Empress Orchid (Empress Orchid, #1)

Jul 29, 2007 Bookshop rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction

I can't say exactly whether this book is a work of fiction or a biography. It tells the story of Ci Xi, China's Last Empress (the one who arranged the ascend of China's Last Emperor, Pu Yi) in her own voice. Ci Xi has always been portrayed as a ruthless, evil woman with insatiable thirst for power and, in this book, she's described as a simple and sensuous woman who wants the best for her husband, a mother who wants her son to have what's rightfully his, and a I-don't-know-what who wants the bes...more I can't say exactly whether this book is a work of fiction or a biography. It tells the story of Ci Xi, China's Last Empress (the one who arranged the ascend of China's Last Emperor, Pu Yi) in her own voice. Ci Xi has always been portrayed as a ruthless, evil woman with insatiable thirst for power and, in this book, she's described as a simple and sensuous woman who wants the best for her husband, a mother who wants her son to have what's rightfully his, and a I-don't-know-what who wants the best for China.

The book starts off well: funny and engaging. I couldn't put it down. However to wards the end, it gets rather dishonest: this poor, uneducated girl has blossomed into a modern ruler who understands the need for foreign diplomacy and statesmanship (she authorized voting, for God's sake). OK, perhaps I'm not being fair here but the images toward the end of the book are closer to Hillary Clinton among books and state documents rather than Imperial China where the Emperor has the absolute power. All these are true accounts actually, it's just the portrayal that I think is exaggerated.

Unfortunately, the story ends when the son becomes the Emperor. The years following that, actually, are the most important ones which establishes her reputation as a powerful, ambitious, and intelligent Empress.

Writing style, it's nice and simple. Words and phrases flow well. Everything can be summarized in the following excerpt from Julia Lovell's review for the Guardian:

"Considering Anchee Min grew up in China and, according to her author biography, learned her English from Sesame Street, the language is generally pretty competent, and sometimes even engaging: bamboo rafts drift down a river "like a giant loose necklace". At other, less assured points, unfortunately, the tone swings queasily between fortune cookie wisdom ("A dead camel is bigger than a live horse"), Mills & Boon ("Take me," the empress gasps at Yung Lu when they find themselves alone together in the emperor's tomb) and the downright eccentric ("My body fermented like a steamed bun"). "

An easy read, for sure. Can get quite funny in the beginning. And the historical events, accurate or not, are quite harmless.

PS: expect a few erotically charged scenes in this book. Who says Asians are prudes? (less)

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Jan 21, 2013 Katsumi rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: memoirs, romance-erotic-affairs

This book is filled with drama, intrique, loyalty, corruption, forbidden love and mystery. The Forbidden City is a totally different world for the book's heroine, Orchid, who becomes one of the Emperor's wives at the age of 17. Ms. Min has written a spellbinding novel, with colorful and interesting characters, rich detail and a vivid, interesting history of China, complete with details on customs, rituals and distictions between the Manchu's and the Chinese. Orchid and her eunech, An-te-hai will...more

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Apr 09, 2010 Dioskoroi rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Bayangkan jika kamu seorang gadis kurang beruntung -- ayahmu dicopot dari jabatannya sebagai gubernur rendahan hingga meninggal karena stres, dan kamu terpaksa menumpang di rumah pamanmu, terancam dinikahkan dengan sepupu yang jelek bin idiot -- dan ternyata kamu mendapat kesempatan tinggal di kota terlarang: tempat (mungkin) tiga ribu wanita bersaing memperebutkan cinta dari seorang lelaki, sang Putra Langit yang tidak mengenal istilah "seorang pendamping hidup" (buat apa, toh dia punya persedi...more Bayangkan jika kamu seorang gadis kurang beruntung -- ayahmu dicopot dari jabatannya sebagai gubernur rendahan hingga meninggal karena stres, dan kamu terpaksa menumpang di rumah pamanmu, terancam dinikahkan dengan sepupu yang jelek bin idiot -- dan ternyata kamu mendapat kesempatan tinggal di kota terlarang: tempat (mungkin) tiga ribu wanita bersaing memperebutkan cinta dari seorang lelaki, sang Putra Langit yang tidak mengenal istilah "seorang pendamping hidup" (buat apa, toh dia punya persediaan selir untuk 8 tahun yang gak bakal abis kalo digilir tiap malam).

Pertanyaannya adalah: apakah kamu akan merasa beruntung, ato malah semakin meratapi nasib? Bagaimanapun menjadi seorang wanita istana berarti harus bersabar melihat suamimu dibagi dengan sekian ribu selirnya yang lain (doh, bayanginnya aja udah bikin makan ati).

Putri Yehonala memutuskan untuk mengadu nasib di kota terlarang -- menjadi satu dari enam "istri" Kaisar, mengalami suka duka kehidupan pernikahan ala Istana ketika dinasti Ch'ing tengah sekarat karena tekanan bangsa asing (Inggris, Prancis dan perang candu mereka).

Sebagai The Last Empress Cina, Yehonala digambarkan sebagai wanita picik haus kekuasaan yang menjadi icon penyebab keruntuhan dinasti Ch'ing. Namun dalam bukunya, Anchee Min sukses memberikan sentuhan berbeda pada sang Maharani. Yehonala digambarkan sebagai wanita yang menginginkan yang terbaik untuk suaminya, sang Kaisar, untuk anaknya, sang Kaisar muda, dan untuk negerinya: Cina.

Berhasil survive dari intrik kota terlarang, menjadi selir kesayangan Kaisar, dan menjadi ibu dari pewaris tahta kekaisaran, Yehonala juga mencicipi berbagai kepahitan hidup: "ditinggalkan" Kaisar ketika tengah mengandung, harus berbagi putranya dengan sang permaisuri, hingga melihat suaminya mati dalam keterhinaan.

Kisahnya sarat dengan intrik, dengan berbagai konflik yang asik untuk direnungkan. Saya terutama suka sekali penggambaran emosi dan karakter Yehonala yang bisa begitu kuat namun juga lemah, baik dan kejam.

