The Precarious Reign of Emperor Tongzhi

Emperor Tongzhi (1856–1875), the ninth ruler of the Qing Dynasty, ascended the throne at the tender age of five following the death of his father, Emperor Xianfeng. His reign, which lasted from 1861 to 1875, was marked by the dominance of his mother, Empress Dowager Cixi, who ruled as regent behind the scenes. Though Tongzhi officially assumed personal rule in 1873, his authority remained heavily constrained by Cixi’s political machinations.

The young emperor’s personal life was no less controlled. Historical records reveal that even his intimate relations with his consorts were subject to strict protocols—a system inherited from the Ming Dynasty, where emperors had faced assassination attempts by palace women. According to Qing court regulations, the emperor could only visit a consort with prior approval from the empress, who would issue a stamped permit. Without this, even the Son of Heaven could be refused entry—a rule designed to prevent chaos in the imperial harem.

A Fateful Night and the Emperor’s Decline

In late 1874, Tongzhi fell gravely ill, widely believed to be from smallpox, though rumors of syphilis persisted due to his alleged visits to Beijing’s brothels. Confined to the palace and unable to seek outside pleasures, the emperor turned his attention to his consorts. One evening, in a moment of desperation, he begged Empress Xiaozheyi to allow him to visit Consort Hui, a favorite of Empress Dowager Cixi. The empress reluctantly agreed, stamping the necessary permit but warning him to “conserve his strength.” Tragically, the encounter reportedly worsened Tongzhi’s condition, and by morning, his health had drastically deteriorated.

The Controversial Deathbed Edict

As Tongzhi neared death, the question of succession loomed large. Multiple historical accounts suggest he attempted to dictate his final wishes, seeking to prevent Cixi from retaining power. According to The Unofficial History of the Qing Dynasty by Tian Gu, the emperor summoned his tutor, Grand Secretary Li Hongzao, and the empress to his bedside. In a private meeting, Tongzhi expressed his desire to avoid another regency, fearing Cixi’s continued dominance. He reportedly named Beile Zai Shu as his heir and dictated a secret edict to Li Hongzao, instructing him to limit Cixi’s influence.

However, Li Hongzao, terrified of Cixi’s wrath, betrayed the emperor. He immediately presented the edict to the empress dowager, who flew into a rage, destroyed the document, and allegedly cut off Tongzhi’s medical care and nourishment. The emperor died shortly afterward on January 12, 1875, at just 19 years old.

Other sources, such as Zhang Zuyi’s Unofficial Chronicles of the Qing, describe a dramatic confrontation between Empress Xiaozheyi and Cixi. As the empress tended to her dying husband, Cixi stormed in, seized a document from her, and burned it after reading its contents—likely Tongzhi’s final wishes regarding succession.

The Aftermath: A Reign Cut Short

Following Tongzhi’s death, Cixi orchestrated the enthronement of her nephew, the three-year-old Guangxu Emperor, ensuring her continued regency. Empress Xiaozheyi, now a widow without political protection, faced relentless persecution. When her father, Chongqi, visited and saw her despair, Cixi coldly remarked that the empress “ought to follow the late emperor.” Shortly after, Xiaozheyi received a single character from her father—”death” (死)—and died under suspicious circumstances, widely believed to have been forced into suicide.

Legacy and Historical Debate

The existence of Tongzhi’s deathbed edict remains contested among historians. While official records like The Donghua Records of the Guangxu Era vaguely reference a succession plan, unofficial accounts paint a darker picture of political suppression. What is undeniable is that Tongzhi’s reign—and his death—cemented Cixi’s grip on power for decades to come.

His tragic story reflects the brutal intersection of personal agency and imperial politics in late Qing China. Whether through illness, betrayal, or outright murder, Tongzhi’s brief life serves as a poignant reminder of the perilous world behind the Forbidden City’s walls—a world where even an emperor could be powerless against the machinations of those closest to him.

Today, historians continue to piece together the truth from fragmentary records, but one fact endures: the last days of Emperor Tongzhi were not just the end of a life, but a pivotal moment that shaped China’s turbulent path toward modernity.