Unlike many other women in the imperial harem, Empress Dowager Cixi was known for her ability to read and write. This provided her ample opportunities to help the ailing emperor in daily state governing. On various occasions, the Xianfeng Emperor had Cixi read palace memorials for him, and leave comments on the memorials according to his will. As a result, Cixi became well-informed about state affairs, and learned the techniques of state governing from the ailing emperor. Historians both home and abroad have generally portrayed her as a sinner responsible for the fall of the Dynasty.
與后宮（the imperial harem）其他許多女人不同，慈禧（Empress Dowager Cixi）因讀寫漢字的能力而受重視。這給她提供了充足的機會來協(xié)助生病的皇帝處理國家日常事務。咸豐帝（Xianfeng Emperor）曾多次讓慈禧讀奏折（palace memorials）給他聽，并讓她按照他的意愿在奏折上寫批復。因此，慈禧對國家大事十分熟悉，并且從生病的皇帝那兒學會了管理國家的藝術。國內外的歷史學家普遍都把她描述成造成王朝沒落的罪人（sinner）。
