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.
与后宫（the imperial harem）其他许多女人不同，慈禧（Empress Dowager Cixi）因读写汉字的能力而受重视。这给她提供了充足的机会来协助生病的皇帝处理国家日常事务。咸丰帝（Xianfeng Emperor）曾多次让慈禧读奏折（palace memorials）给他听，并让她按照他的意愿在奏折上写批复。因此，慈禧对国家大事十分熟悉，并且从生病的皇帝那儿学会了管理国家的艺术。国内外的历史学家普遍都把她描述成造成王朝没落的罪人（sinner）。
