First Published in 1986. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company.

Published in the year 1986, With The Empress Dowager Of Chin is a valuable contribution to the field of Asian Studies.

Discover the extraordinary story of the woman who brought China into the modern age, from the bestselling author of Wild Swans In this groundbreaking biography, Jung Chang vividly describes how Empress Dowager Cixi – the most important woman in Chinese history – brought a medieval empire into the modern age. Under her, the ancient country attained virtually all the attributes of a modern state and it was she who abolished gruesome punishments like ‘death by a thousand cuts’ and put an end to foot-binding. Jung Chang comprehensively overturns the conventional view of Cixi as a diehard conservative and cruel despot and also takes the reader into the depths of her splendid Summer Palace and the harem of Beijing’s Forbidden City, where she lived surrounded by eunuchs – with one of whom she fell in love, with tragic consequences. Packed with drama, fast-paced and gripping, it is both a panoramic depiction of the birth of modern China and an intimate portrait of a woman: as the concubine to a monarch, as the absolute ruler of a third of the world’s population, and as a unique stateswoman. ‘Powerful’ Simon Sebag Montefiore ‘Truly authoritative’ New York Times ‘Wonderful’ Sunday Times **Shortlisted for the James Tait Black Biography Prize**

In a world dominated by men, one woman rose from the shadows of the Forbidden City to become the most powerful figure in the Qing Dynasty. Empress Dowager Cixi—a name synonymous with intrigue, ambition, and unparalleled political acumen—steered China through one of its most turbulent eras. Yehenara Lixue delves deep into the life of Cixi, the woman who transformed herself from a low-ranking concubine into the de facto ruler of China. With deft maneuvering, Cixi overcame formidable challenges, including internal rebellions and foreign threats, while initiating reforms that would set the stage for modern China. Yet her legacy is shrouded in controversy—was she a ruthless tyrant or a visionary leader who sought to preserve and strengthen her nation? This meticulously researched biography unveils the complexities of Cixi's character, exploring her strengths, flaws, and the intricacies of court politics that she navigated with exceptional skill. Discover the untold story of a woman who defied the norms of her time and left an indelible mark on the history of China.

In all the history of China, only two women ever conquered and held the heights of power. Both enjoyed long reigns characterized by ruthless intrigue; they maintained an iron grip at the center while the vast country was torn by rebellions and caught up in foreign wars. Through their policy decisions as well as their personal foibles, both left a deep imprint in history and in the minds of the Chinese people, fueling literature and legend. Fighting to maintain her power base, Empress Cixi struggled with the need to modernize the painfully backward empire she had inherited while honoring age-old traditions. She studied previous rulers' failures and achievements, and especially followed the example of another Chinese woman leader, Wu-Hou, who had elevated herself from concubine to empress some 1200 years earlier.

The book is the volume of "Selected Biographies of Chinese Empress Dowager in Major Dynasties" among a series of books for "100 Biographies on Chinese Historical Figures".