Historical Chinese Figure: Empress Dowager Cixi

323 Words2 Pages
If I could assassinate any historical Chinese figure, I would target Empress Dowager Cixi. She is the epitome of a corrupt figurehead and of the late Qing dynasty. Furthermore, her inability to support and encourage modernization in China assisted in the deterioration of the Qing Empire. Based on her actions, it appeared that Empress Cixi only aligned herself with change when it could consolidate her authority. In the case of events such as the Self-Strengthening movement, the Hundred Days’ Reforms in 1989 and the Boxer Rebellion, the Empress manipulated and undermined improvements to her personal gain. In the case of the Self-Strengthening movement, Empress Dowager Cixi publically aligned herself with Prince Gong. Despite her anti-foreign