A series of mysterious phenomena occurred during the funeral of Empress Dowager Cixi, leading to endless discussions among many people afterward.
Empress Dowager Cixi ruled and controlled the country for 47 years at the end of the Qing Dynasty. In the feudal era, for a woman to reach the pinnacle of power and hold it for nearly half a century is a testament to her extraordinary capabilities.
However, Empress Dowager Cixi also faced considerable opposition due to her extravagant lifestyle. After her death, many legends and mysteries emerged, among which the following six are considered the most intriguing.
Empress Dowager Cixi was a powerful woman who held the fate of the Qing Dynasty in its final years.
Unusual Weather Phenomena
According to historical records, on the day of Empress Dowager Cixi’s funeral, the weather became erratic. It was sunny at times, then rainy, and there were even thunder and lightning in clear skies. Many believed this was a sign of heaven’s discontent with Empress Dowager Cixi. Some even thought it was an ominous sign foretelling unfortunate events to come.
However, historians argue that the erratic weather was simply a natural phenomenon and had no relation to the death of Empress Dowager Cixi.
Life-Like Effigies
There were many rumors about the paper effigies used in Empress Dowager Cixi’s funeral. Attendees claimed that the effigies of soldiers and horses suddenly appeared lifelike, causing fear among the crowd.
Modern historians explain that this was merely a psychological effect. The oddity was due to the paper effigies swaying in the wind, creating an illusion for the onlookers.
The mysterious phenomena during Empress Dowager Cixi’s funeral caused panic among the people. (Photo: Sohu).
Blood Seeping from the Coffin
Many rumors circulated that during Empress Dowager Cixi’s funeral, blood flowed from her coffin, staining the ground red. Historians believe this could have been liquid leaking from the coffin, mistakenly perceived as blood. Others suggest that this phenomenon was merely fabricated to scare people.
Undecomposed Body
Years after Empress Dowager Cixi’s death, Sun Dianying led soldiers to her tomb to steal gold and jewels. However, when they opened her coffin, they were terrified to find her body intact, appearing as if she were merely sleeping. This sight frightened the tomb raiders immensely.
In reality, the preservation of Empress Dowager Cixi’s body was due to certain chemicals used in ancient embalming techniques. Historians have noted that ancient people commonly used mercury or wax for embalming, making bodies less prone to decomposition.
The Mysterious Pearl
According to rumors, Sun Dianying was not afraid; what he wanted was the pearl placed in Empress Dowager Cixi’s mouth. Surprisingly, as soon as the pearl was taken out, her body suddenly shriveled and began to decay. Many tomb raiders lost their composure and fled in panic.
Modern science explains that Empress Dowager Cixi’s body decayed after being exposed to air upon opening the coffin, leading to oxidation and decay. The pearl could not have activated any mysterious function to cause such a change to her body.
There are reports that after the coffin was opened, Empress Dowager Cixi’s body still appeared rosy, as if she had not died. (Photo: Sohu).
Body Covered in White Hair
After breaking into Empress Dowager Cixi’s tomb, some tomb raiders returned to continue plundering treasures inside. This time, they found her body covered in white hair, resembling mold. It seemed as though some force had altered her body.
However, historians contend that Empress Dowager Cixi’s body was merely affected by bacteria and fungi after exposure to air, leading to mold growth. This was, in fact, a normal biological process.