Bayangkan seorang wanita-bukan-siapa2 yang sukses mematahkan sistem patriakal dan berhasil menjadi seorang pemimpin di dunia yang didominasi lelaki: memerintah dengan berpura2 tidak tahu cara memerintah, begitu yang diakuinya.

Satu poin paling menarik buat saya adalah kehidupan kota terlarang itu sendiri yang begitu kejam dan sarat intrik. Betapa mudahnya seorang favorit Kaisar dicampakkan dan bahkan diberi hukuman mati. Tempat dimana hari esok tampak sebagai bayangan kabur, tidak terprediksikan. Sehari kamu berkuasa dan hari berikutnya seseorang memerintahkan kamu diberi hukuman potong anggota tubuh dan memaksa kamu hidup teronggok di dalam guci.

Akhir kata: saya resmi jadi team Yehonala !! Keren !!
Sangat direkomendasikan..(less)

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Sep 15, 2008 Elizabeth rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: historical fiction junkies

I didn't enjoy this book as much as "Becoming Madame Mao" and "Red Azalea," and would be more apt to award it 3 and a half stars if that rating were available.

Regardless, the book depicts a fascinating time in Chinese history. Imperial China, deeply rooted in ritual and tradition, comes alive in Min's novel about the last Empress of China, Tzu Hsi. I enjoy rags to riches stories, but this one comes at a cost. Imperial life is lavish, yet stifling. The Forbidden City is a place of danger and intr...more I didn't enjoy this book as much as "Becoming Madame Mao" and "Red Azalea," and would be more apt to award it 3 and a half stars if that rating were available.

Regardless, the book depicts a fascinating time in Chinese history. Imperial China, deeply rooted in ritual and tradition, comes alive in Min's novel about the last Empress of China, Tzu Hsi. I enjoy rags to riches stories, but this one comes at a cost. Imperial life is lavish, yet stifling. The Forbidden City is a place of danger and intrigue, and Min works to build tension and suspense in Orchid's early life as one of seven wives to the Emperor. She doesn't achieve this as efficiently as she does in "Madame Mao," or "Red Azalea," whose danger feels more immediate and developed. This may be due to the author's distance from the material, as she is a survivor of the Cultural Revolution and obviously more in tune with the trials of that time. Nevertheless, "Empress Orchid" has great moments.

Min writes Orchid well. I think she captures an essence of Orchid that only a Chinese woman can. I really enjoyed the slow transformation Orchid makes from naive nobody to Empress. Min creates a conflicted and charged character without twisting her to Western ideals or subjecting her to a 21st century makeover. Some say that Orchid is flat, or wished to see more emotion from her, criticizing Min's talent for character development, but I think Orchid's careful reflection and suppressed emotion are more appropriate for a girl/woman from her time and culture. Passion, at least its expression, seems to be a western privilege and ideal, and Orchid's world consists of much more calculation and precision. I find Min portrays this, and am thankful for it, although it may make for less steamy, page-turning reading.

As Orchid moves up in the Emperor's favor, Min takes the opportunity to splice in historical anecdotes, including references to the Opium Wars and their aftermath/implications for China. In a twist, the Emperor refers to the Western invaders (Britain, France, US, Russia) as "barbarians," and this gives Western readers a chance to reflect on their own history books which depict that same history, but in a Western "voice." These historical/political digressions and Min's heavy description on Imperial art and everyday life do slow down the novel's otherwise engrossing story about manipulation, power, and (at times) seduction, but perhaps this makes the story more rounded? I'm not sure these parts flow seamlessly, as if Min is not sure which type of book she'd like to write, but I did appreciate each part on its own.

Min's research has been called in to question with "Empress Orchid," but the fact remains that little is known about Tzu Hsi, yet she stands as a notorious and unloved figure in both Chinese and Western history. I appreciate Min's spin on the Empress as an alternative, or supplement, to history, but do not forget, as a reader, that this is a fictional account and should never be interpreted in place of history. After I finish "The Last Empress," Min's sequel to this book depicting the majority of Tzu Hsi's reign, I may feel more in a position to criticize Min's historical fiction on this period.
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Aug 20, 2008 coffeedog added it

I really wanted to love this book. I loved the author's autobiography (RED AZELEA) and her novel (KATHERINE)about a foreign English teacher in China, so I expected EMPRESS ORCHID to bring together her amazing talent for prose narrative in English, enhanced with her first-hand research of Chinese sources, to bring to life the mis-judged history of Empress Dowager Tz'u Hsi. [return][return]I anticipated some embellishments, but the total re-creation of Tzu Hsi as "Orchid", into a kind of modern wo...more I really wanted to love this book. I loved the author's autobiography (RED AZELEA) and her novel (KATHERINE)about a foreign English teacher in China, so I expected EMPRESS ORCHID to bring together her amazing talent for prose narrative in English, enhanced with her first-hand research of Chinese sources, to bring to life the mis-judged history of Empress Dowager Tz'u Hsi. [return][return]I anticipated some embellishments, but the total re-creation of Tzu Hsi as "Orchid", into a kind of modern woman-warrior, was too much for me. To ask the reader to believe that an uneducated female was able to "pick up" enough formal literary Chinese to be able to read court documents is stretching history way too far. Wouldn't it have made a more fascinating story to construe how Orchid was able to hold onto power so long in spite of being illiterate? [return][return]The first third of the book is a masterful depiction of the sights, smells, sounds, social structure, of late 19th Century China, and would have gained 5 stars, but the rest devolved into conjecture after conjecture which mix like sour notes in an otherwise brilliant composition. It's a novel, but it's not a historical novel. Moreover, I $en$ed that the whole $tory was being pitched to the $maller mind$ of Hollywood in hope of a movie deal. I felt like the author let down her loyal fans while trying to ride her own popularity to chase the $$. [return][return]The best part of Empress Orchid is the list of 5 tone-setting quotations from other sources in the facing page prior to the map (unnumbered pages). One of these quotes is from Sterling Seagrave from his book DRAGON LADY: THE LIFE AND LEGEND OF THE LAST EMPRESS OF CHINA, which refers to the fact that in 1974 most of the previously trusted scholarship on Tzu Hsi had been revealed as counterfeit. This led me to buy Seagrave's book, which explores the falsehoods of these earlier works, and turns into a fluid and fascinating narrative that is truly Biographical History. [return][return]In short, you can choose to spend your precious time on 336 pages of a fictional romance novel (Empress Orchid), or 463 pages of intelligent, delicious historical biography (followed by 135 pages of fascinating notes and complete index). As a student of Chinese language, literature, and history, I recommend reading Seagrave's book first.(less)

