's careful planning to keep them ignorant of certain of its aspects), but I thought it was curious how these pieces did create that contrast between powerful women in the world of men and women "ruling on their own" so to speak.
That's a great way to describe the contrast of these readings with others, "women in the world of women". Looking at Cixi's reign as well as Empress Wu, it is interesting to note, too, the similarities of a court ruled by the woman as opposed to the generations of courts ruled by men.
DeleteI liked the point you described “these woman finds herself powerless in some respects”. Cixi as a powerful woman ruled the Qing Dynasty that traditionally despised women but finally as a politically-powerless empress drove the country into ruin.
DeleteI really liked the point about all of the women being powerless in the end. Even as an Empress, Cixi was not able to rule on her own as a man would. I can understand how the others were powerless because of their rank in court. The foreign women had no place in the royal court to comment on the inner workings. Der Ling could not speak out against Empress Cixi, even if she wanted to.
DeleteFrom beginning to end of our reading of Jung Chang Cixi is painted as politically and socially progressive. By the accounts of Sarah Conager, Princess Der Ling, and others Cixi is always mentioned with focus on her extreme fondness of people (or at least interactions with people). Jung Chang's historical sources from the letters and diaries of foreigners (especially women) in China show us that Cixi must have formed legitimate friendships with foreigners, that she cared for those dear to her. Two examples are Conager and Carl, the former to whom Cixi impulsively gave a somewhat politically valuable jade necklace. To Carl she gives her favorite dog and to Der Ling she apologizes for the old custom of having others stand while the Dowager eats. There is no mistake, either, that these relationships counter-acted at least some of the negative imagery circulating at that time. Jung Chang's mistake, however, may be in her using Cixi's genuine relationships with these foreign (or otherwise) women to assume an altogether motive of progression towards China's modernity. Jung Chang interprets Cixi's kind actions toward these close friends to be acts of political and cultural revolution towards modernity, all a part of her "goodwill offensive" (pg 4).
ReplyDeleteThe stories told in Jung Chang and Der Ling's accounts are very intriguing. They offer us frequent, personal experiences with Cixi and complicate most other historical accounts and political observations. To read Cixi's political and social intentions is telling of her desire to realize strong relationships with the "Western" powers. For example she says in chapter four of Der Ling's account, "I am sure the foreigners must think we are barbarians to treat our Court ladies in this way and I don't wish them to know anything about our customs. You will see how differently I act in their presence, so that they cannot see my true self." It is helpful to read these social friuts of Cixi's life, but we should not ignore (as critics of Jung Chang say she may have at times) her political fruits; and we should not assume her personal motives in any complete sense whether positively or negatively.
I liked that you pointed out the "goodwill offensive" and the tact that Jung Chang's narrative takes with respect to it. It's interesting because we do have other perspectives of what these actions might be - Der Ling's, for example, advocating a sometimes innocent, but nearly always good-hearted Dowager Empress. It's hard to get a grip on her character, even though we have so many firsthand accounts of different incidents in her life.
DeleteCixi realized her country had to change and had no objection to learning from foreigners. I'm glad you pointed out “Jung Chang using Cixi's genuine relationship with these foreign women to assume an altogether motive of progression towards china's modernity” that maybe a mistake; I totally agree with you. It sounds like Cixi is the person who used those women single-handedly dragged China into modernity. I think Cixi just knew little of the outside world through those foreign women.
DeleteI like that you make the point that these stories offer great experiences and insight but also complicate historical and political accounts. You also mention that we should not assumer whether her actions are positive or negative. We can learn many things from these readings about Cixi, but we can't read to far into them as it does complicate the truth more.
DeleteI also liked your comment about confusing Cixi's genuine relationships with an attitude of progression towards modernity. Jung Chang takes these relationships as evidence that Cixi was pro-reform when that conclusion can't necessarily be made. I think the only assumption we can make about Cixi is that she wished to maintain her position as the Empress Dowager. In order to do that, she modernized and (genuinely) made friends with Westerners. Jung Chang ignores this possible, alternative interpretation of Cixi.
DeleteThe primary thing I have noticed out of these readings is the fondness Empress Cixi expresses towards virtually everyone she comes into contact with. It reaches a point that she acts with such a kindness that she seems insincere; that her kindness was executed in such a way to bribe the trust of foreigners and receive a better judgement in the hands of the powers. Jung Chang's writing primarily focuses on the impact of Conger (the friend of Cixi) and Carl (the painter) and how they prove examples of Cixi's loyalty/sweet nature. Der Ling's account seems, as I interpret it, to support Chang's writing about Cixi: that she was kind on a level that was abnormal for cultural standards at the time.
