Among the many film and television works currently featuring the late Manchu Qing Dynasty, most viewers must not be unfamiliar with the phenomenon of calling Cixi "Lafayette", right?
So, although Cixi has held the power of the government in her hands for a long time, she has gone from listening to politics behind the curtain to directly controlling the emperor. But no matter how tough Cixi's political methods were, she always regarded herself as the Queen Mother, and the word "Lafayette" is obviously more suitable for men. Therefore, many people are confused about the origin of the title Cixi.
According to the historical records in the "Unofficial History of the Qing Dynasty", "The Empress Dowager Xiaoqin once performed the Avalokitesvara in her spare time". The general meaning of this sentence is that Cixi once made the Avalokitesvara in her spare time. Dressing up Guanyin is the same as cosplay as we know it now. In the large-scale historical drama "Toward Peace", there was also a scene where Cixi dressed in Guanyin costumes and posed for photos in front of foreign cameras. Li Lianying and the palace maids around her even dressed up as golden boys and girls. It's really ridiculous.
But judging from the above historical data, it was precisely because of this approach that Cixi was flattered by people around her as "Lafayette". However, it is said that there is another rumor about the origin of the title Cixi Lafayette. One time, there was little rain in the capital, and Cixi, who believed in Buddhism, chose an auspicious day and led all the courtiers in the palace to pray for rain. Strange to say, in the capital that had been dry for a long time, after Cixi prayed for rain, it started pouring rain just three days later, washing away the heat in the capital.
At this time, the eunuch Li Lianying seized the opportunity and flattered his master, saying that Cixi was inspired by heaven and humans, just like the reincarnation of Buddha. In this way, the title of Empress Dowager Cixi spread.
However, although when we mention Lafayette now, we will naturally think of the dictatorial Empress Dowager Cixi. In fact, according to the research of historians, the title Lafayette actually does not only appear in Cixi. On my body. Judging from documentary records, the Jurchen people's religious beliefs are more shamanistic, but after long-term integration with the Central Plains culture, most Jurchen people began to believe in Buddhism.
Before the Manchus entered the customs, Buddhism had become the main belief among the Jurchen people, including the rulers, without exception. Therefore, the title "Lafayette" was originally applied to all Manchu emperors. Because from a semantic point of view, the patriarch of the Jurchen tribe was called "Manzhu" a long time ago, and this title is particularly similar to "Manshu" in Buddhism. You should know that Manshu also belongs to a type of Buddhist name in the Jurchen language system.
So, after taking over the Central Plains, the Jurchen culture and the Central Plains culture merged rapidly, gradually producing many transliterated texts, including the transformation process of Manzhu? Manshu? Buddha. Since Manzhu was originally used to refer to the leader of the Jurchen tribe, after the establishment of the Manchu Qing regime, rulers of all dynasties could be called Buddha. As for adding the word "老" in front of Buddha, it is normal. A phenomenon. This also reflects that Cixi was the true ruler in the late Qing Dynasty.
It can be seen that Lafayette is not the patent of Cixi alone, but if such a word appears in dynasties other than the Manchu and Qing Dynasties, it will be inconsistent with historical data!