The Last Empress
by Anchee Min
Bloomsbury, HK$176
Was the Dowager Empress Tzu Hsi - who executed court rivals and drained China's coffers as she plotted her own rise - simply the victim of bad publicity? In her new novel, The Last Empress, Anchee Min picks up where she left off in Empress Orchid, presenting a revisionist look at Tzu Hsi's years of power, her loneliness, sacrifices and strength.
Chinese scholars have long been fascinated by Tzu Hsi, traditionally depicting her as manipulative, ruthless and greedy. 'She was a mastermind of pure evil and intrigue,' says a communist textbook quoted by the author. Min has chosen a fresh point of view, portraying the ageing monarch as a loving mother and patriot who reluctantly retains power.
Unfortunately, although the material is rich, her characterisation of this fascinating woman feels thin, hampered by stodgy prose that does little to explain Tzu Hsi's motivation.
As the mother of the emperor, Tzu Hsi assumes the throne until her son, Tung Chih, reaches maturity. She watches with despair as he squanders his life, frequenting brothels instead of fulfilling his court duties, telling her 'the business of running the nation makes [him] sick, period'. When Tung Chih dies of a venereal disease at the age of 19, Tzu Hsi chooses her young nephew, Guang-hsu, as his successor, adopting him as her son.