Royal secrets have been a hot topic of discussion since ancient times, and the Qing Dynasty was no exception. As the last feudal royal family, the Qing Dynasty royal family has relatively sufficient historical data, and it has not been too long to become the domestic royal family that modern people pay most attention to. This can be seen from the number of filming of Qing Dynasty palace TV series that have always topped the list of popularity.
The topic of the royal family is naturally indispensable for the emperor and his many concubines in the harem. Some concubines were legendary throughout their lives, while others remained unknown throughout their lives and were submerged in the few words of later historians. Among the concubines that people are more excited about and curious about is Concubine Zhen. Concubine Zhen was the favorite concubine of Emperor Guangxu, although she only lived a short 24 years. But her short life was full of legend, and there are still many controversies and studies about her to this day.
1. The only remaining innocence in the century-old palace
The concubine Zhen in historical records was well-versed in writing, outstanding in appearance, lively and lovely in character, and very innocent in person, very popular with Guangxu. The emperor liked it.
1. Entering the palace at a young age
Concubine Jin, Concubine Zhen
Concubine Zhen’s real name: Tatara, a Manchu, she entered the palace on 13th age. After being selected into the palace, Concubine Zhen, who was in her prime, had no choice but to say goodbye to her parents, walk out of her familiar home, and go to the huge palace lined with red walls and as far as the eye could see. Also entering the palace with Concubine Zhen was her half-sister, who was 2 years older than her, and was later named Concubine Jin.
After entering the palace as a young girl, Concubine Zhen did not lose her temperament when faced with the endless red tape in the palace. Instead, she became the only living breath left in the century-old palace. Concubine Zhen has different personalities from her elder sister Concubine Jin. Concubine Zhen has a lively personality, full of curiosity, likes new things, and has all the cuteness that a free and innocent girl should have.
Her sister Jin Fei is less talkative and relatively silent. Although Concubine Jin talks little, she does not fight or snatch, and is kind-hearted. She was the only one who could remember her sister who died tragically when she became the concubine, and did her best to give Concubine Zhen honor and honor after her death.
2. A brief good time
Perhaps the women in the palace have been obliterated by thousands of years of feudal etiquette as a girl, or they know that they shoulder the honor of the family. , if you make the slightest mistake, your family will be in trouble. So they all acted cautiously and cautiously.
Concubine Zhen
Such a cookie-cutter concubine is too boring in the eyes of the emperor. Based on this, Concubine Zhen's ability to follow her true heart and act generously is commendable. In addition, Concubine Zhen herself is beautiful, well-behaved, soft-spoken, well-versed in literature and can also play chess. Therefore, Concubine Zhen was very fond of Emperor Guangxu, and she even accompanied her when studying and eating.
Concubine Zhen’s courage to be herself not only won the admiration of Emperor Guangxu, but was also very popular with Cixi. It is said that Cixi saw in Concubine Zhen the shadow of herself when she first entered the palace when she was young. When Concubine Zhen first entered the palace, Cixi hired a teacher to teach Concubine Zhen how to draw and practice calligraphy. It is said that Cixi personally taught her how to paint orchids.
This shows that Cixi still liked Concubine Zhen very much before she hit her. In this way, Concubine Zhen gained the love of the two most powerful people in the entire Qing Dynasty. This period of time should be the happiest time for Concubine Zhen in the palace.
2. The powerful Lafayette
Life within the palace walls is not only about fine clothing and food, but also countless ancestral rules.
1. Innocence versus rigidity
Guangxu, Concubine Zhen
Although Concubine Zhen was favored by the Empress Dowager Cixi at the beginning, the two had a 41-year-old There is bound to be a generation gap due to the age difference. In addition, Concubine Zhen acts as she pleases, does not want to stick to ancestral rules too much, and is curious about new things. Therefore, the conflict between her and Cixi is inevitable, and it is only a matter of time before it breaks out.
Zhenfei is young and is curious about everything, including cameras. The camera at that time was a novelty that many people had only heard of. In addition, cameras were imported from foreign countries. Due to lack of understanding, there were even ridiculous rumors that cameras were bad for people's health.
But Concubine Zhen, who had been bold since childhood, was not afraid and even ordered someone to buy herself a camera. After getting a camera, she loved taking photos of herself, the palace, and the people around her. She also likes to try out various costumes, especially dressing up as a man. These behaviors of Concubine Zhen seemed to Cixi to be very frivolous and absurd.
In addition, Guangxu almost exclusively favored Concubine Zhen, which caused dissatisfaction among many concubines in the harem, which made Cixi very angry.
