# III: The Palace of the Emperor’s Father (Prince Ch’un, the Seventh Prince) explained — With the Empress Dowager of China

> Chapter companion for With the Empress Dowager of China by Katharine A. Carl.

## What happens

Katherine Carl describes her new residence, the Palace of the Emperor’s Father, which was restored for her by the Empress Dowager. She explores the grounds, discovers a poem inscribed by Prince Ch’un, and reflects on the Prince’s character and the Chinese customs of rank and transportation.

## Themes in this chapter

### Observation and Interpretation

Carl observes the palace grounds, Chinese customs, and the poem, interpreting them for Western readers.

### Cultural Identity and Tradition

The chapter highlights Chinese traditions such as poetry, tombstone inscriptions, and rank-based transportation.

### Loyalty and Patronage

The Empress Dowager's patronage of Carl and the Prince's loyalty to the Empress are evident.

## Character check-ins

### Empress Dowager Tze-Hsi

Set aside the palace for Carl's use and had it restored.

### Katherine A. Carl

Narrator and resident of the palace; explores the grounds and observes Chinese customs.

### Prince Ch'un

The Seventh Prince, father of the Emperor, whose palace this was; known for his poem and love of animals.

### Emperor Kwang-Hsu

Son of Prince Ch'un, lived in these pavilions after being chosen as heir.

### Emperor Hsien-Feng

Brother of Prince Ch'un and husband of the Empress Dowager.

### Late Emperor Tung-Chih

Died childless; his successor was chosen from nephews, leading to the selection of Prince Ch'un's son.

## Key lines

> The Palace, like all others in China, consisted of a network of verandahed pavilions built around spacious courts.

The palace, typical of Chinese architecture, was a complex of open-sided buildings surrounding large courtyards.

_Describes the layout of the palace._

> The Chinese write with a brush well charged with liquid India ink, and their writing accommodates itself to almost any surface.

Chinese calligraphy uses a brush and ink, and can be written on any surface.

_Explains the method of writing the poem._

> One can tell the rank of the Chinese from the outsides of their chairs or carts.

A person's social status is indicated by the color and style of their transportation.

_Highlights the visual markers of rank in Chinese society._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/with_the_empress_dowager_of_china_se/chapters/iii-the-palace-of-the-emperor-s-father-prince-ch-un-the-seventh-prince
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/with_the_empress_dowager_of_china_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/with_the_empress_dowager_of_china_se/chapters