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Jul 17, 2009 Kirsty (Blatant Biblioholic) rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-fiction, china

The book follows the story of Tzu Hsi (known as Orchid) who enters the Forbidden City as one of the Emperors concubines at the age of seventeen. Over time she seduces the Emperor and bears his son, which means an immediate rise in rank to 2nd Empress (1st Empress is Nuharoo). We see her struggle to keep the Emperor's interest whilst battling with Nuharoo to be allowed to raise her child herself (normal custom is for the first Empress to take over). When the Emperor dies, and names Orchid's son a...more The book follows the story of Tzu Hsi (known as Orchid) who enters the Forbidden City as one of the Emperors concubines at the age of seventeen. Over time she seduces the Emperor and bears his son, which means an immediate rise in rank to 2nd Empress (1st Empress is Nuharoo). We see her struggle to keep the Emperor's interest whilst battling with Nuharoo to be allowed to raise her child herself (normal custom is for the first Empress to take over). When the Emperor dies, and names Orchid's son as heir, the two Empresses take over as regents, and a battle for power ensues with Su Shun - the Emperor's right-hand man. The two Empresses struggle to hold up the country under increasing pressure from foreign armies.

This is a wonderfully gripping story. Its exotic setting and fascinating subject matter makes it compelling reading. The book is also very well researched, and as such I believe it is part biography, part fiction.

It's based on the story of Ci Xi - China's last Empress. Whilst in History, she's portrayed as ruthless and power hungry, in this book we see her as a (relatively) normal women, struggling with the customs of the Forbidden City. A woman who just wants the best for the people and country she loves.

I was fascinated (and sometimes horrified!) to read about the laws and the customs inside the Forbidden City, for instance I had never realised that the Emperor's wives were not allowed to do anything for themselves or on their own (even going to the toilet, they were accompanied). I'm not sure I could have lived like that! Also the punishments were very severe - in some cases for the most trivial of things!

My feelings towards the characters changed somewhat throughout the book. From the beginning I had a real empathy for Orchid, and this remained throughout, however whilst I quite liked Nuharoo at the beginning, I found myself more and more frustrated with the way she was acting, to the point where I found myself becoming angry with her. This softened slightly towards the end, but I still didn't like her much. The Emperor really annoyed me at the beginning of the book, but as the story progressed and we saw a different side to him, I actually started to quite like him!

It took me a while to read, as I found the subject matter required more concentration than other books I'd read, but I enjoyed it nonetheless. I'll definitely be picking up the sequel. (less)

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Jan 30, 2012 Elecktra rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: my, favorites

tratta la storia dell'ultima imperatrice cinese Cixi. nella storia attuale questa donna era stata mal vista perchè secondo la storia moderna era un'imperatrice malvagia che pensava solo a se stessa.
nel libro l'autrice ci fa scorgere il punto di vista di Cixi, cè la fa conoscere prima coe una ragazzina appartenente ad una famiglia povera ma di nobili origini che pur di evitare un matrimonio sbagliato fa le selezioni per diventare una delle moglio dell'imperatore Xiang-Fen.
ottenuto il titolo di im...more

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Feb 04, 2009 Toni Osborne rated it 3 of 5 stars

This is a fictionalized account of Empress Tsu His (known as Orchid) who was the power behind the throne of the Ch'ing Dynasty in the 19th century. According to the author the characters are base on real people and the events kept closed to the events in history. The decrees and poems were translated from the original documents:

In the 1850's European incursions and peasant rebellions were already undermining the Dynasty. At the same time Orchid born in to poverty came to the Forbidden City to be...more

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Apr 28, 2013 Louise rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction, china-fic-lit

Anchee Min envisions the life of Empress Tzu Hsi from her humble beginnings to her beginnings at the court through her ascendance to power. The story shows the way life might have been behind the forbidden walls and how the Empress Tzu Hsi may have come to power.

She shows how China, in the 1850's, was badly in need of a paradigm shift. Local officials were held accountable for crops, and if there was a drought, beheadings would surely follow. Palace life for everyone from the concubines to the g...more Anchee Min envisions the life of Empress Tzu Hsi from her humble beginnings to her beginnings at the court through her ascendance to power. The story shows the way life might have been behind the forbidden walls and how the Empress Tzu Hsi may have come to power.

She shows how China, in the 1850's, was badly in need of a paradigm shift. Local officials were held accountable for crops, and if there was a drought, beheadings would surely follow. Palace life for everyone from the concubines to the generals was a "de-meritocracy". Being or looking too good could be life threatening, not only for you, but your family, associates and staff. Min shows us an over-ceremonialized, superstitious society, spinning ever inward.

This is not a government equipped to deal with the the Europeans who have come trade and spread Christianity. Prince Kung's idea of learning English and diplomacy is too far out for his brother the emperor to understand, but emperors are not selected for their management, military or leadership skills. They are winners in the roulette of palace intrigue.

