# Peking—The Sea Palace explained — With the Empress Dowager of China

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

## What happens

The Empress Dowager Tze-Hsi prepares to move the court to the Sea Palace in Peking, allowing Katherine Carl to stay at the American Legation. Carl visits the Sea Palace, explores its temples and grounds, and observes the Empress Dowager's reverence for the portrait as a sacred object.

## Themes in this chapter

### Art and Representation

The portrait of the Empress Dowager is treated as a sacred object, reflecting the Chinese view of imperial likenesses as holy.

### East-West Encounter

The American Legation blends Chinese architecture with American comfort, and Mrs. Conger's social initiatives bridge cultural gaps.

### Observation and Interpretation

Carl observes and describes the Sea Palace, its temples, and the Empress Dowager's customs, offering her own interpretations.

## Character check-ins

### Empress Dowager Tze-Hsi

Directs the arrangement of the portrait and materials, treats the portrait as sacred, and suggests Carl visit the Sea Palace.

### Katherine A. Carl

Visits the American Legation and the Sea Palace, observing the Empress Dowager's customs and the palace grounds.

### Mrs. Conger

Hosts Carl at the American Legation and is noted for her initiative in entertaining Chinese ladies.

### Lady Yu-Keng

Joins Carl at the Hsien-Liang-Hsu and accompanies her to the Sea Palace.

## Key lines

> She ordered the “sacred picture” (for this is what the Chinese call a likeness of a reigning Emperor or Empress) to be attached to the wall with yellow cords and covered with a transparent yellow silk, boxlike screen, which had been especially made to protect it from dust.

The Empress Dowager instructed that the portrait, considered sacred by the Chinese, be hung with yellow cords and shielded by a yellow silk screen.

_Highlights the sacred treatment of imperial portraits._

> Mrs. Conger, by her own individual initiative, has done much to bring about a friendly social feeling between the Chinese and foreign ladies.

Mrs. Conger took the lead in fostering friendly relations between Chinese and foreign women.

_Emphasizes Mrs. Conger's role in cultural diplomacy._

> It seems a strange anomaly to see this Christian Church within the Precincts of the Palace of an Oriental potentate, who is one of the representatives on earth of the “Great Buddha.”

Carl finds it odd to see a Christian church inside the grounds of a Buddhist ruler's palace.

_Reflects on the juxtaposition of religions and cultures._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/with_the_empress_dowager_of_china_se/chapters/x-peking-the-sea-palace
- 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