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Home , Daoguang Emperor, Empress dowager, Empress Dowager Cixi, Family of Puyi, Guangxu Emperor, Hong Taiji

TIMELINE OF QING EMPRESSES IN WORLD CONTEXT

Significant moments in Chinese history, 1653 1704 1736 including those most relevant to the empresses Empress Xiaozhuang takes up residence at Niohuru (1693–1777), a member of a Qianlong grants his mother, Chongqing, the title featured in this book, are featured here along the Palace of Compassion and Tranquility prominent Manchu family, enters the household of . She enters her newly built with major events in world history, especially (Cining gong), later using it as a site for of the future Yongzheng (r. 1723–35) residence, the Palace of Longevity and Health those involving women of note. Buddhist worship. as a low-ranking consort. She is later known as (Shoukang gong). Empress Dowager Chongqing and Empress 1661 Xiaosheng. 1744 The Shunzhi emperor dies and is succeeded Empress Xiaoxian presides over the Qing by his son, known as the 1616 1716 ’s first state sericulture ceremony at the The chieftain (r. 1616–26) unites various (r. 1662–1722). Italian Jesuit missionary Giuseppe Castiglione Altar of the Goddess of Silkworms in . Jurchen tribes and proclaims his rulership of the (Lang Shining; 1688–1766) becomes the first 1661 dynasty. European court painter in . 1748 Empress Xiaozhuang receives the title of grand Empress Xiaoxian dies, plunging the Qianlong empress dowager and serves as her grandson’s 1625 1722 emperor into grief. Bumbutai (1613–1688), a descendant of adviser and mentor until her death in 1688. The ascends the throne a Mongol royal line, marries after the death of his father. 1750 (r. 1626–43), Nurhaci’s son and successor. She The commissions the Garden subsequently is named Empress Xiaozhuang. 1727 of Clear Ripples (Qingyi yuan) for Empress The future Qianlong emperor (r. 1736–95) Dowager Chongqing’s sixtieth birthday. 1636 marries Lady Fuca (1712–1748), who becomes Hong Taiji adopts “Manchu” as a new name for his primary consort and is later named 1765 his people and changes the name of the Jin to Empress Xiaoxian. The Garden of the Palace of Compassion and the . Tranquility is expanded for Empress Dowager 1735 Chongqing as a space for her Buddhist 1644 The Qianlong emperor begins his reign following devotional activities. The Manchus conquer Beijing and formally the death of his father. establish their seat of government in the .

Empress Xiaozhuang is promoted to empress dowager after her five-year-old son is enthroned as the Shunzhi emperor (r. 1644–61).

1600s 1700s

1600 1646 1702 1776 Elizabeth I (r. 1558–1603) grants a charter to Queen Nzinga (r. 1624–63) of the Kingdoms of Anne (r. 1702–14) becomes queen of England, Abigail Adams (1744–1818) urges her husband, the British East Company expanding trade Ndongo and Matamba (present-day Angola) Scotland, and Ireland following the death of her John Adams (1735–1826), to include rights for with the East Indies, the Indian subcontinent, battles the Portuguese in an effort to stave brother-in-law, William III. In 1707, she becomes women in laws being drafted for what will soon and China. off colonization and the slave trade in ruler of the United Kingdom of Great Britain be proclaimed the of America. No southwest Africa. following the joining of England (including Wales) such rights are enumerated in the Declaration of 1618–48 and Scotland. Independence, issued on July 4. Religious conflict between Catholics and 1689 Protestants convulses Europe in the Queen Mary II (r. 1689–94) assumes the throne 1740 1780s Thirty Years War. as joint sovereign of England, Scotland, and Maria Theresa (r. 1740–80) begins her rule of the Rani Velu Nachiyar (r. about 1780–90), queen Ireland with her husband, William III Hapsburg empire. of estate (present-day , 1644 (r. 1689–1702). India), is the first queen to fight against British Christina (1626–1689) becomes queen of 1762 colonial rule in India. Sweden and reigns until her abdication in 1654. Empress Catherine II (r. 1762–96) ascends the throne of Russia.