This book is particularly good when it speculates on life in the palace. The concubine's family is handsomely paid. She goes off in style, and may not return, to a world of pampered wealth. She has a large staff to bathe, dress and feed her alone. To assure her chastity, a eunuch sleeps in her room. She's given an allowance to pay this staff and buy gifts for peers and superiors at ceremonial occasions. Her job is to wait, (gazing at images of fertility). With 3,000 other concubines, wait is all most do. For all the fertility potential in his large group of concubines, this particular emperor has only two children... which is only one of the management inefficiencies of the palace system.

I believe this description of life is possible and probable. I also think the description of Tzu Hsi's maneuvering is possible and probable. Where I belive this book diverges from reality is the description of the character of Tzu Hsi. History may have treated her more harshly than her predecessors, but there does not seem to be much real life evidence that her thinking and behavior rose above the palace norms. She may have been the epitome of it all.

This is a fiction book, and Min's poetic license is well used. Because Min has created a sympathetic Tzu Hsi, we stay interested in this story. The descriptions of the court are wonderful as is the telling of this story from Tzu Hsi's point of view.(less)

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Apr 24, 2013 Carolyn rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction, multicultural, romance, wvreads150

A fascinating fictionalized account of a misunderstood historical personage, Empress Orchid offers an enjoyable peek into the Forbidden City of late 1800s China. From a noble family that has fallen into impoverished circumstances, strong-willed 17-year-old Orchid restores her family’s fortunes by becoming one of the Emperor’s multitude of concubines. Life in Orchid’s gilded cage is not as glorious as it appears, however, and neither are circumstances in China at large, which is being squeezed fr...more

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Apr 09, 2013 Alison rated it 3 of 5 stars

I was browsing through historical fiction e-books available through the library when I came across this one. As I've recently read other books about China's history, this one intrigued me. We learn much about the Forbidden City at a time when there is much turmoil in China. Through the eyes of Orchid, a 17 year old concubine, we learn more about tradition and mores and that the life of concubine, even with the riches and apparently good life they lead, is not so enviable at all. Orchid applies t...more

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Feb 28, 2013 Eustacia Tan rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: owned

One day, when I was whatsapping my mom, she mentioned she was reading a book about China's last empress. For some reason, I thought of Wu Zetian instead of Cixi. This is why I regret not taking Chinese history.

But because of this, when my family came over and passed me a luggage of stuff, I found this book inside. I guess my mom thought I wanted to read it. It's a good thing too, because this is an awesome book!

Empress Orchid follows the titular Orchid as she enters the Forbidden City to be one...more One day, when I was whatsapping my mom, she mentioned she was reading a book about China's last empress. For some reason, I thought of Wu Zetian instead of Cixi. This is why I regret not taking Chinese history.

But because of this, when my family came over and passed me a luggage of stuff, I found this book inside. I guess my mom thought I wanted to read it. It's a good thing too, because this is an awesome book!

Empress Orchid follows the titular Orchid as she enters the Forbidden City to be one of the Emperor's wives. She does this mainly to escape marrying her cousin, but she's soon caught up in the intrigue, and tries to win the heart of the emperor. Around her, news of the "barbarians" from the West keep arriving, and China is humiliated again and again.

Orchid (or Cixi), was admirable. She's a strong woman, who's even better at governing than her husband. I loved reading about how she learnt about governing and drafting edicts herself, turning herself from a naive country girl to a woman who could manipulate the courts. And when you see who she's against, well, I couldn't help but admire her.

Apart from Orchid, there are other characters, like the other Emperess Nuharoo (Empress Ci'an), who is more concern with Buddhism than material things. Yet, she has spies and seems to be quite adept at navigating the court herself (but she's hates anything to do with governing). There's also her son Tung Chih, the only son of the Emperor and a little boy that sounds like a brat. I wish Orchid could discipline him more, but she's overruled by the "official mother", Nuharoo.

The only thing that I didn't like was how they spelt the Chinese words. I think that not everything is Mandarin, so I can overlook it.

According to the author, she has tried her best to keep things historically accurate. This just means I now have a renewed interest in Chinese history. Someone please remind me to get books on this when I get back to Singapore

First posted at Inside the mind of a Bibliophile (less)

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Jan 31, 2013 Sharon rated it 4 of 5 stars

In an interview Anchee Min once said that "at a very young age I learned that my culture disfavors females. Books hold up women as negative examples...I like to find out the truth". In Empress Orchid, Anchee tells the 'truth' about the last Empress of China,Cixi, who ruled from 1856 to 1908. The setting of the Forbidden City, which for 500 years served as the home for Emporers and their households, is what makes this book irresistable. Not only do we learn how a seventeen year old girl from the...more

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Jan 20, 2013 Bogdan rated it 4 of 5 stars

насколько я себе представляю творчество анчи мин – это первый из двух романов, посвященных императрице цы си, та часть ее реально-воображаемого жизнеописания, которое касается появления юной орхидеи из манчжурского рода ехонала в запретном городе, связи с императором, рождения сына тун чжи – и смерти императора сянь фена, после которого две жены умершего императора – главная жена нюгуру и вторая ехонала – становятся регентшами при пятилетнем императоре, который несмотря на свою юный возраст уже...more насколько я себе представляю творчество анчи мин – это первый из двух романов, посвященных императрице цы си, та часть ее реально-воображаемого жизнеописания, которое касается появления юной орхидеи из манчжурского рода ехонала в запретном городе, связи с императором, рождения сына тун чжи – и смерти императора сянь фена, после которого две жены умершего императора – главная жена нюгуру и вторая ехонала – становятся регентшами при пятилетнем императоре, который несмотря на свою юный возраст уже знает, как надо – и вовремя! – сказать, что он – не «я», а «жень», чем повергает подданных в состояние пароксизма благолепия.

что этот первый роман, что, я так подозреваю, второй – «последняя императрица» - не становится претендующим на роль исторического романа или очень точного жизнеописания, вообще жизнеописания: это насквозь фиктивное произведение, в котором воображаемое настолько неразрывно пропитано деталями и фактажом, что пытаться расчленить их и выделить «правду» и «вымысел» - это всё равно, что совершать бесполезные действия, никуда не ведущие. в этом слиянии истории и авторского желания, можно сказать, литература перекраивает по необходимости последовательность, фигуры, количество, вариации, чтобы достигнуть эффекта, превращающего определенный факт в эстетическое.

