# With the Empress Dowager of China — Chapters explained

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

- [Dedication](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/with_the_empress_dowager_of_china_se/chapters/dedication.md): Katherine A. Carl dedicates her account of her experiences at the Chinese Court to Sir Robert Hart, acknowledging his helpful encouragement and his long and faithful service to the country.
- [Introductory](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/with_the_empress_dowager_of_china_se/chapters/introductory.md): In April 1903, Katherine Carl receives a letter from Mrs. Conger proposing that she paint the Empress Dowager's portrait for the St. Louis Exposition. After official delays, Carl is presented to the Empress Dowager in Au
- [With the Empress Dowager of China](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/with_the_empress_dowager_of_china_se/chapters/with-the-empress-dowager-of-china.md): This chapter provides a detailed account of the author's experiences and observations while living in the Forbidden City and serving as a portrait artist to the Empress Dowager Tze-Hsi. It describes the daily life, custo
- [I: My Presentation and First Day at the Chinese Court](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/with_the_empress_dowager_of_china_se/chapters/i-my-presentation-and-first-day-at-the-chinese-court.md): On August 5th, Katherine Carl, accompanied by Mrs. Conger and her interpreter, travels from the American Legation in Peking to the Summer Palace for her first audience with the Empress Dowager Tze-Hsi. Upon arrival, she 
- [II: Personal Appearance of Her Majesty—A Chinese Repast—Boating](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/with_the_empress_dowager_of_china_se/chapters/ii-personal-appearance-of-her-majesty-a-chinese-repast-boating.md): The chapter describes the second portrait sitting of the Empress Dowager Tze-Hsi, during which Katherine A. Carl critically observes her appearance and notes her youthful looks. The Empress Dowager shows interest in the 

> 35 more chapter companions — [open a free preview](https://www.betterreads.dev/reader?bookId=with_the_empress_dowager_of_china_se_4172kb&preview=1) to unlock the rest.

