The late Qing Dynasty was an era full of luxury and corruption, change and conservatism. In this special historical background, Sigege, with its peerless appearance and tragic fate, has become the most dazzling but also the most sorrowful footnote of that era.
Si Gege, the daughter of Prince Qing Yixuan, her beauty is unmatched in the court, and she is known as the first beauty in the late Qing Dynasty. However, her father, Yixuan, was the most corrupt official at the time, and the level of corruption was shocking. According to historical records, Yi Liang accepted a bribe of up to one million taels of silver on one birthday, and his posthumous deposit in HSBC was as high as two million taels, which was undoubtedly an astronomical amount at the time.
Sigege's life was destined to be extraordinary from the beginning. She was favored by the Empress Dowager Cixi, and often accompanied Cixi, becoming one of the Empress Dowager's favorite court women. Under the arrangement of the Empress Dowager Cixi, Sigege married the ninth son of Yulu, the governor of Zhili, although this was a political marriage, but the relationship between the husband and wife was very harmonious.
However, the good times did not last long, and the Empress Dowager Cixi kept her in the palace for a long time because of her love for Sigege, resulting in less and more separation between the husband and wife. Soon after, Sigege's husband died of depression, and Sigege has been widowed ever since, and her personal life has fallen into deep sorrow.
In the life of the Empress Dowager Cixi, photography was an important recreational activity. Empress Dowager Cixi's love for photography was almost to the point of obsession. Every month on the auspicious days of the zodiac, Cixi would ask the royal photographer Yu Xunling to take pictures of her. In these photos, Si Ge is always indispensable, and her beauty and temperament add a lot to these photos.
Especially when the Empress Dowager Cixi took a photo of Guanyin's image, Si Gege was asked to play the dragon girl. However, due to the fact that her husband was in mourning at the time, Sigegen was reluctant to play this role. But under the persuasion of her family, she finally reluctantly agreed. In the photo, we can see Si Gege's sad expression, which undoubtedly reflects her inner helplessness and sadness.
Sigege's life is a microcosm of court life in the late Qing Dynasty. Her story shows us the complex relationship between power, favor and personal tragedy among women in that era. Her life has both the glory and favor of court women, as well as the helplessness and sorrow of personal fate. Sigege's beauty and intelligence made her favored at court, but her personal life was tragic. Her husband died young, leaving no heirs, which had a huge impact on her life.
The story of Sigege is a profound reflection on court life in the late Qing Dynasty. Her life experience allows us to see the helplessness and sorrow of women in that era, and also gives us a deeper understanding of that era. Sigege's life, although short, has left an indelible mark on history. Her story is the best testimony of that era, and it is also the most profound reflection on that era.
Text/Compendium