несмотря на изобильность событий, роман пронизан одним сквозным сюжетным и фрактальным (если применять к нему это достаточно стрёмное паралитературно-критическое определение) мотивом: это церемониал, объединяющий все проявления жизни в империи, находящейся под знаком неба и осененной знаком дракона, воплощением которого является император. церемониал проявляется в любом жизненном событии и факте: свадьба, похороны, «крестины», переезд, свадьба, дружба, вражда, любовная связь, подозрение, служба, верность, укрепление отношений, война. эти во всем богатстве расписанные «ритуалы поднебесной» составляют настолько плотный и в неимоверную глубину простирающийся пласт романа, что изыми его – и останется пустота, слегка перемежающаяся некоторыми событиями. избирая не отстраненный взгляд «историзма», который бы превратил книгу в биографию; и не «субъективизма», с помощью которого легко было бы соскользнуть в сентиментальность и мелодраму – а именно «действа», освященного традицией и связующего жизненные проявления в узор и целостность, писательница умудряется избежать ловушек жанра, получая в результате произведение, где личное настолько растворяется в государственном, а имперское – так пронизывает внутренний мир, что «отделить масло от воды» уже не представляется возможным: фигура персонажа настолько врастает в эпоху и окружение, в свою судьбу, что читателю остается только одно: погрузиться с головой в это наступающее на тебя и заполняющее собой немыслимое, невообразимое и удушающее прошлое, в котором ты следуешь за героиней, задыхающейся в сети обстоятельств, которые руководят ее судьбой. которой она и вроде бы управляет, но при этом понимает, насколько иллюзорна эта вера в собственные силы, когда так много всего отдано на волю случая.

история орхидеи – это не только история одной из жён, которой удалось подняться наверх и тем самым удовлетвориться в полной мере: события романа разворачиваются на фоне исторических изменений, когда колониальные силы – англия, франция, германия, япония, россия – впились в китай и совершенно потерявшуюся в облацех собственного величия циньскую династию, выгрызая куски то территорий, то возможностей – жизни, торговли, насаждения веры. кроме этого – ещё и попытка обрисовать личную жизнь человека, пусть это даже будет императрица, в которой есть место не только ритуалам утверждения власти и управления, но также – и чувствам, не вмещающимся в церемониальную природу жизни, которым – а цы си на момент окончания романа 26 лет – она отказывает, совершая выбор своего будущего пути.

книга – не историческая хроника, не биография, не психологический роман, не придуманная история, не справочник по достопримечательностям гугуна и не словарь китайской символики – но всё это вместе взятое в форме удивительной силы романа – той жизни, которая то ли могла, то ли должна была бы быть. (less)

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Dec 11, 2012 Hamda Al-sayegh rated it 5 of 5 stars

I picked up this book on a whim so it was my first time experiencing Anchee Min's style of writing.

the book mixes up fiction with historical facts that at first I wasn't sure if it was the Bio. of Tzu Hsi the the Chinese empress (Orchid) or a work of fiction.

the book follows the life of this historical female figure. her humble beginnings as an imperial concubine in her adolescence didn't stop her from slowly clawing her way up the ladder to becoming China's most powerful female ruler even thoug...more

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Sep 14, 2012 Amanda rated it 3 of 5 stars

Empress Orchid (in a nutshell) follows the life of the last empress of China, Cixi, from her teen-years, just before she became a concubine to the Emperor, until the death of the Emperor when she was about 30 years old. (Min's sequel, The Last Empress, picks up and covers the rest of Cixi's life.)

The book is written in first person, which always makes me dubious when writing about a historical person. Who can ever know what was going on in someone's mind? Especially someone as complex as Cixi. I...more Empress Orchid (in a nutshell) follows the life of the last empress of China, Cixi, from her teen-years, just before she became a concubine to the Emperor, until the death of the Emperor when she was about 30 years old. (Min's sequel, The Last Empress, picks up and covers the rest of Cixi's life.)

The book is written in first person, which always makes me dubious when writing about a historical person. Who can ever know what was going on in someone's mind? Especially someone as complex as Cixi. It is really important to read this book as historical fiction, not historical fact.

Min's handling of the character of Cixi is almost painfully sympathetic, but that may have been her goal. Traditionally, Cixi has been seen as a villainess of Chinese history. However, this traditional viewpoint is mostly likely viciously unfair and Min may have been seeking to counteract that. But it could be just as unfair to paint her as a completely innocent victim as well as Min has done. I like more complexity in my characters. Min's strength is in her descriptions. Sights, sounds, smells, fabrics, buildings, a glance, a look, a touch of a hand, her descriptions are all very vivid. But she seems unable to transfer that into the psyche of her characters. On one page Cixi says "I was not jealous at all" and on the very next page she says "I was so jealous." The leap Cixi makes in this moment does not have enough depth to it. What caused this change? She also spends the whole year Cixi waits for her wedding go by in only a page or two. Cixi's life was completely changing at this time and I think Min could have spent far more time on her character development here.

Overall, though, I did enjoy the book. The view into palace life during the fall of the Chinese empire is very interesting. She does a good job of balancing the very negative views the Chinese had of Westerners during this time, but also keeps in mind her Western audience and makes sure not to turn them off to the story.

I would probably give it a 3 out of 5 and I certainly will be reading more of Min's books. She has written her own biography that sounds fascinating and she has also written about the life of Pearl S. Buck. So stay tuned for more reviews to come!(less)

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Jul 10, 2012 Nicole rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: chinese-culture, history, memoir

this book intrigued me because of the summary i read on the inside flap, how this person seduced the emperor. it was even more appealing that this was basically a documentary of a person’s life. it provided a nice reprieve from the modern chinese novels that i had been reading recently. i liked learning about the imperial court life by learning about the culture and the politics. it made me appreciate it more, and realize what a great loss the country suffered when communism eventually made its...more

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Jul 01, 2012 Qs Emmus rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Siapa bilang uang bukan segalanya? Bahkan kedudukan dan kebaikan terbukti tak cukup untuk sekadar hidup tenang.