ReplyDeleteOverall, these readings were a bit too heavy for me, but interesting none the less. I was a bit confused on the relation between the two accounts until I read other responses here on the blog. I found it interesting that Chang's account gave little to no hint into Cixi's life in the context of a male-female segregated China but rather focused on the women, almost as though there were no struggle for equality. I find it remarkable how Cixi's subtle, patient way of bringing about change proved to be a very effective one -- how she used no force but, as mentioned in the first paragraph, a heavy kindness that almost comes off as bribery. Like brainwashing, per say, to slowly but surely put in place new revolutions (such as women's education, lifting ban of han-manchu intermarriage, banning of the practice of foot binding, etc).
I tended to read the "lack of struggle" for equality that you pointed out as perhaps a symptom of the female-dominated spaces in which our readings situate themselves, rather than any kind of commentary on the China of the time. However, it's interesting that we do hear about some of Cixi's progressive actions, which would have had their far-reaching consequences amongst the general public (abolishing foot-binding, for example, as you said, among the other examples given).
DeleteI think her power comes from being a kind of overwhelming presence. Be it the overwhelmingly aggressive person we see in other accounts or the overwhelmingly kind person we see in these women's writings.
she was very abnormal, cuz during that period of time, females in China were not considered as good as males. And Cixi made a different.
DeleteI like your opinion that "her kindness was executed in such a way to bribe the trust of foreigners and receive a better judgement in the hands of the powers". Even she seems very friendly to the foreigners, she has her own purpose that maintaining her power. In anyway, she is an amazing and open woman in Chinese history.
DeleteIt is true that some people might've thought it surreal that she was too nice which gives of a bad vibe, But, I do believe that as a whole she did complete her goal, in bringing western women into the Chinese culture, so they can have a glimpse of how it is and not make presumptions about how the Chinese culture is, because many cultures had a negative aspect on China, but Cixi layed them to rest. So while it might've been alittle off she accomplished her goal.
Deletealso I failed to leave any specific quotes from the text in this. I apologize for that.
DeleteI think you make a good point about kindness being unexpected, but I have to disagree about the Der Ling account supporting the Jung Chang biography. Der Ling says that things were hidden from the foreigners, so they would not see the truth. That really undercuts the affection granted to
DeleteCixi by foreign women.
In Jung Chung’s two chapters, there was a pattern of hiding any flaws in Cixi’s character or to paint her faults in a manner that absolved her of any guilt. In one instance, Cixi is described as chastising Wu for not kneeling in her presence. He immediately kowtows on the ground and only raises his head to speak. However, instead of describing this as one of Cixi’s flaws, she instead says that “kneeling was the manifestation and reinforcement of that sacredness, without which – without all those bent knees – the throne, and even the empire, might falter” (pg. 337). In this sense, you could hardly blame Cixi for demanding respect when the life of the dynasty is on the line.
ReplyDeleteIn another example, the author tells of Cixi’s attempts to reform and the backlash from the public that resulted. Specifically, Zou Rong, the author of an article vehemently criticizing Cixi, is sentenced to jail where he later dies. However, this story is told in a manner that causes the reader to sympathize with Cixi and not the imprisoned man. Cixi is simply an honest woman trying to enact reform, but is instead faced with criticism. The author later attributes “an explosion of Chinese-language newspapers and journals” (pg. 329) to Cixi for the laws she implements in reaction to Zou Rong that actually regulate what is legal to say or write (“regulate the press with laws and regulations”, pg 329). These two stories prevent me from taking the entire book, let alone these two chapters, seriously. Due to the author’s unwillingness to paint an accurate image of Cixi as a woman with both successes and flaws, she damages the academic dialogue surrounding Cixi as a whole.
It is interesting to me that you conclude with the point that these depictions of Cixi are so one sided that they can't be taken too seriously. I would have to agree that it is hard to form an intelligent opinion due to the lack of negative depictions of Cixi being written about in these excerpts. The relationships formed between foreigners and Cixi seemed to be real. However it's true that one cannot base an opinion, of the numerous years she was in rule, solely off of her relationship with those from other countries.
DeleteLike we've mentioned in class, Jung Chang has certainly contributed to our understanding of Cixi as a whole person rather than, simply, as political manipulator. These diaries we see her more personally, but Jung Chang has failed in that she completely left out her political misgiving (at least in what we read).
DeleteI strongly agree with you about being unable to take the book on a serious level. To take the immense power differences inherent in all the relationships Cixi had with others and obscure it is deplorable, or negligible.
