Empress Dowager Cixi: The Concubine Who Took Control of China

She entered the Forbidden City as a concubine, but rose to become the most powerful woman in Qing China. For 47 years, Empress Dowager Cixi shaped an empire, survived palace plots, outmaneuvered rivals, and became one of history’s most controversial rulers. Was she a villain, a survivor, or simply misunderstood?