Lagi-lagi permasalahan awal ini terangkat oleh kisah dari negeri Cina. Seorang gadis bernama Anggrek menanggung beban ini sendiri. Keluarganya nyaris terusir dari rumah yg disewakan pamannya sendiri! Kedudukan ayahnya dahulu terlupakan, apalagi kebaikannya. Saat kau bukan siapa-siapa tanpa sepeser uang, udara pun seakan menagih bayaran. Anggrek harus menerima ditunangkan dengan idiot!

De...more

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Dec 25, 2011 Sarah rated it 3 of 5 stars

I picked this book up at the book fair because I thought it sounded interesting. It's a historical, fictional biography of the last Empress of China (1860's to 1900's), so it involves a lot of Chinese history. Orchid is the eldest daughter of a local governor who ends up being chosen as a concubine for the emperor of China. She gets moved to the Forbidden City and the rest of the book is about the life she lived there.

The author did a great deal of research into Chinese history and the workings...more

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Nov 22, 2011 Indri Hapsari rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: terjemahan

entah apa yang membuat anchee min kemudian terinspirasi untuk menggambarkan secara detail isi di dalam istana terlarang, bahkan hingga kemelut dan betapa pusingnya seorang anggrek yang berusaha menstabilkan panji negara Cina dengan tekanan saat itu (seorang suami yang sakit-sakitan dan memiliki banyak selir, anak yang tidak dapat diasuh sepenuhnya akibat anggrek adalah selir kedua dan dibenci ibu suri, korupsi dan nepotisme yang meraja lela, perang di seluruh dataran Cina, dan lain sebagainya)....more

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Oct 15, 2011 Elizabeth rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction

This book paints a picture of China as it succumbs to colonial power as told through the lens of a woman who was China's last empress. The book provides an excellent history (albeit fictionalized to a degree) to the challenges China faced as western nations sought to open the country to trade. By telling the story through the eyes of a girl who is plucked from poverty to be come one of the young emperor's eight wives, we see the vivid contrast between the lives of the different class strata in C...more This book paints a picture of China as it succumbs to colonial power as told through the lens of a woman who was China's last empress. The book provides an excellent history (albeit fictionalized to a degree) to the challenges China faced as western nations sought to open the country to trade. By telling the story through the eyes of a girl who is plucked from poverty to be come one of the young emperor's eight wives, we see the vivid contrast between the lives of the different class strata in Chinese culture.

The book provides an interesting contrast to out modern relationship with China. In this story, western powers were clamoring to open CHinese ports to trade, particularly Opium. They achieve this goal through fire power and violence. Today the West still clamors to open China to trade, but China now appears to hold the upper hand, perhaps remembering how western nations treated China in the not so distant past.

The relationship between the Emperor and his wives and many concubines reflects the value that Chinese culture placed on women The emperor had eight wives and many other lesser concubines THe emperor is not supposed to fall in love with any of these women. He was not supposed to even spend the night with any single woman. Their relationships existed to provide heirs, preferably male heirs. Ultimately, Orchid, elevates her status by bearing the emperor's only son.

This arrangement takes a toll on the man and women. The emperor feels like a steed or a hired stud and treats these women with indifference. The women face a life of interminable loneliness. Orchid, hoping to become a favored wife, seeks training and escapes the forbidden city of a few days to learn the art of pleasuring a man. (The book does not provide extensive detail on these talents in case you're wondering). These techniques combined with her spirit and educated mind lead her to become the Emperor's favorite. This favoritism however bring about her ruin as the emperor dies.

The book's a thoroughly enjoyable read for its rich descriptions, historical content, the glimpse into racial, class and gender differences and the insight on political intrigue.

* Another review I wrote by hand when I read the book years ago. (less)

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Sep 28, 2011 Sue rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: gourdon-group

This is the fictionalised account of Empress Tzu Hsi's early life.

I knew little of this period of Chinese history before I read the book and it was a great way for me to discover a little more. I found it easy to read, interesting, never dull. In the course of her research Anchee Min was given access through the 'back door', as she puts it, to the papers of the Empress and her entourage in the Forbidden City. She also researched medical records, accounts and police records. Her descriptions of t...more This is the fictionalised account of Empress Tzu Hsi's early life.

I knew little of this period of Chinese history before I read the book and it was a great way for me to discover a little more. I found it easy to read, interesting, never dull. In the course of her research Anchee Min was given access through the 'back door', as she puts it, to the papers of the Empress and her entourage in the Forbidden City. She also researched medical records, accounts and police records. Her descriptions of the Forbidden City (and the very helpful map in the front of the book) made it easy to visualise the palaces and the vastness of the City itself.

By telling the story of the Empress in the first person Min has added an interesting slant to the story. By all accounts Empress Tzu Hsi was a despotic character who had people executed if they disagreed with her or challenged her in any way. Chinese history labels her as an 'enemy of the human race' but Min considers that she was a 'a great politician, a clever strategist, and a caring mother and lover'.

The account highlights the lowness of the position of women in Chinese society, and particularly the place of the concubine; that Orchid was able to rise to such a position of power in her life is all the more remarkable for that. It is a story of the struggle for power, of loyalty and betrayal, love and intrigue and as gripping as any novel.

I think it is important to remember two things when reviewing this book - one that it is a fictionalised account, written in the first person, attempting to get inside the mind of the Empress herself; and secondly that the book ends when she is just 26 years old. The sequel, The Last Empress, is on my bookshelf now and I'm looking forward to reading about the rest of Orchid's life and learning more about the history of China in that period.

