MAHARANI DOWAGER CIXI: WANITA YANG MEMERINTAH CHINA DI BELAKANG TABIR, 1862-1874

Abstract

This article examines Empress Dowager Cixi’s life history up until her ascension to power in 1875. The focus of the study is on the reign of Emperor Tongzhi (1862-1874) because Cixi successfully launched a coup known as Xinyou 1861 until she was known as the Chinese empress who ruled ‘behind the curtains’ during the reign of Emperor Tongzhi. This research into the subject utilises the qualitative method by scrutinising the polemic on Cixi’s role in the history of modern China. This is due to divided perception among historians that she was theiron lady behind the throne during her reign. The findings of this research reveals that Cixi was merely a victim of political circumstances arising from the internal collapse of the Qing Dynasty which was out of her control. This research concludes that during the early days of her administration, Cixi had the resolve and determination to propel China towards modernisation based on the Western administrative model. Unfortunately, the empress had to postpone all efforts to modernise China in order to maintain and preserve her position from her political rivals.