Tongzhi Emperor

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Tongzhi Emperor

Clan name:	Aixin-Jueluo (愛新覺羅) Aisin-Gioro
Given name:	Zaichun (載淳) Dzai Šun
Dates of reign:	Nov. 11, 1861–Jan. 12, 1875
Era name:	Tóngzhì (同治 ; T'ung-chih) Yooningga Dasan
Era dates:	Jan. 30, 1862–Feb. 5, 1875
Temple name:	Muzong (穆宗) Mudzung
Posthumous name: (short)	Emperor Yi (毅皇帝) Filingga hūwangdi
Posthumous name: (full)	Emperor Jitian Kaiyun Shouzhong Juzheng Baoda Dinggong Shengzhi Chengxiao Xinmin Gongkuan Yi 繼天開運受中居正保大定功聖智誠孝信敏恭寬毅皇帝
General note: Names given in Chinese, then in Manchu (full posthumous name in Chinese only).

The Tongzhi Emperor, born Zaichun (April 27, 1856–January 12, 1875) was the tenth emperor of the Manchu Qing Dynasty, and the eighth Qing emperor to rule over China, from 1861 to 1875.

The only surviving son of the Xianfeng Emperor and the Empress Dowager Cixi, Tongzhi attempted political reform in the period of the Tongzhi Restoration. His first reign name was Qixiang (祺祥), but this name was later abandoned by Cixi in favour of Tongzhi, a contraction of the classical phrase tonggui yu zhi (同歸與治), which means "to reform/restore together a state of order", although it has been interpreted as "to rule the state with an united mother/son team" (母子同治天下), which fits the description, as his mother, Empress Dowager Cixi, wielded the real power and ruled behind the scene. The traditional Chinese political phrase "attending audiences behind a curtain" (垂簾聽政), which had already been used earlier in Chinese history, was used to describe Cixi's rule through her son, the Tongzhi Emperor. The phrase can still be heard in contemporary Chinese politics sometimes.

Tongzhi became an emperor of the age of five when his father, the Xianfeng Emperor died. His birth mother, Empress Dowager Cixi, his father's Empress, the Empress Dowager Ci'an, and his uncle, the Prince Gong, became regents after getting rid of the former regent, Sushun.

Tongzhi married Lady Alute from a Mongol clan and died of smallpox at the age of 18. He had no sons to succeed him. There are those who say Tongzhi died from STD, in particular, Syphilis (due to his alleged affairs with prostitutes outside of the palace), and that the smallpox diagnosis was given only because the mere discussions of STD in China is a taboo, even in present day. However, such an allegation cannot be substantiated with credible evidence.

His mothers, the two dowagers, resumed regency after appointing 1st Prince Chun's son, Guangxu, his reigning title.

A few months after Tongzhi's death, Empress Alute died. It is said that she either committed suicide or that Cixi starved her to death by cutting her food supply.