Why did I give the book only three points out of five? Well, I would have given it three and a half to be honest. There were moments when I felt that fiction was winning over fact and there were a few 'Mills and Boon' moments which I felt could have been written much better than they were. Perhaps the American influence (was the book written primarily for the American market?) over-sanitised and over-romanticised things occasionally.(less)

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Aug 03, 2011 Kelli rated it 5 of 5 stars

The Empress Orchid, written by Anchee Min, is about the Ch’ing Dynasty in 1852. A concubine, Tzu Hsi known as Orchid as a child, was able to win the affections of the Emperor, Hsien Feng, and gave him a son then found herself the ruler of China. Reading about Chinese history and their royal families, this was fascinating.

The Empress Orchid and the other books I have read are the reason why I LOVE to read. For that moment as I’m reading a book, I can travel to another world, live in a fantasy or...more The Empress Orchid, written by Anchee Min, is about the Ch’ing Dynasty in 1852. A concubine, Tzu Hsi known as Orchid as a child, was able to win the affections of the Emperor, Hsien Feng, and gave him a son then found herself the ruler of China. Reading about Chinese history and their royal families, this was fascinating.

The Empress Orchid and the other books I have read are the reason why I LOVE to read. For that moment as I’m reading a book, I can travel to another world, live in a fantasy or learn about a mystical place. The creativity and imaginary scenarios in books are so much better than what is offered in TV shows and movies. I enjoy the book more than the movie that was based on a book, i.e., Twilight, because of all the details in a book are never included in the movie.

In Empress Orchid, I was able to live Tzu’s life as a concubine and as a royal. Tzu strived to be more than just one of the Emperor’s many concubines. This girl was ambitious and smart and she figured out what would make the Emperor notice her. She gained his attention and his love through good old fashion sex! But Tzu didn’t just lay down with the Emperor and poof she had his heart, the ambitious concubine learned the art of seducing and pleasuring a man.

Tzu had a lot of bedroom talent, but her intelligence went beyond the boudoir. During her time with the Emperor, she became his secretary and aided him in running the country. This prepared Tzu for her future role as the Empress of China after Emperor Feng died.

Min takes us to another century and teaches us about Chinese culture that is beautifully written with vivid details. In the Empress Orchid, we learn about the struggles of being a concubine and the cruel realities of living among the royal family. Also, the difficulties of ruling over a country and the pressures of being the Emperor of China while trying to keep outsiders from invading.

If you are fascinated by history and love to read romance, Empress Orchid is a mix of both. The reader can experience a time before their existence and immerse themselves in a love that blooms between a commoner and royalty.

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Apr 11, 2011 Windy hapsari rated it 3 of 5 stars

This book was recommended by my friend. According to her, the story is very good.
According to me this book is half biography. The story of the life of empress dowager Orchid. One of emperor hsien feng mistress.
She's the daughter of poor governor, after the death of his father, her mother took his father rule as breadwinner and she help the family financial by working at ex servant of late emperor mistress.
From her she gets lot of information about what happened inside forbidden city.
When there...more

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Mar 18, 2011 Suzan Oktaria rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Sebelumnya saya telah membaca The Last Empress, padahal novel ini yang menceritakan sisi Lain dari Orchid ini adalah buku pertama. Jangan ikuti jejak saya membaca buku terbalik ya :D

Jika dalam sejarah, Orchid yang lebih di kenal dengan nama Permaisuri Tsu Zhi, perempuan paling berkuasa pada awal abad 20 di Cina
kepiawannya memimpin Cina, membawa Cina dalam masa bertahan, karena pada saat Orchid berkuasa, Cina sudah berada dalam keadaan terpuruk dengan hutang-hutang leluhur kepada Inggris atas kek...more

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May 17, 2010 Kami rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction, historical

I do not know a lot about China and its history. This book about a concubine in the forbidden city was fascinating. The elaborate wealth and tradition bound the forbidden city into a den of indulgence, loneliness, and intrigue. I learned a lot about eunuchs as well. I wish I knew how much was fiction and how much really happened. The book focuses at the time when China's wealth and power are fading. Europe is invading and some provinces are not happy and want to leave as well. Add to these polit...more

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Mar 07, 2010 Hilda rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: tears

Drama cinta dan kekuasaan selir muda Kaisar Hsien Feng... Indah, menawan, dan penuh intrik.

Tzu Hsi Yehonala, atau yang dalam bahasa Cina berarti anggrek adalah seorang Maharani, terlebih dia kaisar wanita yang paling lama berkuasa di Cina. Tapi Anggrek tidak mencapai posisi itu dengan mudah. Dia yang dulu hanyalah gadis desa, berhasil mendapatkan kekuasaan lewat rayuan, intrik politik, dan kecerdasan luar biasa.

Anggrek dulu hanyalah gadis berumur 17 tahun dari klan Yehonala, salah satu klan peng...more Drama cinta dan kekuasaan selir muda Kaisar Hsien Feng... Indah, menawan, dan penuh intrik.

Tzu Hsi Yehonala, atau yang dalam bahasa Cina berarti anggrek adalah seorang Maharani, terlebih dia kaisar wanita yang paling lama berkuasa di Cina. Tapi Anggrek tidak mencapai posisi itu dengan mudah. Dia yang dulu hanyalah gadis desa, berhasil mendapatkan kekuasaan lewat rayuan, intrik politik, dan kecerdasan luar biasa.

Anggrek dulu hanyalah gadis berumur 17 tahun dari klan Yehonala, salah satu klan penguasa Manchu di Cina. Ditinggal mati ayahnya seorang mantan gubernur miskin, Anggrek dan keluarganya harus mencari cara untuk hidup di tengah kerasnya dunia. Sebagai anak sulung, Anggrek akan melakukan segala cara untuk melindungi keluarganya, termasuk menikahi sepupunya yang terbelakang. Nasib baik melindunginya, karena sebelum pernikahannya, ada pemberitahuan dari istana bahwa Kaisar Hsien Feng sedang mencari istri. Merasa dirinya memenuhi syarat, Anggrek pun mengumpulkan keberaniannya dan menghadap Kantor Pemerintah. Beruntung, dia diloloskan dan menjalani pemeriksaan ketat untuk menjadi istri. Para kasim dan dayang meloloskan dirinya, dan beberapa bulan kemudian, bersama dua ratus orang gadis Manchu lainnya, Anggrek pun berangkat ke istana.

