Death+of+Empress+Cixi

 ﻿ Empress Dowager Cixi died in the Middle Sea Hall of Graceful Bird; at the age of 72 on November 15, 1908. Her tomb rests in the Eastern Qing Tombs in the Hebei province 125km east of Beijing along with Emperor Xianfeng and Tongzhi. Near the end of her life the Empress Dowager said, "I have often thought that I am the cleverest woman that ever lived and that others cannot compare with me. Although I have heard much about Queen Victoria...still I don't think her life is half as interesting and eventful as mine. Now look at me, I have 400 million people all dependent on my judgement."

Just before she died Cixi arranged for Guangxu’s nephew—her grandnephew—to be named the last emperor of China. In 1928, Cixi's burial chamber entrance was dynamited and the jewels on her tomb were stolen along with the pearl that had been placed in Empress Dowager’s mouth to protect her corpse from decomposing (according to the Chinese legend)



//The jade seal buried in the tomb with Empress Dowager Cixi. The seal is inscribed with the Empress's name and was made when Cixi became Empress. // //It was used in her calligraphy works and paintings as her signature. //
 * //Source 2: The Jade Seal //**

After 1949, Empress Dowager Cixi's tomb was restored by the People's Republic of China, and it is still today one of the most impressive imperial tombs of China.



The Room of Beautiful Scenery is part of Empress Dowager Cixi's western Chu- Xiu Palace. It was inside this building that Cixi, the Imperial Concubine at the time, gave birth to the future Tongzhi Emperor. Although it may seem contradictory that this haunted-looking building is called 'The Room of Beautiful Scenery', in the daytime, it was said that it didn't look anything as forbidding as what it may look like in the photo.
 * Source 3: The Room of Beautiful Scenery. **

It is said that Empress Cixi’s ghost haunts the Summer palace and many of her favourite gardens. The trees that she planted still bloom every year to this very day. This great and magnificent woman amazed many leaders during her rule, mainly because she was a woman. From a low-grade concubine to China’s last empress dowager, we respect Empress Cixi for her determination and courage that made her the powerful ruler that she was.

//Eastern Qing Tomb //