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|p=Cíxǐ Tàihòu

|p=Cíxǐ Tàihòu

|w=Tz'u-Hsi T'ai-hou

|w=Tz'u-Hsi T'ai-hou

}}During the Self-Strengthening Movement of the 1860s and 1870s, the government was led by the reformist Prince Gong. The Taiping rebels were defeated and attempts were made to modernize the army as well as various other sectors of society. The bureaucracy, which dominated the Qing government, remained unreformed and oriented toward the traditional examination system. After Cixi became sole regent in 1881, Prince Gong's influence declined. Cixi retired as regent in 1889 and took up residence at the Summer Palace outside Beijing. China's defeat by Japan in 1895 inspired a reformist movement led by Kang Youwei and Liang Qichao. During the "Hundred Days of Reform" in 1898, Guangxu issued numerous edicts inspired by reformist officials. Conservatives appealed to Cixi, who staged a coup that restored her authority. After the coup, Cixi kept the emperor confined at the Forbidden City. His life was saved only by the intervention of foreign powers.

}}During the Self-Strengthening Movement of the 1860s and 1870s, the government was led by the reformist Prince Gong. The Taiping rebels were defeated and attempts were made to modernize the army as well as various other sectors of society. The bureaucracy, which dominated the Qing government, remained unreformed. Qing bureaucrats were selected by the Imperial Examinations, which tested command of Classical Chinese and other archaic subjects.

 

After Cixi became sole regent in 1881, Prince Gong's influence declined. Cixi retired as regent in 1889 and took up residence at the Summer Palace outside Beijing. China's defeat by Japan in 1895 inspired a reformist movement led by Kang Youwei and Liang Qichao. During the "Hundred Days of Reform" in 1898, Guangxu issued numerous edicts inspired by reformist officials. Conservatives appealed to Cixi, who staged a coup that restored her authority. After the coup, Cixi kept the emperor confined at the Forbidden City. His life was saved only by the intervention of foreign powers.

After foreign armies occupied China in 1900 to suppress the Boxer Rebellion, Cixi turned to [[Yuan Shikai]], who implemented sweeping reforms similar to those proposed in 1898. An edict against footbinding was issued in 1902, the Imperial Examinations were abolished in 1905, and a National Assembly, with half the membership elected, met in 1910. Guangxu was poisoned, presumably at Cixi's command, the day before she died in 1908.

After foreign armies occupied China in 1900 to suppress the Boxer Rebellion, Cixi turned to [[Yuan Shikai]], who implemented sweeping reforms similar to those proposed in 1898. An edict against footbinding was issued in 1902, the Imperial Examinations were abolished in 1905, and a National Assembly, with half the membership elected, met in 1910. Guangxu was poisoned, presumably at Cixi's command, the day before she died in 1908.