DeleteFrom the article we can see Empress Dowager Cixi was clever to be friends with many foreigners. She tried to build good relation with foreigners and encourage other Chinese women to make friends with Westerners. Sarah Conger was invited to watch the royal procession. Cixi took Conger’s hand and said China will hereafter be a friend to foreigners and will protect the foreigner. The gold rings set with an elegant pearl, Pekinese and jade ornaments as presents were given to Conger. (Jung Chang excerpt, 312-314）. Conger found in Cixi willingness and interest in furthering education for Chinese girls. Cixi encouraged girls to have education and sent students to study abroad. Katharine Carl was recommended to the court where she spent ten months with Cixi to paint her portrait. Through her, Cixi was allowing the outside world into the mysterious Chinese court. Princess Der Ling was the first lady-in-waiting, who served Empress Dowager Cixi from 1903 to 1905. Der Ling really was a member of the Manchu nobility who had studied with Isadora in Paris between 1899 and 1903. Der Ling wrote seven books about her life as a westernized Chinese woman in China and shared her personal history, particularly as life within the Forbidden City.
ReplyDelete“Her Majesty said to my mother that she liked us (De Ling and Rong Ling) very much and wanted us to come and be her Court ladies and stay at the Palace.” (Princess De Ling, Two years in the Forbidden City) Der Ling was an intelligent, could sing, play the piano, speak different languages and charming woman. Cixi needed someone like Der Ling to function as a conduit between her and the foreigner guests she invited to the palace, in an attempt to re-establish diplomatic relations with the outside world after the Boxer Rebellion. Cixi is the woman who really ruled over China for around half a century. She had sharp political sense and implemented decisively. Cixi in De Ling’s writings as a kind and misunderstood woman who had many regrets about the past, not the monster of depravity depicted. Katherine Carl describes the Empress Dowager Cixi as a kind and considerate woman for her station. Cixi had great presence, charm, and graceful movements resulting in "an unusually attractive personality. Cixi gained positive comments from both of them.
i have the same opinion as you did. I think it was a great decision that she had made to make friends with foreigners.
DeleteI think it fascinating that the women from different backgrounds can come together and gather around for a cause. Throughout history it has been difficult from men from different nations to come together to discuss intricate topics without it becoming hostile. The women in the Forbidden City discussed a variety of topics without creating any hostility between one another.
Deletewhat impressed me after reading these two articles is that as a female, Cixi really did a great job in such a important position in China at that time.
ReplyDeletewomen were considered lower than men in a lot of ways in old China, people did not think that women would make any changes to our country, they ought to serve men. However, Cixi had made a lot of changes to China, she made a lot of changes because she thought those rules of priciples are too old, such as she lifted the ban on Han-Manchu Intermarrige. Also, she was more open than other traditional Chinese at that time, she emcourage people to make friends with westerners, in order to bring CHina to a higher level, I think this dicisiion is very brilliant.Katharine Carl, who was a friend of Cixi said that she had come to really love Cixi after staying with Cixi for a year, this shows that Cixi has a great reputation.
Also, I think Cixi couldve done such a great job, not just because she has an open mind, but also because of her tolerance. This is a characteristc that most women do not have, but Cixi has it, for example, in the article Cixi's Revolution(p333), it says that when Xunling went to take a picture of Cixi, he had to do it on his knee, because kneel shows respect to the king, however, he coundnt operate the camera while he was on his kness, so Cixi excepted him from kneeling when taking the photo, this is a small move, however, it shows the tolerance, because in old China, there are a lot of rules that people have to follow, those are rules between kids and parents, friends, or between ministers and the king, kneel is one of the important one, and Cixi excepted Xunling from kneeling shows the tolerance of her.
I really like how you said that Cixi could have done a good job because of her open mind and tolerance. Pointing out that her tolerance to change in a way (by allowing the photographer to stand) does show that she was open to new ways. I agree that she seemed to do a lot of good for China and that her relationships with foreigners proved to be rather real.
DeleteI agree with your opinion about Cixi, after read these two novels, I think Cixi is great woman but she born at the wrong time. If she lived in the modern era, maybe she could do a lot of great things.
DeleteThe first excerpt that I read on Cixi (without any previous knowledge) was by Jung Chang. Her portrayal on the Empress really painted nothing but positive images in my mind. Basing my opinion solely off Jung Chang's piece, I would conclude that Cixi did a mass amount of good for China for numerous years. But as I read the short article, "Cixi: The Woman Behind the Throne," I began to question my initial opinion. This piece was rather eye-opening as I read the claims of Cixi being thought of as "a veritable wicked witch of the east." The Empress, after all, may not be the lovely women that she made herself seem to be while being in the present of foreigners. Regardless of whether Cixi was ultimately a good or bad human being, she proved to be intelligent in depicting herself in a positive way to those outside of China. She showered her foreign guests with gifts without asking for anything in return. Along with that, she had such a positive attitude about the future relationships between China and other countries. Even though she may be a deceiving woman, in the end she is the master of doing so. On top of that, her choice of foreigners to deceive was an intelligent move and it seemed to work.
