Now reading-Empress Dowager Cixi （慈禧太后）

I remembered visiting The Forbidden City （故宫） in Beijing back in 2007 and was wowed by the magnificence of it. Took us 2 hrs to walk from 1 end to the other straight through. My tour guide was still joking with us that 1 of us might be a princess/ concubine / servant here in our previous life.

Born and raised in modern Singapore where my family don't practice favoritism on boys over girls, I totally cannot comprehend how women during the olden times took it in their stride that they are of lower status than men. 

Anyways saw this book in Popular the other day and was super tempted to buy but was too bulky. Then I walked past the shop last night and realised there's a 20% off store wide for English titles and immediately went to get this book. Hahah How auntie..

My latest read

My impression of Empress Dowager Cixi is only limited those shown in various dramas. More often than not, she was portray as a villain responsible for the downfall of Qing Dynasty. But how did a woman at that time managed to garner so much power to control the male dominated dynasty was interesting, at least to me.

Having only read through 3 chapters of the book, it strikes me that she is actually smarter and more far sighted that those portrayed in the dramas. But then again, its dependent on how the writer wants to portray her.

It is an interesting book, having to read the descriptions of the Qing dynasty in english is somewhat different. I struggled to try to understand some of the description since am more familiar with the chinese descriptions or words. Nevertheless, I think I am gonna enjoy this book.

Life is good when you find 1 good book to read every now and then. Brings me peace and relax my mind.