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Overview The translated histories identify Empress Dowager as a royal family member and ruler. This record brings together 9 passages from 1 chapter across 1 history, with names, dates, relationships, offices, and events preserved as source-backed claims.
Names Type English Chinese Pinyin
Personal
Empress Dowager
太后
Title
Empress Dowager
太后
Title
Holy Mother
聖母
Identity
Historicity Historical
Identification Title only
Sex Female Life and dates Attested activity References in the histories Open any source group to read the Chinese and English passage in context.
Draft History of Qing, Chapter 464 Volume 464 Biographies 251: Li Duanfen, Xu Zhijingzi, Ren Zhu, Chen Baozhen, Huang Zunxian, Ceng He, Yang Shenxiu, Yang Rui, Liu Guangdi, Tan Sitong With: Tang Caichang, Lin Xu, Kang Guangren · 9 passages
二十四年八月，太后復出訓政，參預新政諸臣皆獲罪。
In the eighth month of the twenty-fourth year the empress dowager resumed control of government, and every official who had joined the reform movement was punished.
疏上而太后已出訓政，誅四京卿，罪及舉主，寶箴去官，其子主事三立亦革職，並毀湘學所著學約、界說、劄記、答問諸書。
By the time the memorial arrived the empress dowager had resumed power; the four capital officials were executed, blame fell on their recommender, Baozhen was dismissed, his son Sanli was stripped of office, and the Hunan school's Xueyue, Jieshuo, Zhaji, and Dawen were destroyed.
八月，政變，舉朝惴惴，懼大誅至，獨深秀抗疏請太后歸政。
In the eighth month the coup occurred; the whole court trembled, fearing mass executions, yet Shenxiu alone submitted a bold memorial asking the Empress Dowager to restore power to the Emperor.
上手詔密諭云：「近日朕仰觀聖母意旨，不欲退此老耄昏庸大臣而進英勇通達之人，亦不欲將法盡變。
The Emperor personally sent Rui a secret hand-edict: "Of late I have observed the Empress Dowager's intent—she does not wish to remove these aged and incompetent ministers in favor of bold and capable men, nor does she wish to change the laws entirely.
爾與劉光弟、譚嗣同、林旭等詳悉籌議，必如何而後能進用英達，使新政及時舉行，又不致少拂聖意，即具奏，候朕審擇，不勝焦慮之至！」
You, together with Liu Guangdi, Tan Sitong, Lin Xu, and the others, must deliberate carefully on how to advance able men so that the new policies may proceed in good time without the least offense to the Empress Dowager's wishes. Memorialize at once for my review. My anxiety is beyond words!"
銳復奏言：「太后親挈大位授之皇上，皇上宜以孝先天下，遇事將順。
Rui memorialized in reply: "The Empress Dowager personally invested the throne in Your Majesty; Your Majesty should put filial piety before all else and accommodate her wishes in every matter.
已而太后再訓政，諸言新政者皆予重誅。
Before long the Empress Dowager resumed regency, and all who had advocated the new policies were severely punished.
上欲開懋勤殿，設顧問官，令嗣同擬旨，必載明前朝故事，將親詣頤和園請命太后。
The emperor wished to open Maoqin Hall and establish advisory officials; he ordered Sitong to draft the edict, requiring it to set out former-dynasty precedents clearly, and planned personally to go to the Summer Palace to request the empress dowager’s approval.
越晨，太后自頤和園還宮，收政權。
The following morning, the empress dowager returned from the Summer Palace to the palace and took back political power.