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Historical Fiction - China's Last Empress

PostPosted: June 19th, 2013, 3:17 am
by laurainnedelrosario
The history books claim it, she was the herald for Imperial China's crumble.

Ever since I was in my teens, I have always been interested with China's imperial rule. Particularly, I was fascinated with ancient traditions, their lifestyle and how much they value respect for authority. So as I was bookstore hopping one afternoon, I came across Anchee Min's Empress Orchid.

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Immediately, my heart skipped a bit, like it was telling me that I was meant to read this book. :D Published in 2004, Empress Orchid is a fictional narrative of Orchid Yehonala's humble beginnings before she was chosen as one of the seven concubines of Emperor Hsien Feng. I admire Min's depiction of the Lady Yehonala's rags to riches story. From the province of Wuhu to the walls of the Forbidden City, Orchid's journey was hard earned.

Thru Orchid's shoes, I was taken inside the Forbidden City. I was so amazed at how Min was able to capture what it's like to be inside its walls. It was so vivid that I wanted to jump inside the book. I wanted to see how life flourished in an era where women had their feet bound and how men selected their women by the size of their lotus feet. The smaller, the more arousing it was for them. It was also the first time I've heard about eunuchs and why they have to be dismembered if they ought to work for the royal family. Moreover, it was fascinating how Imperial China valued authority. A bend from the Emperor's words would immediately mean facing death thru beheading. That may also be the reason why men of that age value honor above all.

Delving deeper into the subject herself, history taught us that this Lady Yehonala brought her empire to its downfall; however, I saw her as a force to be reckoned with. She even worked her way to succeed in being Hsien Feng's major concubine. Fortunately, she bore him a son, promoting her to the Empress status. These all happened in a time when women were subdued by men, making them mistresses not of their own lives and ambitions. Orchid defied this concept by doing what she deemed best for her.

In a time when the world was male-dominated, Orchid stood out. She made herself heard despite the danger they all faced in losing a political system which has thrived for centuries. She did think how the men around her think and she was most of the time objective in the decisions she has to make. This is what I loved about Min's depiction of her character. Orchid became a heroine who, if placed in today's generation, would most likely succeed in business, politics and in her own household. She was a woman who stood her ground, self-assured regardless of what her society shoots at her. Indeed, Min's Orchid is an inspiration to me and probably to those who have read this as well.

Re: Historical Fiction - China's Last Empress

PostPosted: June 20th, 2013, 8:31 am
by jemchan_n
Ooooh. :D Sounds interesting. Will add this to my list of books to buy. haha medyo mahaba na yung list pero thanks for the recommendation, Laui! :D

Re: Historical Fiction - China's Last Empress

PostPosted: June 20th, 2013, 1:00 pm
by laurainnedelrosario
jemchan_n wrote:Ooooh. :D Sounds interesting. Will add this to my list of books to buy. haha medyo mahaba na yung list pero thanks for the recommendation, Laui! :D


Sure thing Jem! May sequel din ito. It's called The Last Empress. :)

Re: Historical Fiction - China's Last Empress

PostPosted: June 20th, 2013, 5:36 pm
by Bagamundo
is she the concubine sent by the rival emperor to seduce this other emperor?

Re: Historical Fiction - China's Last Empress

PostPosted: June 20th, 2013, 5:45 pm
by laurainnedelrosario
Bagamundo wrote:is she the concubine sent by the rival emperor to seduce this other emperor?


I didn't see that in what I've read although that concubine you're saying sounds familiar to me.

Orchid got into the list of concubines-to-be because of her father's lineage. :)

Re: Historical Fiction - China's Last Empress

PostPosted: June 20th, 2013, 5:50 pm
by Bagamundo
hehe i got to re-read that story again to check.