咸同之际两宫皇太后的理政听政与垂帘

A Re-Examination on the Practice of “Ruling Behind the Curtains” by Express Dowagers Cixi and Ci'An after the Death of Xianfeng Emperor

晚清时期,新继位的几位皇帝年龄太小,不能立即亲政,于是出现了非正常状态的太后理政、听政与垂帘等皇权运作模式。其实,两宫太后垂帘听政的仪制,很快发生了重要的变化,学界所谓慈禧太后三次垂帘听政的说法有误,至少不够准确。所垂之帘,只是黄色的纱幔或纱屏;至迟在同治九年六月,两宫太后召见大臣时,即已不再垂帘;听政的地点除了养心殿的明殿或东暖阁,后来又包括养心殿西暖阁、乾清宫西暖阁、西苑勤政殿的东暖阁、颐和园仁寿殿之北楹。严格说来,慈禧共有三次听政或训政,其中只有第一次是垂帘。

It is generally agreed by historians that the practice of ＂ruling behind the curtains＂ by Empress Dowager Cixi occurred for three times when the emperors were too young to be a decision-maker in the late Qing Empire. However,this re- search,after a detailed documentary study, found that the aforementioned perspective is not accurate due to significant chan- ges in this practice. It is found that the ＂yellow curtains＂ were already removed in June 1870（the ninth year of Tongzhi＇s reign） when the two Empress Dowagers granted audiences, issued imperial orders, or dealt with other kinds of state affairs in the court. Furthermore,this documentary study also found that the locations o{ ＂listening to politics behind the curtains＂ kept changing and included Hall of Mental Cultivation, Palace of Heavenly Purity, Hall of Diligent Government, and Hall of Be nevolence and Longevity in Summer Palace. Therefore,this research concluded that the practice of Empress Dowager Cixi＇s ＂listening to politics behind the curtains＂ occurred for only one time during her 47 years＇ rule from ＂behind the curtains＂.