China Under the Empress Dowager: Being the History of the Life and Times of Tzŭ Hsi, Compiled from the State Papers and the Private Diary of the Comptroller of Her Household

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Houghton Mifflin Company, 1914 - 322 pages
 

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Page 173 - Oriental, living out her life by such lights as she knew, and in accordance with the traditions of her race and caste. Says Ching Shan in the Diary: " The nature of the Empress is peaceloving : she has seen many springs and autumns. I myself know well her refined and gentle tastes, her love of painting, poetry and the theatre. When in a good mood she is the most amiable and tractable of women, but at times her rage is awful to witness...
Page 111 - Shortly after Tzu Hsi's retirement from public affairs the Emperor's father, Prince Ch'un, fell ill of a sickness which increased until, on 1st January 1891, he died. In 1890, the Censorate, deeply concerned for a strict observance of the laws and ceremonial etiquette of filial piety, took occasion, in a Memorial of remonstrance, to draw Her Majesty's attention to her duty, and that of the Emperor, of visiting the invalid. Tzu Hsi's reply took the form of a rebuke to the Censors, whom she bluntly...
Page 299 - ... formed by one who had enjoyed for years continual opportunities of studying her at close quarters — an estimate which was, and is, confirmed by the popular verdict, the common report of the tea-houses and market places of the capital. Despite her swiftly changing and uncontrolled moods, her childish lack of moral sense, her unscrupulous love of power, her fierce passions and revenges, Tzu Hsi was no more the savage monster described by " Wen Ching," than she was the benevolent, fashion-plate...
Page 210 - Lien tells me that the Old Buddha arose this morning at the Hour of the Tiger (3 am) after only an hour's rest, and dressed herself hurriedly in the common blue cloth garments of a peasant woman, which she had ordered to be prepared. For the first time in her life, her hair was done up in the Chinese fashion. 'Who could ever have believed that it would come to this?
Page 286 - We were the second son of Prince Ch'un when the Empress Dowager selected Us for the Throne. She has always hated Us, but for Our misery of the past ten years Yuan Shih-k'ai is responsible, and one other " (the second name is said to have been illegible). " When the time comes I desire that Yuan be summarily beheaded.
Page 142 - The nation is now passing through a crisis, and wise guidance is needed in all branches of the public service. WE ourselves have laboured diligently, night and day, to perform OUR innumerable duties, but in spite of all OUR anxious energy and care WE are in constant fear lest delay should be the undoing of the country. WE now respectfully recall the fact that Her Imperial Majesty the Empress Dowager has on two occasions since the beginning of the reign of HM T'ung-Chih, performed the functions of...
Page 199 - Shansi. Ten days ago she had sent him a secret Decree, saying: "Slay all foreigners wheresoever you find them; even though they be prepared to leave your province, yet must they be slain." It seems that the Old Buddha ordered that this Decree should be sent to every high provincial official in the Empire, but it is now reported that Tuan Fang, the acting governor of...
Page 210 - ... minion down the well!' At this the Emperor, who was greatly grieved, fell on his knees in supplication, but the Empress angrily bade him desist saying that this was no time for bandying words. ''Let her die at once...
Page 199 - I command that all foreigners — men, women, and children, old and young — be summarily executed. Let not one escape, so that my Empire may be purged of this noisome source of corruption, and that peace may be restored to my loyal subjects.
Page 214 - After all, Jung Lu was right — the Boxers' so-called magic was nothing but child's talk. They were in reality no stronger than autumn thistledown. Alas, the bright flower of Spring does not bloom twice! My wife and the other women, stupidly obstinate like all females, intend to take opium. I cannot prevent them from doing so, but, for myself I have no intention of doing anything so foolish. Already the foreign brigands are looting in other quarters of the city, but they will never find my hidden...

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