Many things happened during the reign of Cixi. With the further invasion of western capitalism, the rural natural economy, on which feudal rulers ruled, began to disintegrate, and the feudal culture began to shake. It is found that the Reform Movement of 1898 in the 24th year of Guangxu (1898) was an innovative movement that advocated learning from the West and promoting science and culture.
But the reform interfered with the interests of the old school headed by Cixi. So, in September of 2 1 65438, Empress Dowager Cixi launched the coup of 1898 and imprisoned Emperor Guangxu. The Reform Movement of 1898 finally failed after only 103 days.
There is no doubt that Cixi is a stubborn conservative, including all aspects of life. There was once a French electric light merchant who wanted to introduce electric light into China. He bribed Li, the most valued eunuch around Cixi, to introduce the electric light to Cixi.
Li arranged electric lights in Cixi's bedroom. Seeing that her face was livid, Cixi even asked: What are these glowing eggplants? Take it away! The light of electric lamp and candle is very different. Without electric lights, Cixi's routine is similar to that of ordinary people. She goes to bed early and gets up early.
According to Xiao Rongzi, one of Cixi's favorite maids, Cixi got up very early and got up after three in the morning. Perhaps it is the way of keeping in good health that Cixi heard from somewhere. But Cixi didn't go to the early court until 8 o'clock, and there were still four or five hours in the middle. Why did Cixi go?
First get ready to get up.
If we want to get up early, we usually set an alarm clock first and wake up the next day when the alarm clock rings. But there was no alarm clock in ancient times. What do we do? The eunuchs and maids around Cixi have become artificial alarm clocks. They will take turns to stand guard and whisper in Cixi's ear when she gets up? Lucky for Lafayette, lucky for Lafayette? The voice slowly increased until Cixi got up.
Second, wash lightly.
When Cixi wakes up, the maid-in-waiting eunuch will bring something to wash and then light candles. After Cixi washes, the maid-in-waiting will dress her with clothes, shoes and socks, which is the second stage.
Third, comb your hair
Looking at the old photos of Cixi, you can know that Cixi's hair is combed smoothly. In fact, Cixi combs her hair once in the morning and evening, which takes at least 30 minutes each time. It takes longer to comb her hair in the morning, because she still needs to do it, and it takes almost an hour to wash her hair.
Make up for the fourth time
Everyone loves beauty, and the most direct way for women to become more beautiful is to make up. In fact, makeup is not a patent of modern people. There were many cosmetics in ancient times. It is conceivable that Cixi's cosmetics are as rich as modern people, and it will take more time, almost two or three hours.
Fifth, eat breakfast.
Cixi, regardless of the morning, noon and night, is in accordance with? Man-Han banquet? From the standard, at least 100 dishes. Although breakfast is a little lighter than Chinese food and dinner, the dishes are still very rich. What to prepare fried sesame cakes, radish cakes, sugar cakes, all kinds of milk, goat milk, Cixi also has the habit of drinking human milk, because she thinks that drinking human milk can prolong the life span of a beauty.
Everything will be cleaned up before going to court. We can observe that Cixi spends most of her time dressing herself up. It must be said that women's love of beauty can be described as the integration of ancient and modern times, but Cixi is more exaggerated. It may take two or three hours to make up.