The Fox Wife

The Qing dynasty, the last imperial dynasty in China’s two millennia of imperial rule, began in 1644 and officially ended in 1912 after the Xinhai Revolution of 1911. The fall of the dynasty was largely driven by internal political turmoil and international pressures and influences. The dynasty was known for its corruption, inefficient governance, and rigid social structure that privileged an elite few. The population was beset with widespread poverty and famine, and the dynasty failed to adapt to the changing needs of the country. The tax system placed a disproportionate financial burden on the peasantry, leading to widespread social discontent and a failure to modernize the country’s economy, military, and infrastructure. 

Internationally, the Qing imperial family faced mounting pressure from Japanese imperialism and Western powers after the Opium Wars and their resulting treaties in the mid-19th century. The Treaty of Nanking in 1842 ceded Hong Kong to the British, opened five ports to British trade, and gave extraterritorial rights to British citizens, along with a large indemnity. The Treaty of Tientsin in 1858 granted Western powers access to Chinese markets and legalized the opium trade, which increased local opium addiction rates and allowed the establishment of foreign embassies in Beijing.