ReplyDeleteAs I moved on to reading “Two Years In The Forbidden City,” the depiction of Cixi in a positive light was again present. The Empress was not shy with presenting Lord and Lady Yu Keng as well as their family with lavish gifts. She opened her home and formed what appeared to be genuine relationships with the women. Der Ling perfectly explained how I felt as well within Chapter Four where she stated, “I had been told that Her Majesty had a very fierce temper, but seeing her so kind and gracious to us and talking to us in such a motherly way, I thought my informant must be wrong and that she was the sweetest woman in the world.” Cixi had been rumored to be a cruel woman, but from what I have read about her through people’s first hand experiences, she was quite the opposite. I am left having to think that she was genuine with the foreigners that she formed close relationships with. Chang and Der Ling seemed to agree that Cixi was nothing but a good woman regardless of the negative things they may have heard about her. Although I believe there may be some truth behind her being a stern woman, I also believe she wasn’t deceiving the ones within these excerpts. In my opinion, she wasn’t portraying a fake identity to the woman from other countries, but I can understand why it might seem that way to the people of China. If the history is true and Cixi did malicious things in the past, then having a negative opinion of her is understandable.
"Regardless of whether Cixi was ultimately a good or bad human being, she proved to be intelligent..." I really liked this comment. It is true that historians disagree about whether she was a good or bad person, but she definitely was intelligent and clever. She managed to keep the Qing Dynasty alive for a few more years despite foreign powers closing in around China and that alone is reason to remember her an impressive figure in China's history. Although I'm not sure if I agree with Jung Chang's claim that she is "the greatest woman in Chinese history".
DeleteI read the same thing that Cixi was a rumored to be a cruel women as well. I feel the same way as you do after reading these two pieces that she seemed to be a genuine, welcoming person.
DeleteMy first impression while reading excerpts from Jung Chang's biography was incredulity. I've never studied Cixi before, and was unaware of the amount of hatred directed towards her personage, but even I could tell there was much being held back in the reading. One passage in particular struck me as absurd. "Cixi showed no ill feelings towards Lady Townsley, partly, of course because she was a representative of Britain. But perhaps the empress dowager also discerned something more sympathetic in Townsley." (Chang 313) This was in reference to a woman who basically compelled the empress dowager to give her things by dint of her countries power, and tried to steal other things when refused. If this is how the writer approaches a figure like that, then what can she be doing to Cixi herself? In Der Ling's portrayal, we get a much less white-washed account of Cixi."I am sure the foreigners must think we are barbarians to treat our Court ladies in this way and I don't wish them to know anything about our customs. You will see how differently I act in their presence, so that they cannot see my true self." (Chapter 4) She admits that she acts much differently towards foreigners, which undermines the entire premise from which the excerpts we read were based upon, that of her good relationships with foreign women.
ReplyDeleteWhat this reveals is that there are many sides to any story, and it can be hard to determine which are valid, or relevant. The empress dowager, who lived such an influential life, may not fit to our standards of behavior, but can one denigrate her because of it? At the same time, to obscure those sticky details is tantamount to lying. Looking back at figures removed from our own time always creates problems in interpretation. What cannot be denied however, is that every woman we have read about in this week had a much greater degree of freedom and education than the poets we read before.
You say, "What this reveals is that there are many sides to any story.." I think this is very key in these readings and maybe all readings from history. It is very hard to determine if Cixi was loved or hated. You want to like her, especially after reading these stories, because she treats her guests well and it seems like she did so much for her people, but how do you know? But as you mention that she says she treats foreigners different can be a key in determining the truth.
DeleteYou make a very valid point when you use the quote "I am sure the foreigners must think we are barbarians to treat our Court ladies in this way and I don't wish them to know anything about our customs. You will see how differently I act in their presence, so that they cannot see my true self." This does show that she acts differently towards foreigners.
DeleteLooking back on that quote, I am seeing another perspective on it. Since it refers specifically to court ladies, it could be read as Cixi demonstrating awareness of the repression of women in China as compared with foreign powers.
DeleteThe first reading we completed, was very interesting as it talked very highly of Her Majesty. It seems that Cixi broke tradition and began socializing with women and partaking in conversing with foreigners. From her actions expressed in the reading, she seems very well liked by the foreigners and tries to make people happy. Cixi also was known for giving many gifts to her guests including a dog which was very fascinating. The relationship Cixi formed with the painter was also interesting as it was described that there was a"...casual intimacy between them..." The second reading of Princess Der Liang also seemed to speak highly of Her majesty. They way that she was treated when entering the palace was very impressive and seemed like they were being treated special. The lotus flower seemed to be a symbol in this story as well, but with little background, I am not sure the specifics.
