The last empress of China--the Dowager Empress Tzu Hsi (1835-1908)--is remembered as one of history's monsters, the iron-willed concubine who, after usurping power in 1861, ruled with poison and intrigue for half a century. But the image is false. In 1974, to the dismay of scholars, the primary sources for the accepted biographies were proved fraudulent. Now comes the first complete reappraisal of the empress. 16 pages of photos and illustrations.
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The last empress of China--the Dowager Empress Tzu Hsi (1835-1908)--is remembered as one of history's monsters, the iron-willed concubine who, after usurping power in 1861, ruled with poison and intrigue for half a century. But the image is false. In 1974, to the dismay of scholars, the primary sources for the accepted biographies were proved fraudulent. Now comes the first complete reappraisal of the empress. 16 pages of photos and illustrations.
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Add this copy of Dragon Lady: the Life and Legend of the Last Empress of to cart. $7.99, very good condition, Sold by Wonder Book - Member ABAA/ILAB rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Frederick, MD, UNITED STATES, published 1993 by Papermac.
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Very Good. Very Good condition. A copy that may have a few cosmetic defects. May also contain light spine creasing or a few markings such as an owner's name, short gifter's inscription or light stamp. Bundled media such as CDs, DVDs, floppy disks or access codes may not be included.
Sterling Seagrave - not the Dragon Lady's only fan
Sterling Seagrave has done a creditable job separating fact from fiction here. He has an excellent background in Chinese history and it is evident here. Tzu Hsi has long been a convenient figure on which to place blame. She was very distrustful of foreigners and given what they did to her country at the end of her reign, wasn't she right? Another author, Pearl S. Buck, wrote about her, fictionally, in Imperial Woman. This book seems to follow her life quite closely and is very enjoyable as are all of Pearl Buck's books.
LEONGWAIHONG
May 29, 2009
The evil Empress Dowager is a myth
As at May 2009 this is still the latest substantial biography on the Empress Dowager. Sterling Seagrave in this very thoroughly-researched biography of the Empress Dowager has presented compelling evidence that the traditional view that the Dowager was all powerful and evil was based on false facts mainly concocted by Sir Edmund Backhouse. The evidence he presented was that the Dowager was powerless and surrounded by powerful men who had their own agenda and aims.
The strength of this book is that it is not confined to the life of the Dowager. This is understandable as so little is known of her life. We do not even know her name. When she became Empress Dowager, she was known by the title Tzu Hsi, meaning Empress of the West, because she lived in pavilions on the west side of the Forbidden City. (see p18-19 )
This book also described the events of Manchu China from the two infamous Opium Wars carried out by the English to the Boxer Rebellion/ Uprising (a misnomer as there was no rebellion/ uprising. The Boxers' aim was to exterminate all Chinese Christians and the foreign missionaries and not to overthrow the Manchu Empire).
This book also described in detail the lives of Sir Robert Hart and Dr George Ernest Morrison in China. Hart came to China age 19. He was an Irishman who loved China. He rose to become a trusted confidant of the Manchu court and was the Inspector General of Chinese Customs from 1861 age 26 till 1908 age 73 when he finally decided to leave China forever. He died in England in 1911 while preparing to return to China to finish his life in his beloved China. (See pages 146, 419 and 453). Dr Morrison was the correspondent for the Times of London.According to this book he was an unsavoury character.
