Scandal of the Qing Dynasty: Empress Dowager Cixi was buried a year after her death, and her coffin was stained with blood.

 

Scandal of the Qing Dynasty:

 Empress Dowager Cixi was buried a year after her death, and her coffin was stained with blood.

Scandal of the Qing Dynasty: Empress Dowager Cixi was buried a year after her death, and her coffin was stained with blood.

In the late autumn of 1908, the night sky over Beijing was exceptionally heavy. That day, a woman who had ruled China for decades closed her eyes forever. Unexpectedly, her passing unleashed a storm even more devastating than her power in life. The following year, as her funeral procession marched through the streets with great fanfare, a pungent stench suddenly wafted through the air, and a dark red liquid dripped from her coffin in full view of the public. Everyone was stunned-was this a warning from heaven? Or did some dark secret lurk deep within the palace? Why, over a century later, does Empress Dowager Cixi and her extravagant mausoleum still ignite controversy? Could a mysterious hand truly be stirring history in the darkness?

The funeral instantly stirred Beijing into a frenzy. A crowd clamored that this wasn't just a burial for the Empress Dowager; it was a final display of power, like an emperor playing his last cards before his death. Others took a more drastic view: wasn't the red liquid a divine punishment? A hint from heaven that Cixi's life had gone awry. Some saw the bright red liquid seeping from the cracks in the coffin and felt a chill run down their spines. Others defended it, saying it was the imperial embalming spice, which had changed color when mixed with air; others said it was the wrath of heaven. As soon as the news broke, teahouses and alleyways were abuzz with discussion. Was it a divine intervention or a technical error? This historical "blockbuster" left so much suspense that it whetted everyone's appetite.

Scandal of the Qing Dynasty: Empress Dowager Cixi was buried a year after her death, and her coffin was stained with blood.

The investigation slowly progressed, unraveling layer by layer like peeling an onion. Cixi's coffin was constructed of the finest golden nanmu wood , painted several times with preservatives and spices-a seemingly airtight "safe." However, historical records indicate that the mausoleum's construction, originally planned for a few months, dragged on for almost a year, leading to repeated changes in the burial date and ample material for numerous "stories." Commoners, unfamiliar with chemistry , felt uneasy at the sight of the red liquid , wondering if it was a warning from heaven. Experts explained that the red color was simply the result of the spices oxidizing upon contact with air, and had nothing to do with paranormal activity. Archaeologists who later visited the tomb reported that, with this technique, the remains would have been preserved remarkably well even if buried a year later. Some relied on superstition, others on science-who was right? Everyone was like piecing together a puzzle, becoming increasingly confused, yet also increasingly drawn to the story.

Scandal of the Qing Dynasty: Empress Dowager Cixi was buried a year after her death, and her coffin was stained with blood.

After the excitement subsided, the mystery temporarily subsided, but new concerns crept in. Research revealed that the late Qing imperial family was in fact quite impoverished. Despite the magnificent mausoleum, funding was severely limited. During the funeral procession, numerous spices were sprinkled to mask the stench, but these, in turn, reacted with the coffin's material, causing it to develop a strange color. Discussions escalated on the streets. Experts said it wasn't divine retribution, but simply a minor technical error. But the common people didn't care, continuing to discuss the matter. Some even linked the red liquid to Empress Dowager Cixi's harsh rule, calling it "divine retribution" or judgment. Some criticized the public, saying it was too superstitious and that it was merely a scientific issue. Once the media reported the incident, it was like a frying pan, and panic took over. The weather in Beijing that day was exceptionally bad, with continuous overcast rain and a sense of suffocation throughout the city. Officials clarified that it was all a normal scientific phenomenon. But trust was shattered, and public unrest was growing like mushrooms. A greater fear was brewing.

Just as the debate raged, academics suddenly produced weighty evidence. Archaeological teams re-entered the mausoleum and discovered that Cixi's remains were remarkably well-preserved, appearing almost as if she had just died. Most curiously, she discovered a night-shining pearl hidden in her mouth . Some scholars claim this pearl, capable of blocking bacterial invasion, was a secret of imperial embalming. Later, when the pearl was removed, the body immediately began to shrink and deform. Who would dare call it divine punishment? Science had utterly smitten superstition. Research revealed that preservatives and coffin paint naturally change color in the presence of oxygen , and combined with climatic and material reactions, the red liquid was actually a "medicine." A heated debate between officials and experts revealed that behind imperial power lay not only prestige but also a battle between advanced technology and the environment. Historical truths and misconceptions were revelatory in this funeral procession. Everyone suddenly understood that this wasn't just a power struggle of the past, but a head-to-head battle between technology and superstition.

Scandal of the Qing Dynasty: Empress Dowager Cixi was buried a year after her death, and her coffin was stained with blood.

But the story wasn't over yet. As soon as the truth emerged, new questions arose. Materials experts said that while embalming and the luminous pearl could explain much of the strangeness, the long journey and poor weather also complicated the reaction between the potions and the wood, further complicating matters. There were reports of burial objects disappearing. Could someone have tampered with the contents? Officials quickly responded, saying these phenomena were normal and not to overthink. But how could the paranoia be appeased? Scholars say that even the most sophisticated technology can't withstand the whims of fate. Some say the incident also demonstrates the imperial family's excessive extravagance, spending all their money on formalities and their declining power. Dissenting opinions abound, making it difficult to determine which claim is correct. It's like watching a film shrouded in mystery: just when you think you've seen it all, new contradictions emerge. Even technology can't resolve the public's complex emotions about rise and fall, and regret.

Empress Dowager Cixi's "dark secret" is less a single event and more her ruthless and ruthless consolidation of power by orchestrating a coup against the regents upon the Xianfeng Emperor's death, leading to the execution or forced suicide of key officials. This power grab established her as the de facto ruler and was followed by further ruthlessness and political maneuvering, including the unusual instruction for her adopted nephew, Emperor Guangxu, to call her "royal father". These actions cemented her legacy as a powerful but controversial figure who managed to prolong the Qing dynasty's life but whose reactionary policies contributed to its eventual downfall. 

• Abolition of the Regency Council:

  Cixi and Empress Zhen collaborated to overthrow a regency council that was meant to rule after the emperor's death, a move that removed any immediate threat to her political ambitions. 
• Accusations and Executions:

  To solidify her control, Cixi falsely accused the regents of incompetence and ordered the executions or forced suicides of key figures to eliminate opposition.