ReplyDeleteI have little background or knowledge with Cixi or the culture, but I was very surprised about the results of this reading. I started the reading by feeling like Cixi was a very powerful but wonderful woman. She gave gifts and it seemed that she was changing or working on changing a lot like women segregation, binding of feet, education, and laws to match western style. The second reading of Princess Der Liang came across the same way as gifts were given and they were treated so well. Then reading the article about Cixi, it seems that many did not like her - non-foreigners. The stories almost seem one sided compared to the article as the readings spoke of great things and how nice Cixi was and there is no mention of the hatred people have towards her. The readings mentioned that she moved slow in changing things like laws and education so you wonder how much of it actually happened and maybe that is why to non-foreigners she was hated, but to foreigners she was great as they did not see this side. After completing all the readings it is hard to know what the true side of Cixi is.
I like that you mention all of the good things she accomplished as Empress Dowager such as working to eliminate foot binding and embracing education for women. She no doubt had a very big impact on the treatment and view of women and laid the foundation for further improvements. However, I think not only did she use her power to make change but she also abused it causing many Chinese people to not like her.
DeleteMy initial reaction to the first reading about CIxi was awe inspiring and gave me a completely new view of the "tyrant" of a woman that I have always heard such negative things about. I read it with my old mindset of this horrible ruler and found page after page that nothing bad was happening or was going to happen. Similarly to Der Ling's perspective, she said that, "I had been told that Her Majesty had a very fierce temper but seeing her so kind and gracious to us and talking to us in such a motherly way I thought my informant must be wrong and that she was the sweetest woman in the world" (Der Ling, chapter 4). Through both readings I found that she was a very gift giving, kind ruler, who pampered and even bribed well known imperial men's wives.
ReplyDeleteDer Ling's book was very similar, yet with more of her take rather than what she had read or heard from someone else's point of view. This made these 5 chapters very real like and easy to follow. She painted very clear pictures of the scenery of the palace and the other different places she went. Her portrayal of Cixi wasn't too different in my opinion than the first reading and I saw Der Ling's book even more descriptive than the first book and more intriguing. However she somewhat hinted to a flip side of Cixi in the way Cixi "had made a rule or custom that after all guests had departed, we must go to her and report everything. I suppose she was like all women, a bit of gossip as well as the rest; it appeared so at any rate" (Der Ling, Chapter 5). This request of Cixi's I found quite interesting in asking, what was her motive in asking for these reports? Could she have had an ulterior motive if she heard negative things in these reports?
I had a similar experience with these two readings, I thought maybe it wasn't the same woman that I had learned about previously in other classes. From the quote you put from Der Ling's piece, I noticed the part about Cixi's "fierce temper", there was some small evidence in both readings that I noticed. One girl in class commented on it in class Tuesday. "the Empress said something in a small savage voice, whereat he turned quite gray, and got down on all fours, his forehead touching the ground." (pg. 337) Then another time in the second reading: "I concluded that someone must be fooling her, for she seemed to appreciate the fact that I had told her the truth. This afterwards proved to be true and one of the Court ladies was dismissed for pretending she could talk foreign languages when she could not speak a word." (ch. 4) I wondered what could of happened to that woman that lied to the Empress Dowager.
DeleteI like your initial reaction comment because I felt the exact same way. Do you think that Cixi would be as influential and important to Chinese culture if she had not done the things that labeled her as a "tyrant"? More importantly do you think if the exact same things were done by a male that they would have stood out as much?
DeleteI had a very similar reaction to the readings since I also have background knowledge of Cixi in other class contexts. Although these reading started to convince me that maybe she really was kind and thoughtful I think her actions were ultimately an attempt to gain more power and create a better reputation of herself.
DeleteAfter reading these two excerpts about Cixi I began questioning what I had learned about her in previous classes. I Chinese history classes Cixi is introduced as a very powerful women who took advantage of her position and was very ruthless when it came to getting what she wanted. In some cases it was said that she even went as far as killing other people in power in order to further her reign and get rid of the opposition. These two excerpts, however, show Cixi in a much different light. She was portrayed as very welcoming and generous toward foreigners. She met with foreign women and became friends with a few of them such as Sarah Conger as seen in the excerpts from “Empress Dowager Cixi.” The account by Princess Der Ling presents Cixi in the same way, except this account is how she interacted with Chinese women, although the stature of Der Ling’s father must be taken into account when analyzing her account. Cixi invites Der Ling to accompany her to events such as a play and shows sincerity towards her when she enquires about Der Ling’s experience abroad. For instance Cixi enquires, “Are you hungry? Could you get Chinese food when you were abroad, and were you homesick?” (Chapter 3).
