Rare photo at Empress Dowager Cixi's funeral: The most luxurious, the endless procession of farewells

Empress Dowager Cixi (November 29, 1835 – November 15, 1908) was one of the most powerful women in imperial China for a long time. Famous as a female tyrant no less than Wu Zetian in the eyes of many historians in China and abroad, she is said to have contributed to the downfall of the Qing court. However, there are also opinions that the Queen's opponents were too successful in blaming her for matters beyond her control at the time.

During the life of the regent with a life of luxury, supreme power and many scandals surrounded; Empress Dowager Cixi finally had to witness with her own eyes the end of the Qing Dynasty and the Chinese feudal system.

Empress Dowager Cixi during her lifetime.

In the 34th year of Quang Tu (1908), on October 22 (ie, November 15 of the solar calendar), Empress Dowager Cixi died at Nghi Loan Palace in Trung Nam Hai. Her death seemed to have been premeditated, so the Empress Dowager prepared very carefully for her departure with a funeral of the largest scale, honoring the ancient world.

On the day of the funeral of Empress Dowager Cixi, Henri Borel - a reporter for the Telegraph newspaper in Amsterdam (Netherlands) was in Beijing to attend the funeral of the most powerful woman in China at that time. According to his recount, the funeral took place on a smoky winter day. Empress Dowager Cixi's coffin will be moved from the Forbidden City in Beijing to the Tomb of Qing Dongling, more than 100km from the city.

In the rare photographs that Henri Borel keeps, although the quality and color of many of the photos are no longer clear, the solemn and lavish atmosphere of the largest funeral can be felt. Asia at the beginning of the 20th century. Henri Borel was amazed and overwhelmed by the funeral, he said: "The procession of servants carrying flags to see them off seemed to go on forever. It seemed they had carried all the flags. that they had from the palace to see off the last queen of the country."

Led by a cavalry team in modern uniform, followed by a cavalry team on horseback and coffin-bearers. Behind the Empress Dowager's coffin are hundreds of palace maids dressed in red, holding flags and white silk ribbons hanging at half-mast. All the people of the capital that day poured into the streets to see Cixi off and witness this lavish 1-0-2 funeral.

Not only did the officials in the court and the royal family come to see them off, but the funeral of Empress Dowager Cixi was also attended by many foreign guests.

The funeral procession seemed to stretch to infinity

The coffin was studded with precious stones and elaborately designed by the last Empress Dowager of the Qing Dynasty. The most surprising thing is that Cixi's coffin was carried by 128 people. This figure shows how huge the coffin was. Emperor Guangxu, who died just one day before Cixi, did not receive such treatment. Cixi's coffin is plated with gold, it is said that 2,500 pearls, 6000 pearls, 203 white gems, . But historical experts say that they are still nothing compared to numbers. Treasures lie inside the coffin and are buried with her tomb.

Empress Dowager Cixi's funeral was considered the most lavish and magnificent in Asia at that time

The paper army is burned before the funeral. The crazy luxury doesn't stop there. The paper army sent off the Empress Dowager also made everyone admire. According to Chinese culture, the paper soldiers are all miniature versions, but not for Cixi's funeral, they are all made in 1:1 ratio. All are exquisitely handcrafted, even Even the expression of each paper figurine is different. These paper soldiers are responsible for guarding and clearing the way for the Empress Dowager when she goes to the afterlife.