Dalam pertemuannya dengan Kaisar Hsien Feng, Anggrek membuat sang Kaisar tertarik dengan kegugupan dan senyum rahasianya. Kaisar pun dengan ringan meloloskan dirinya sebagai salah satu dari tujuh istri resmi Kaisar. Anggrek sulit mempercayai dirinya sendiri ketika dia akhirnya menjadi Selir tingkat keempat Kaisar. Membawa gairah dan harapan, Anggrek berambisi menjadi selir kesayangan Kaisar. Tapi malang baginya, ternyata Kaisar telah melupakannya. Anggrek kini hanyalah salah satu dari 3000 Selir Istana. Pantang menyerah dan dengan dukungan kasim setianya An-te-hai, Anggrek akhirnya berhasil memikat Kaisar dan menjadi selir kesayangannya.

Hidup di Kota Terlarang bagaikan peperangan dalam merebut perhatian Kaisar, satu-satunya lelaki dari 3000 wanita di sana. Berkali-kali Anggrek berusaha dijebak karena kecemburuan para wanita, terutama Nuharoo sang Permaisuri. Dalam pertahanannya, diam-diam tiap malam Anggrek belajar dari Kaisar tentang politik ketika Kaisar menceritakan traktrat-traktat Cina dengan bangsa asing. Politik adalah dunia yang dianggap tabu bagi wanita, tapi Anggrek dengan kecerdasannya berhasil menutupi kepandaiannya hingga saatnya muncul.

Kaisar Hsien Feng adalah Kaisar yang lemah, yang tergantung pada Su Shun penasihat utamanya. Tak jarang dia membuat Anggrek frustasi dengan kesombongannya, ketidaksensitifannya, dan kepengecutannya. Saat Anggrek sedang hamil tua, dia bersenang-senang dengan para gadis Cina dan menelatarkan Anggrek. Perhatiannya baru kembali ketika Anggrek melahirkan seorang bayi laki-laki yang diberi nama Tung Chih. Tapi kebahagiaan Anggrek akan perhatian Kaisar yang kembali tidak bertahan lama. Kaisar Hsien Feng akhirnya meninggal dunia pada umurnya yang begitu muda karena penyakit dan stress, tiga puluh tahun, meninggalkan permaisuri dan selir-selirnya.

Gigih mengajari anaknya Tung Chih sang Kaisar Muda agar tidak mengikuti jejak ayahnya, Anggrek menerima perlakuan dingin dan pemberontakan dari sang Kaisar Muda. Tung Chih malah akrab dengan Nuharoo, membuat Anggrek merasa cemburu dan semakin kesepian. Anggrek di tengah penderitaannya bertemu Yung Lu, bawahan Su Shun yang pandai, tampan, dan setia padanya. Tapi Anggrek harus melawan kebutuhannya akan keintiman, karena statusnya sebagai janda Kaisar tidak mengizinkannya memiliki hubungan apapun dengan lelaki.

Anggrek mendapatkan segalanya, tetapi juga kehilangan segalanya. Harga dari keberhasilannya bertahan adalah sederetan pengorbanan pribadi serta penderitaan. Kesepian yang mendalam adalah harga yang harus ditanggungnya sebagai seorang Maharani. Anggrek adalah perempuan yang berhasil berhasil bertahan dan akhirnya mendominasi... dunia laki-laki.

Mengapa mataku gagal menemukan kesenangan di ruangan yang penuh dengan harta benda ini? Pelayan-pelayan mendaniku dengan jubah-jubah cantik. Aku berjalan ke meja rias, dan melihat kecantikan tiada tara. Aku berputar mengamati perlengkan kamar, panel-panel mozaiknya yang penuh dengan batu mulia dan hasil panen yang berlimpah. Hatiku menjerit : Apa lagi yang masih, bisa, dan berani kau inginkan, Anggrek?
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Dec 30, 2009 Amanda rated it 4 of 5 stars

My second book of the year is Empress Orchid by Anchee Min, an historical novel about Tzu Hsi, concubine-turned-empress of China. It's "an epic of a country girl who seized power through seduction, murder and endless intrigue... she alone seems campable of holding the country together" (thanks, book jacket).

I think I'm going to look back on the year and not rank Empress Orchd in the top ten. It was very good, and definitely one of those books that, while I was reading, I was completely engrossed...more

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Sep 20, 2009 Tara Chevrestt rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: women-that-really-existed-fiction, historical-fiction, chinese-history-culture

I enjoyed the first half of this novel more than the last. The first half had a more personal feel and a little less historical data. The last half, at moments, was too much political drama and history for my taste. I love to read history, but it must be told in a manner that I will not forget it 5 minutes after reading it. I liked the main character, Orchid and I grew very angry at times reading about her plights and the way she was treated in the forbidden city. The novel follows Orchid as tee...more

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Apr 13, 2009 Elketw rated it 5 of 5 stars

Category: Books
Genre: Biographies & Memoirs
Author: An Chee Min

Novel ini menceritakan tentang kisah hidup seorang gadis Manchu yang bernama Anggrek Yehonala yang pada kemudian hari akan menjadi Permaisuri Cina yang sangat terkenal.

Awal cerita dimulai dengan cerita kematian ayah Yehonala yang sebelumnya merupakan Gubernur propinsi Wuhu. Meninggalnya sang ayah membuat Anggrek beserta Ibu dan kedua adiknya berada dalam kemiskinan. Keluarganya kemudian melakukan perjalanan yang panjang ke temp...more

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Empress Orchid (Empress Orchid #1)

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