26 27 1793 1820 1852 1875 1900–01 1908 The Qianlong emperor receives diplomats from The dies and is succeeded by Lady Yehe Nara (1835–1908) enters the The dies; Empress Dowager Fearing foreign influence, The and Empress Dowager the court of King George III (r. 1760–1820), the his son, the . household of the as a sixth- Cixi chooses her four-year-old nephew to backs the forces known as the who lay Cixi die. Cixi’s infant grandnephew—known first such mission from Great Britain. rank consort. After giving birth to a son in 1856 become the Guangxu emperor (r. 1875–1908). siege to Western diplomatic quarters in Beijing. as —is chosen to reign as the Xuantong 1839–42 she is promoted to the fourth rank. She is later In the ensuing conflict, known as the Boxer emperor (r. 1909–12). Guangxu’s wife, Empress 1795 Conflicts initiated by Great Britain over trade named Empress Dowager Cixi. 1881 Uprising, Cixi and the Qing court flee Beijing to Xiaoding, becomes Empress Dowager Longyu. The Qianlong emperor retires, and his son rights in China erupt into military actions known Empress Dowager Ci’an dies. Empress Xi’an as an eight-nation military force invades ascends the throne, taking the reign name of the as the First War. Hostilities end with the 1856–60 Dowager Cixi continues as sole to and loots Beijing. The Xinchou Treaty ending the 1911 Jiaqing emperor (r. 1796–1820). Treaty of , in which the Qing agree to The breaks out as Western the Guangxu emperor. fighting requires China to pay reparations. The Xinhai Revolution overthrows the Qing open five ports for trade, thus weakening control powers seek to expand trade in China, including dynasty and ends imperial rule in China. The 1796 over its social, economic, and foreign policies. the right to deal in opium. The war weakens 1884 1902 Republic of China is established a year later. Lady Niohuru marries the future Daoguang Qing imperial rule. Empress Dowager Cixi retires from the regency Empress Dowager Cixi and the court return emperor (r. 1821–50). She dies in 1808, receives 1850 and resides in the lavishly refurbished Palace of to Beijing. She implements a series of “New 1912 the posthumous title of empress when The Xianfeng emperor (r. 1851–61) succeeds his 1860 Gathered Elegance (Chuxiu gong). Policies” that institute modernizing law, govern- Empress Dowager Longyu signs abdication Daoguang ascends the throne, and is later father, the Daoguang emperor, after the latter French and British troops invade Beijing, ment, education, and social reforms. papers on behalf of the five-year-old Xuantong known as Empress Xiaomu. dies. looting the Garden of Perfect Brightness 1886 emperor, who continues to live in the Forbidden (Yuanming yuan) and the Garden of Clear Empress Dowager Cixi orders the restoration of 1904 City until 1924. 1851–64 Ripples. Empresses Dowager Ci’an and Cixi flee the Garden of Clear Ripples, damaged by Cixi’s portrait, by the Rebels occupy much of the Yangzi River to Rehe (present-day ) with the French and English troops in 1860, using funds American painter Katharine A. Carl (1865–1938), 1922 heartland with the goal of overthrowing Manchu Xianfeng emperor. originally designated for the Qing navy. is shown at the St. Louis Exposition. The Xuantong emperor marries Empress Xiaoke. rule. Known as the , the civil war costs more than 20 million lives. 1861 1889 1905–06 1925 The Xianfeng emperor dies. Having each been The grand imperial wedding of the Guangxu After failing to reach an agreement on an The Forbidden City opens to the public as the 1852 granted the title of empress dowager, Ci’an emperor and Empress Xiaoding, Empress immigration treaty in 1904, China boycotts US . Lady Niohuru (1837–1881) becomes the empress and Cixi launch a coup d’état with the help of Dowager Cixi’s niece, takes place. products and businesses. of the Xianfeng emperor. She later is named Xianfeng’s brother, Gong (1833–1898). 1894 Empress Dowager Ci’an. The resulting co-regency of Ci’an and Cixi lasts Sino-Japanese War breaks out. until 1875, a period of relative stability. 1898 1862 Empress Dowager Cixi halts the Guangxu Empress Dowager Cixi’s five-year-old son emperor’s modernizing “Hundred Days Reform,” adopts his reign name as the Tongzhi emperor puts him under house arrest, and resumes her (r. 1862–74). regency and direct control of the court. 1700s 1800s 1900s

1784 1804 1867 1891 1905 The Empress of China departs New York and Napoléon Bonaparte (1769–1821) crowns Queen Min (Empress Myeongseong, 1851–1895) Liliuokalani becomes the first queen and last Alice Roosevelt (1884–1980), daughter of becomes the first American ship to sail to himself emperor of France and his wife, becomes consort of King Gojong (r. 1863–97) of of Hawaii, reigning until 1895, when she President , visits the China, opening trade between China and the Josephine (1763–1814), empress. the dynasty of . The couple pursue is forced to abdicate the throne prior to the US Forbidden City, where she meets Empress United States. progressive policies modernizing and opening annexation of the Hawaiian Islands. Dowager Cixi. 1837 Korea to the West. 1793 Coronation of of the United 1899 1914–18 The French Revolution overthrows the mon- Kingdom (r. 1837–1901). 1868 The US government pursues an “Open Door” World War I starts in Europe and evolves into a archy, resulting in the execution of King Louis Japan’s Meiji emperor (r. 1867–1912) initiates policy, promoting international trade and com- global conflict. XVI (r. 1774–92) and Queen Marie Antoinette 1861–65 steps to modernize and Westernize his nation. merce in China. (1755–1793), daughter of Maria Theresa of the Approximately 750,000 people die in the US They provide models for reforms later imple- Hapsburg empire. Civil War. mented in China.

28 DORIS SUNG AND PAULA RICHTER TIMELINE OF QING EMPRESSES IN WORLD CONTEXT 29