ReplyDeleteAlthough these two readings portray Empress Dowager Cixi as a very generous, thoughtful, and caring woman, the only two attributes that can be widely agreed upon by scholars is that she was very intelligent and powerful. These two characteristics can be seen in these readings as underlying reasons for her thoughtful actions. From my previous knowledge of Empress Dowager Cixi I believe that her kindness and generosity toward foreign women was driven by her goal of getting something in return. She became more widely known around the world and gained popularity making her more powerful. She was also very kind to Der Ling because she wanted to use her as an example to other foreign countries, again resulting in more power. Cixi said to Der Ling, “It was my order that sent Yu Keng to Paris and I am not a bit sorry, for you see how much you can help me now.” (Chapter 3) She seems to have an alternative underlying motive for her actions towards foreigners. While the details of the way she led her life may never be confirmed, I think she played a very important part in laying the foundation for modern treatment and status of women in China.
When you made your comment about Cixi showing her sincerity to her guests, especially those with foreign backgrounds, I looked back to see what a curious woman Cixi is. She also showed an interest in Der Ling's experience abroad in chapter 5 when Der Ling wants to change into her dress with a tail. "I want them to see you in foreign clothes in order to let them understand I know something about the way they dress." She also seemed concerned about them when she asked if their hands would be tired from having to hold up the dress as they walked.
DeleteI read the two chapters from Jung Chang’s book, Empress Dowager Cixi, first. Having no background in Chinese history, I believed most of what was written… but then I started thinking logically. The author described positive images for the reader about the personality of Empress Cixi. At first, it seemed like Empress Cixi was showering her guests with gifts just to make them feel welcome. But then, Empress Cixi was described to be so kind that she seemed insincere. Specifically, the author stated “they accused Cixi of trying to wheedle the foreigners and curry favor, so that she might receive better treatment at the hands of the Powers’. This was undoubtedly one of her motives” (Chang, 313). The quote, combined with the article Cixi: The Woman behind the Throne, convinced me that Empress Cixi made friends strategically, at least in the political sense. The article also described Empress Cixi as “the wicked witch of the East” and then went on to discuss specific authors that thought so as well. Most of the authors were either shown to have a bias or inadequate research but that still places doubt in the reader’s mind about Chang’s claims. Regardless of her true motives in befriending the Westerners, it is agreeable that Empress Cixi had a cunning political mind. Furthermore, Chang claimed that Empress Cixi was changing the social landscape and modernizing China. The Empress broke though fundamental Confucian traditions like segregation of the sexes. Again, Chang presented her in a positive light painting her to be this progressive voice that was modernizing China. But in other readings it seemed as if the Empress was slow to bring change. I cannot be sure of her political strides and it seems like we may never know the true Empress Cixi. Der Ling is an interesting character herself. She was intelligent, could play piano and speak many different languages. Der Ling had also spent time in Paris studying with Isadora. I read the article, The Legend of Princess Der Ling, first. It mentioned that “she was the granddaughter of a Boston merchant. Upon further research, I discovered she was actually the daughter of Louisa Pearson. Louisa Pearson had won the favor of Empress Cixi and was invited to be her lady-in-waiting (Chang, 324). The difference between Der Ling’s account and Chang’s book was that Der Ling gave us a different side of Empress Cixi. For example, “Her Majesty had made a rule or custom that after all guests had departed, we must go to her and report everything” (Princess Der Ling, Chapter 5). But she also presented the Empress as a kind woman. I think Der Ling’s account painted the Empress as a “human” rather than this wicked witch or this extraordinary person that single handedly changed China.
ReplyDeleteThese readings were more focused on women and their actions rather than women trying to speak out in a man’s world. Empress Cixi was unable to socialize with the Western men, so she opted out for the females instead. The excerpt written by Der Ling suggested that this was a political move while Chang suggested this may have only been in the interest of friendship. To an extent, these two accounts contradict one another and presented a complicated side of gender politics.
I think you bring out some very important key words to decribe Cixi, Stratigic and insincere. These two words perfectly describe Cixi in her real light I think, however the readings don't really say these things explicitly. I didn't find these readings to be as contradictory as you did, but they both gaveCixi in a really positive light as you suggest here. Also I found it interesting too that these authors hint at a different side of Cixi as your quotes suggest and this brings in a different aspect than what they are initially trying to focus on.
DeleteThe “Empress Dowager Cixi” describes a “different” Cixi from what we used to know about her. When most Chinese people referred to Cixi, they would say Cixi is a bad woman who is a collaborationist and did many notorious things, like persecuting the innovationists and signing a series of unequal treaties with western nations. But in Jung Chang’s article, Cixi is a great and thoughtful woman. She made friends with westerners actively, like inviting the western women to have dinner with her and gave them presents. Jung describes Cixi as this: “Her eyes are bright, keen, and watchful that nothing may escape her observation; her face does not show marks of cruelty or severity; her voice is low, soft and attractive; her touch is gentle and kind” (Jung Chang, 312). She not only shows us the appearance of Cixi, but also describes Cixi as a great reformer. She lifted the ban on Han-Manchu intermarriage; required the Han Chinese to abandon their tradition of foot-binding and appealed to respect nature; began to release women from their homes and from male, breaking a fundamental Confucian tradition; espoused modern education for women and even set schools for women; encouraged and awakened women’s political consciousness; encourage students to study abroad and officials to travel abroad; began to revolutionise China’s legal system… From Jung’s point, Cixi is a humane and admired politician. But after I read this article, I felt confused and I don’t know which is true, the history I used to know or Jung’s works.
