#xunling

Xunling, The Empress Dowager Cixi with foreign envoys’ wives

by National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution

This is an iconic photo of Cixi (1835–1908), the Empress Dowager of Qing China (1644–1911), in the early 1900s. It was taken in the Hall of Happiness and Longevity (Leshou tang) in the Summer Palace, Beijing. Cixi sits at the center. Behind her is a banner that says “Long Live the Current Divine Mother Empress Dowager of the Great Qing Empire for Ten Thousand Years.” Her embroidered robe is covered with stylized longevity characters and chrysanthemums, a symbol for long life. The auspicious emblems signify the wish of longevity for herself and, by extension, for the Qing dynasty. Standing around her are the wives of foreign envoys. The woman holding Cixi’s hand is Sarah Pike Conger (c. 1843–1932), wife of the American diplomat to Beijing. Conger spoke highly of Cixi’s many virtues in newspaper articles and books. Their holding hands is a gesture of friendship. Each of the foreign women holds a folding fan and wears a bottle gourd pendant (a symbol of fortune and prosperity). These are probably gifts from Cixi. They signify good relationships between the Qing court and the respective countries that these women are from.

The Archives of the Free Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler gallery contain 36 original glass-plate negatives taken between 1903-1905 of the inner Qing court. These portraits of the Empress Dowager Cixi (慈禧太后) were taken by photographer Xunling (1874-1943) between 1903-1905 are more Western than Eastern in style. Cixi was the dominant figure in the Qing court for more than 45 years until her death in 1908. To counter her reputation for cruelty and treachery in the West, to control her image, and to reach out to foreign nations through personal diplomacy, her advisors suggested appointing Manchus with overseas experience to assist Cixi in social contact with Westerners. As one of these foreign-raised Manchus, Xunling (c.1880-1943), the son of the former ambassador to Tokyo and Paris, was engaged in taking a series of individual portraits and elaborate group tableaux depicting Cixi and her attendants. The Empress Dowager often used the portraits as gifts for visiting dignitaries such as Theodore Roosevelt, distributed to ministers and hung in the palace.

Image 1: Empress Dowager Cixi, 1903-1905.

Image 2: Empress Dowager Cixi with foreign envoys' wives in Leshoutang, Summer Palace, Beijing, China, Qing dynasty, 1903-1904. The woman to the right of Cixi is Sarah Pike Conger (born c.1843-?), wife of Edwin Hurd Conger, American Minister Plenipotentiary and Envoy Extraordinary to Beijing. The young girl, Lily, is the daughter of the photographer.

Image 3: Empress Dowager Cixi seated and holding a fan, 1903-1905. 

Image 4: The Empress Dowager Cixi in the guise of Avalokitesvara, China, 1903. Left of her is the Fourth Princess (fourth daughter of Prince Qing). To her right is First Chief Eunuch, Li Lianying.

Image 5: The Empress Dowager Cixi in snow accompanied by attendants. From left to right: Second Chief Eunuch Cui Yugui, Princes Der Ling (Deling), Cixi.

Image 6: Exmpress Dowager Cixi and attendants on the imperial barge on Zhonghai Lake, Beijing, 1903-1905. Cixi with unidentified eunuchs, Rongling and Fourth Princess.

Image 7: Empress Dowager Cixi surrounded by attendants in front of Renshoudian, Summer Palace, Beijing, 1903-1905. Left front: Second Chief Eunuch Cui Yugui. Right front: First Chief Eunuch Li Lianying. Left of Cixi: Empress Longyu. Far left of Cixi: Jinfei. Right of Cixi: Fourth Princess (daughter of Prince Qing). The dog named "Sea Otter" in front of Cixi is her favourite.

Image 8: Empress Dowager Cixi in the guise of Avalokitesvara, 1903. Fromt left to right: Second Chief Eunuch Cui Yugui, Cixi, First Chief Eunuch Li Lianying.

More info: Smithsonian Magazine, Trans-Asia Photography Review, Smithsonian Institution Archives,