Yangwen Zheng

Yangwen Zheng, a Professor of Chinese History, and Rana Mitter, the S.T. Lee Professor of US-Asia Relations, delve into the life of Empress Dowager Cixi, the powerful matriarch of the Qing dynasty. They discuss her rise from concubine to ruler, her political savvy in a turbulent time, and the modernization reforms she attempted amid external pressures. The conversation highlights her complex legacy, exploring how her decisions shaped modern China's trajectory and the perception of her role during crises like the Sino-Japanese War.

Sophie Duker, award-winning comedian, brings sharp humor and quiz antics. Professor Yangwen Zheng, a Manchester expert on Ming-Qing politics, provides historical context. They trace Cixi’s rise from a low-ranked concubine to de facto ruler, palace life and power plays, regencies and succession intrigue, reforms amid wars, the Boxer crisis, and how she shaped late Qing China.