Empress Dowager Cixi

<p>The author does not want to overturn the verdict of Empress Dowager Cixi but wants to evaluate her truthfully. In the long-term study of Empress Dowager Cixi the author gradually discovered some problems in the evaluation of Empress Dowager Cixi. The main problem is the stereotyping demonization and casualization of Empress Dowager Cixi. The practice towards Empress Dowager Cixi was one point one stick to kill. Starting from the assumed concept historical facts serve as the prerequisite concept pouring a lot of mud and muddy water on Empress Dowager Cixi. A very simple way to vilify someone is to vilify them from the details of life. For example there are claims that Empress Dowager Cixi had an affair with the fake eunuch An Dehai that Empress Dowager Cixi had an affair with the fake eunuch Li Lianying that Empress Dowager Cixi poisoned Empress Dowager Cixi to death that Empress Dowager Cixi poisoned Emperor Guangxu and so on. However historical facts are not like this. Of course some things were done by Empress Dowager Cixi such as forcing the death of Empress Arut and causing the death of her daughter-in-law Zhen Fei. However not all bad things were done by her.</p><p>The author of Empress Dowager Cixi advocates for two points of discussion regarding Empress Dowager Cixi. Empress Dowager Cixi has done some bad things and also done some good things. We should criticize the bad things she did and we should affirm the good things she did. Empress Dowager Cixi is a controversial historical figure worthy of serious study. In a sense our research on her is just beginning.</p><p></p><p>作者不想为慈禧太后翻案，但是想实事求是地评价她。在长期地研究慈禧太后的过程中，作者逐渐发现对慈禧太后的评价存在一些问题。主要问题是将慈禧太后脸谱化、妖魔化和随意化。对慈禧太后实行的是一点论，一棍子打死。从想当然的概念出发，历史事实为先决的概念服务，往慈禧太后的身上泼了许多污泥浊水。想丑化一个人，非常简单的方法是从生活细节丑化他。譬如，说慈禧太后与假太监安得海有染，说慈禧太后与假太监李连英有染，说慈禧太后毒死了慈安太后，说慈禧太后毒死了光绪皇帝，等等。但是，历史事实并不是这样。当然，有些事是慈禧太后干的，如逼死皇后阿鲁特氏、害死儿媳珍妃等。但是，不是所有的坏事都是她干的。</p><p>《慈禧太后》作者主张对慈禧太后也要两点论。慈禧太后做过一些坏事，也做过一些好事。她做的坏事我们要批判，她做的好事我们要肯定。慈禧太后是一个很值得认真研究的有争议的历史人物。我们对她的研究从某种意义上讲，还刚刚开始。</p>