Summary of Jung Chang's Empress Dowager Cixi

Please note: This is a companion version & not the original book.

Sample Book Insights:

#1 The Empress Dowager Cixi, who ruled China from 1851 to 1908, came from one of the oldest and most prestigious Manchu families. The Manchus invaded China in 1644 and installed a new dynasty called the Great Qing. The Han and Manchus lived together peacefully, but the Manchus regarded themselves as Chinese.

#2 The ruling family, the Aisin-Gioros, produced a succession of able and hard-working emperors, who were absolute monarchs. The seat of the throne was the Forbidden City, which was surrounded by a magnificent wall.

#3 Cixi’s family had been government employees for generations. She was well-off, and her childhood was carefree. She learned to read and write Chinese, and developed a wide range of interests.

#4 Cixi’s lack of formal education was made up for by her intuitive intelligence, which she used from a young age. She was able to talk to her father about things that were normally closed areas for women.