Cixi and Modernization of China

Zhan Zhang

doi:10.5539/ass.v6n4p154

Abstract

Empress Dowager Cixi, birth mother of the Qing Dynasty Emperor Tongzhi, lived in the late 19th Century and the early 20th Century, and was the actual ruler of the Qing Dynasty from 1861 to 1908. Under her administration, her great support of Westernization during the earlier period promoted modernized revolution of Chinese society, whereas her objection to the political reform during the late period strangled the Hundred Days’ Reform and hindered all-around progress of the Chinese society. Cixi did not only belong to the Renovation Group, but also belonged to the Conservative Liner, and she was an extremely contradictory and complicated historical figure.

Highlights

When the national gate of China was exploded by hard ships and fierce cannons of Europe, regime of the late Qing Dynasty gradually went downhill step by step, and the process of Chinese modernization was forced to come on
When the danger of “national subjugation and genocide” stared Chinese people in the face, they recalled a painful experience, and came to realize that it was a must to combine in an organic way learning of advanced western scientific technology and reform of political system, and an all-around reform was required for Chinese politics, economy, military, culture and education
With the surname of Yehe Nara, was born in 1835, got the opportunity to enter the imperial palace at the age of 17 through the activity of Picking Up Brides, was afterwards favored by the Emperor Xianfeng and gave birth to the only heir for the Emperor, that is, the subsequent Emperor Tongzhi

Summary

Introduction

When the national gate of China was exploded by hard ships and fierce cannons of Europe, regime of the late Qing Dynasty gradually went downhill step by step, and the process of Chinese modernization was forced to come on. At that time, reform of political modernization was not started, and the Westernization Movement was launched mainly in the fields of economy, military, culture and education.

Results

Conclusion