Princess of Qing? The real Der Ling and Cixi
Schedule
Sat, 18 Apr, 2026 at 05:00 pm
UTC+08:00Location
library@chinatown | Singapore, SG
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The talk explores the fascinating life of Der Ling, a court lady who later presented herself to Western audiences as a Qing princess and confidante of the powerful Empress Dowager Cixi. Drawing on her bestselling memoir Two Years in the Forbidden City and other writings, we revisit her colourful stories of palace life, from court rituals to private conversations with Cixi, before asking a crucial question: how much of it was true? By comparing her dramatic accounts with historical records of the Qing court, this talk uncovers the gap between legend and reality, and invites audiences to rethink what we really know about both Der Ling and the last years of imperial China.
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Where is it happening?
library@chinatown, #04-12, Chinatown Point,SingaporeEvent Location & Nearby Stays:
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