# XVII: The Summer Palace and Its Grounds explained — With the Empress Dowager of China

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

## What happens

This chapter describes the Summer Palace, the Empress Dowager's favorite residence, detailing its natural beauty, architectural features, gardens, and the blend of nature and art. It also touches on the ruins of the old Summer Palace, the Temple of the Ten Thousand Buddhas, and the restricted view of the outside world for the imperial women.

## Themes in this chapter

### Art and Representation

The chapter explores Chinese architecture as an art form, blending nature and design, and the aesthetic of the palace grounds.

### Observation and Interpretation

Carl observes the palace and its grounds, interpreting Chinese culture and architecture for Western readers.

### Cultural Identity and Tradition

The description of the Summer Palace reflects Chinese cultural identity, including religious tolerance and the utilitarian spirit.

## Character check-ins

### Empress Dowager Tze-Hsi

Her favorite residence; she watches the road from the palace, points out the Emperor's approach, and feels keenly the foreign depredations to temples.

### Katherine A. Carl

The narrator, observing and describing the Summer Palace and its grounds.

### Emperor Kwang-Hsu

Seen returning from ceremonies in Peking, his approach announced by the Empress Dowager.

### Empress Dowager Tze-Hsi

Her Majesty's gardeners cultivate a green chrysanthemum variety that delights her.

## Key lines

> These views of the high road from the eminences of the Summer Palace were all Her Majesty and the young Empress ever saw of the outside world and common humanity

The only glimpse the Empress Dowager and the young Empress had of the outside world was from the heights of the Summer Palace, as they could not see beyond the palace walls elsewhere.

_Highlights the isolation of the imperial women._

> Nature and art are everywhere so blended, so harmonized, it is difficult to tell which is which.

The natural landscape and artistic design are so seamlessly integrated that it is hard to distinguish between them.

_Describes the aesthetic philosophy of the palace grounds._

> The Chinese are said to hate the foreigner. They certainly have not much reason to like him; nor to admire our much vaunted civilization.

Although the Chinese are said to dislike foreigners, they have little reason to appreciate them or to admire Western civilization, given the destruction and cruelty by foreign troops.

_Carl's critical reflection on foreign behavior in China._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/with_the_empress_dowager_of_china_se/chapters/xvii-the-summer-palace-and-its-grounds
- 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