2. Repeatedly punished
Cixi
Although Concubine Zhen was once favored by Cixi, her various actions have made Cixi dissatisfied with her. Cixi's reverse scale has not yet been touched. Concubine Zhen did not restrain herself after making Cixi displeased. She later intervened in the political affairs of the previous dynasty, supported Guangxu's reform, colluded with her brother to sell out her official position and accept bribes, etc. Her actions made Cixi, who held the real power, really move towards her. anger. This time Concubine Zhen was demoted to a noble status and received the "dressing rod", which meant taking off her clothes and being beaten. This was a great humiliation for eunuchs and maids, not to mention the emperor's concubines.
A year later, Concubine Zhen returned to the position of concubine from nobleman. But the good times did not last long. In 1898, the Reform Movement of 1898, which Emperor Guangxu had high hopes for, failed. Guangxu was placed under house arrest. Concubine Zhen was punished with a imperial staff and sent to the cold palace because she introduced many reformers to the emperor during the reform. It has been two years since Concubine Zhen, who was imprisoned in the cold palace, saw the light of day again. The life in the cold palace for the past two years was worse than death. Meals were handed out through the window. Concubine Zhen was locked in the house and was not allowed to go out or talk to anyone. In addition, every festival or death anniversary needs to be reprimanded by the eunuch before lunch on Cixi's orders. During the reprimand, Concubine Zhen had to kneel down to receive the reprimand, and after the reprimand, she had to kowtow to thank the emperor for his kindness.
Cixi
Concubine Zhen endured such days for two years. After that, the great powers entered Beijing, and Cixi and Guangxu fled in a hurry. Before leaving the palace, she did not forget to order Concubine Zhen to be sunk into a well to avoid humiliating the royal family.
It is said that Concubine Zhen had been struggling to see the emperor before she was thrown into the well. In her heart, the emperor must be able to save her. But how did she know that at this time, Guangxu was already under house arrest by Cixi and lost his personal freedom. In the end, the young Concubine Zhen did not wait for Emperor Guangxu to rescue her. She only faced the deep well and the cold well water.
In fact, from a modern perspective, Concubine Zhen is completely a new era woman. She is full of childishness, dares to try new things, supports her husband's career, accepts democracy, and supports change. Her own actions are not wrong now, but in that era she was destined to pay the price with her life.
3. Victims under the wheel of history
The life of Concubine Zhen was one of the prices for the failure of the Guangxu regime. A weak woman within the palace walls is destined to be crushed and sacrificed under the rolling wheels of history.
1. It is said that women are not as good as men
Before the new era, women paid attention to the three obediences and the four virtues, and did not leave the door or step forward. Before getting married, girls can only learn to work and run a household, and if conditions permit, girls will be allowed to read and write. But no matter how talented a girl is, no matter how smart she is, she can only be confined to the house after leaving the cabinet and earn daily necessities.
The suppression of women’s status in feudal society can be seen from the title. In ancient times, men were called "big men", while women could only be called "little women." In ancient times, girls were born to be regarded as accessories and weak characters. As strong as Mulan, she can join the army in her father's place, but she still has to disguise herself as a man.
2. A mantis’ arm acts as a chariot
China is a huge country, but in its thousands of years of history, only a few female leaders have been known to future generations. Apart from Wu Zetian, the only empress in history, the most famous one is Cixi, who is closest to us in time.
As the most powerful person in the late Qing Dynasty, Cixi experienced four emperors in her life. From a young seventh-grade Lan noble when she entered the palace, she gradually became the concubine Yi, the empress dowager Cixi, and the empress dowager.
In a feudal society where men were superior to women, a harem woman firmly controlled the politics of the previous dynasty and manipulated three emperors to become her puppets. Her palace, means, and vision are far beyond comparison.
The Qing government at that time was facing national uprisings and invasion by foreign powers. The country is suffering from internal and external troubles, and the people are in dire straits. At this time, the changes of the times are inevitable, and so is the end of the feudal dynasty.
Faced with Empress Dowager Cixi, who has monopolized power, Concubine Zhen is like a mantis trying to control a chariot. From Cixi's perspective, she must have felt helpless in the face of a fierce enemy and the army was defeated without a fight.
The Qing Dynasty has begun to decline since Kangxi, and the prosperous age of Qianlong is just the sunset. The failure of the Qing Dynasty was the result of several generations, not Cixi's fault alone. Just like Xiang Yu's failure cannot be blamed on Yu Ji alone.