From Concubine to Dowager Empress: Cixi

This monograph examines the perception of the Chinese dowager empress Cixi — the de facto ruler of China for nearly half a century — in the public opinion of Russia at the end of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th centuries, exploring Cixi's life journey from concubine to dowager empress, her political activities, her role in key events of the era, including the Boxer Rebellion, as well as her everyday life and personal characteristics that reveal the private side of the ruler's life. The study is based on a comprehensive analysis of archival materials and periodicals, which contributes to a more accurate description of the image of Cixi in the perceptions of the Russian public and uncovers new aspects of the perception of the 'image of the other' in the context of Russian-Chinese relations. The book is intended for specialists in history, teachers, students, and a wide range of readers interested in the history of Russian-Chinese relations.