- [III: The Palace of the Emperor’s Father (Prince Ch’un, the Seventh Prince)](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/with_the_empress_dowager_of_china_se/chapters/iii-the-palace-of-the-emperor-s-father-prince-ch-un-the-seventh-prince.md)
- [IV: Her Majesty’s Throne-Room—Some Personal Characteristics](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/with_the_empress_dowager_of_china_se/chapters/iv-her-majesty-s-throne-room-some-personal-characteristics.md)
- [V: The Young Empress and Ladies of the Court](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/with_the_empress_dowager_of_china_se/chapters/v-the-young-empress-and-ladies-of-the-court.md)
- [VI: Continuation of the Portrait—Her Majesty’s Dogs](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/with_the_empress_dowager_of_china_se/chapters/vi-continuation-of-the-portrait-her-majesty-s-dogs.md)
- [VII: Festivities at Court](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/with_the_empress_dowager_of_china_se/chapters/vii-festivities-at-court.md)
- [VIII: His Majesty the Emperor Kwang-Hsu](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/with_the_empress_dowager_of_china_se/chapters/viii-his-majesty-the-emperor-kwang-hsu.md)
- [IX: The Emperor’s Birthday](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/with_the_empress_dowager_of_china_se/chapters/ix-the-emperor-s-birthday.md)
- [Peking—The Sea Palace](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/with_the_empress_dowager_of_china_se/chapters/x-peking-the-sea-palace.md)
- [XI: Some Characteristics of Her Majesty—Second Visit to the Sea Palace](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/with_the_empress_dowager_of_china_se/chapters/xi-some-characteristics-of-her-majesty-second-visit-to-the-sea-palace.md)
- [XII: Return to the Summer Palace](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/with_the_empress_dowager_of_china_se/chapters/xii-return-to-the-summer-palace.md)
- [XIII: The Steam-Launch—Semiannual Sacrifices to Confucius](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/with_the_empress_dowager_of_china_se/chapters/xiii-the-steam-launch-semiannual-sacrifices-to-confucius.md)
- [XIV: The Palace Eunuchs](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/with_the_empress_dowager_of_china_se/chapters/xiv-the-palace-eunuchs.md)
- [XV: The Literary Tastes and Accomplishments of the Empress Dowager](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/with_the_empress_dowager_of_china_se/chapters/xv-the-literary-tastes-and-accomplishments-of-the-empress-dowager.md)
- [XVI: The Great Audience Hall—Some Official Customs](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/with_the_empress_dowager_of_china_se/chapters/xvi-the-great-audience-hall-some-official-customs.md)
- [XVII: The Summer Palace and Its Grounds](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/with_the_empress_dowager_of_china_se/chapters/xvii-the-summer-palace-and-its-grounds.md)
- [XVIII: The Festival of the Harvest Moon—Work on the Portrait](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/with_the_empress_dowager_of_china_se/chapters/xviii-the-festival-of-the-harvest-moon-work-on-the-portrait.md)
- [XIX: A Garden Party at the Summer Palace](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/with_the_empress_dowager_of_china_se/chapters/xix-a-garden-party-at-the-summer-palace.md)
- [XX: I Begin a Second Portrait of Her Majesty—The Palace Painters](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/with_the_empress_dowager_of_china_se/chapters/xx-i-begin-a-second-portrait-of-her-majesty-the-palace-painters.md)
- [XXI: A European Circus at the Palace](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/with_the_empress_dowager_of_china_se/chapters/xxi-a-european-circus-at-the-palace.md)
- [Palace Customs](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/with_the_empress_dowager_of_china_se/chapters/xxii-palace-customs.md)
- [Her Majesty's Anxiety—Her Birthday](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/with_the_empress_dowager_of_china_se/chapters/xxiii-her-majesty-s-anxiety-her-birthday.md)
- [XXIV: The Winter Palace](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/with_the_empress_dowager_of_china_se/chapters/xxiv-the-winter-palace.md)
- [XXV: Peking—Beginning the Portrait for St. Louis](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/with_the_empress_dowager_of_china_se/chapters/xxv-peking-beginning-the-portrait-for-st-louis.md)
- [XXVI: Some Social Customs—Manchu and Chinese](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/with_the_empress_dowager_of_china_se/chapters/xxvi-some-social-customs-manchu-and-chinese.md)
- [XXVII: Present-Giving in China](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/with_the_empress_dowager_of_china_se/chapters/xxvii-present-giving-in-china.md)
- [XXVIII: Some Winter Days at the Palace](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/with_the_empress_dowager_of_china_se/chapters/xxviii-some-winter-days-at-the-palace.md)
- [XXIX: Religious Rites in China](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/with_the_empress_dowager_of_china_se/chapters/xxix-religious-rites-in-china.md)
- [Her Majesty the Empress Dowager](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/with_the_empress_dowager_of_china_se/chapters/xxx-her-majesty-the-empress-dowager.md)
- [XXXI: The Empress Dowager’s Charities, Sense of Justice, Extravagance, and Personal Characteristics](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/with_the_empress_dowager_of_china_se/chapters/xxxi-the-empress-dowager-s-charities-sense-of-justice-extravagance-and-personal-characteristics.md)
- [XXXII: The Chinese New Year—Official Audience](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/with_the_empress_dowager_of_china_se/chapters/xxxii-the-chinese-new-year-official-audience.md)
- [XXXIII: Continuation of the St. Louis Portrait—Spring Days at the Sea Palace](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/with_the_empress_dowager_of_china_se/chapters/xxxiii-continuation-of-the-st-louis-portrait-spring-days-at-the-sea-palace.md)
- [XXXIV: Finishing and Sending Off the Portrait](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/with_the_empress_dowager_of_china_se/chapters/xxxiv-finishing-and-sending-off-the-portrait.md)
- [XXXV: Return to the Summer Palace](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/with_the_empress_dowager_of_china_se/chapters/xxxv-return-to-the-summer-palace.md)
- [List of Illustrations](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/with_the_empress_dowager_of_china_se/chapters/list-of-illustrations.md)
- [Endnotes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/with_the_empress_dowager_of_china_se/chapters/endnotes.md)

HTML index: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/with_the_empress_dowager_of_china_se/chapters