You're Dead to Me · BBC Radio 4
Empress Dowager Cixi: from concubine to ruler of China
April 3, 2026·58 min·5 clips
Concubines were stripped naked, bundled into a sack, and dragged to the emperor's quarters after he chose their name from a tray.
As heard by us
A sharp, funny guide to Cixi, palace power, and the pleasure of being gently corrected.
This episode gives Empress Dowager Cixi a lively, banter-first treatment, with Sophie Duker tossing out comic guesses while Professor Yang Wen-Jung keeps the history steady and clear.
Why you'd press play
A palace power story with jokes, corrections, and a very memorable West Empress Dowager.
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