ReplyDeleteI finished writing the first paragraph on Monday before I read the Two Years in the Forbidden City. After I read Princess Der Ling’s short novel, I have a new understanding about Empress Dowager Cixi. As a woman in that era, Cixi had very liberal ideas and interested in many new things. Such as she said that she agreed with the author’s father that giving a fine education to her daughter. She was very good to the author and always talked about western clothes and life style, like she was interested in Paris gowns and Louis XV’s high heel shoes. Cixi was talented and fond of learning, she never seen a foreign theatre and been abroad, but she has many ideas similar to western stuffs. She was kind and bear the overall situation in mind, she always polite to the foreign ladies no matter how badly they behaved. After I read this short novel written by Prince Der Ling, I have similar view to the author: “I had been told that Her Majesty had a very fierce temper, but seeing her so kind and gracious to us and talking to us in such a motherly way, I thought my informant must be wrong.” (pg. 16, Princess Der Ling)
I also felt the same way as you did before and after reading these two books. However I think both of these hint in a clever way towards the side of Cixi that we have always heard about. I also think it's important to keep in mind that these are from two women writers and from women relationships with Cixi. I feel as if this is only part of the story of Cixi and maybe these writers were unable to convey the rest. I mean there part of this story could be 100% true, but I think there is more to Cixi than just her relationships with foreign women.
DeleteAfter reading multiple accounts of Empress Cixi as a ruler that still embraces her traditional roots, but also not afraid to learn new things from other cultures. Empress Cixi knew that after the Boxer Rebellion, the world as whole is changing. The bridges between worlds are being built. Throughout the readings from this week, I saw many similarities and differences between two different cultures, which are from the east and west. Throughout history, men from different cultures had difficulties sitting in the same room, but Cixi and many other western women and their children would congregate. While there is a huge gap between languages and culture habits, they respected one another. Also in Empress Dowager Cixi, Sarah Conger commented on how her husband thought that the women at the Forbidden City only discussed feminine topics, but Mrs. Congers response was, “ They spoke of Columbus’s discovery if America, of the Pilgrims, of our troubles with England, the seceding of the colonies, of our Declaration of Independence…” She also goes on and talks about how they also,” talk about the Manchurian troubles, political questions, and many things pertaining to their Government.” (316) This demonstrates that Empress Cixi and the other women as well were knowledge able about what is going around them. Cixi is bridging the gap between our two cultures by taking the initiative to understand the way western society was created and how they are now.
ReplyDeleteHaving women, who was knowledge able about other people’s culture, helped Empress Cixi bridge the gap. That is why she moved Princess Der Ling and her sister into the palace. With their knowledge from Paris and other countries they helped bonding the gap between the nations. Der Ling was a translator between Empress Cixi and a Russian woman. Der Liang is a strong woman; although she was a Manchurian descendant she still embraces the western culture and language. But, when she was in the presence of the Empress she knew all the traditional etiquettes. The court ladies thought that Der Liang only knew the ways of the western culture and language. In chapter 2 of Two Years in the Forbidden City, two court ladies thought that they didn’t speak their native language, but of course Der Liang knew, she stated, “ We in turn were very much surprised…such ignorant people in the Imperial Palace and concluded that their opportunities for acquiring knowledge were very limited.” This was very surprising that the Chinese women thought the Empress was the Queen of the world and that by drinking the water in the other country one possesses the language.
After reading Empress Dowager Cixi by Jung Chang, Cixi was portrayed as an Empress who wanted to improve the relations of foreigners. She would met with foreigners and would greet them nicely. Sarah Conger was one foreigner that she would meet with to improve relations with America. Sarah Conger had a portrait made of Cixi, which was later placed in the Nation Museum (Empress Dowager Cixi 322). Cixi even lifted the ban on Han-Manchu intermarriage, which was a ban that was as old as the Qing Dynasty. She also made the Han Chinese abandon their practice of foot binding (Empress Dowager Cixi 325). Cixi also made it official that women could receive education (Empress Dowager Cixi 326). Under her reign, women started to go out more often and not stay in their homes as much as they used to. The reading, Two Years in the Forbidden City, also portrays her as a welcoming woman. This reading goes more into details about how she interacted with women. It talks about how Princess Der Ling was treated when she entered the Palace.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading Empress Dowager Cixi and Two Years in the Forbidden City, it shows Cixi as caring person and wanted to improve relations with foreigners. She is portrayed as a person who wanted to help the well being of women. In Empress Dowager Cixi, it says "Cixi began to release women from their homes and from male-female segregation, breaking a fundamental Confucian tradition" (326). This shows that she cares about women. From my readings from other cites after researching about her, some say that the reason behind her generosity toward women was because she to gain things in return for her generosity. Overall, I think that she was a very important figure in China.
Your attention to the details of these important women and their interactions with other women in Chinese culture is interesting and I think it points out a good point. Cixi is often portrayed as this evil 'dragon lady' which often overshadows the positive progression that she had in her culture.
DeleteJung Chang and Princess Der Ling have similar representations of the Empress Dowager in their writings, the Empress Dowager is seen as a woman who is kindhearted and very generous. In Der Ling’s piece notes how Madame Plancon talked about the “kindness that Her Majesty had shown her” (Ch. 5). The same goes for Jung Chang’s piece where Mrs. Conger notes, “Her eyes are bright and keen, and watchful that nothing may escape her observation. Her face does not show marks of cruelty or severity; her voice is low, soft, and attractive; her touch is gentle and kind” (pg 312). From both of the readings, the Empress Dowager was very well acquitted of Western culture of the shaking of hands, “All the ladies and children were presented to Cixi, who treated them each with a sort of handshake” (pg 312). “Her Majesty shook hands with her and presented the photograph which she had brought to Her Majesty.” (Ch. 5). The Empress Dowager wanted to create good relations with the Western nations so meeting the foreigners halfway with handshakes and gifts gave her a good impression from the viewpoint of Princess Der Ling and Jung Chang.
ReplyDeleteJung Chang and Princess Der Ling perception of Cixi as a kind-hearted woman doesn’t fit the picture that many have been fed about the Empress Dowager. Both women push the image of Cixi who seemed to have helped pave the way for modern reform. There also is no point of view from any men in these writings so all you see is these women having tea and eating together talking about politics. One would think that women in the early twentieth century also had education such as this. Also, the slow change of foot binding during this time shows how much control and trying to change someone’s culture can affect a group of people, in this case Han Chinese women.
I agree 100% about the way there is no point of view from men. As a result of this women-only account I think there is room for these accounts to be inaccurate at least to some degree around the basis of a feminist bias. It would've been interesting to read the point of view of man, especially in this time period.
DeleteI thought this weeks readers were really interesting when looking at the female empowerment aspect of gender politics. I am unfamiliar with many things within Chinese culture so while reading I have to try to force myself out of ethnocentrism and absorb the information with a clean slate. As we talked about in class, I was very interested and taken back by the dynamics of character portrayed in the two pieces we read on Cixi. I first read the Smithsonian article and was plagued with a dark portrayal of Cixi as Amanda Bensen describes this “greedy” “wicked witch.” But when I was reading Chang’s interpretation of Cixi making friends with the Westerner’s I was puzzled for awhile trying to relate the two accounts as the same person. Cixi, in Chang’s writings, does not come off as greedy but, in fact, seems quite generous with her gifts to these westernized woman. I was particularly infatuated with the fact that, “the men decided that Cixi was trying to bribe their women” (313). As I said during class, I think Cixi was a master manipulator especially in her relations with the westerners, which was quite brilliant on her part.
ReplyDeleteWhile reading “Two Years in the Forbidden City” I was surprised to see Cixi painted in a positive light. I’m not sure why I was thinking in such a negative light for Cixi, probably just from our class discussion input and the little google search that I had done on her. I was also interested in Cixi’s treatment towards Der Ling. To me, it seemed that Der Ling always painted Cixi in a kind and patient light. Her wording on page 15 in “Two Years in the Forbidden City” stuck out at me when she said, “I am sorry you have to eat standing, but I cannot break the law of our great ancestors. Even the Young Empress cannot sit in my presence.” The interest stood out at two points. The first being that she is apologizing to this guest at her table. Very odd for a ‘dragon lady’ to be apologizing to any one let alone a guest. And the second part of this quote being interesting because it almost sounded like she was sorry that Der Ling was not allowed to be seated. I’m sure this often said “power hungry” woman enjoyed her power over others but I can’t help but thinking of the loneliness that would also plague the palace with a lifestyle and reputation such as the one she had.
I was also expecting a negative account of Empress Cixi in "Two Years in the Forbidden City". I still think there is some truth to her being a stern woman but I believe that there is some truth to her being a kind and patient person. I'm sure the loneliness of the palace life and royal court played a role in kind of person she was.
DeleteI agree. I was expecting a negative portrayal, around the single point of women not exactly having much freedoms in this time period. As I said in another comment these accounts could be skewed to some degree from a feminist bias as both accounts are by fellow women, it would've been interesting to see an account from a man. Would it portray the similar image of Cixi, or perhaps a more negative portrayal?
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