The son of Empress Dowager Cixi, Tongzhi attempted political reform in the period of the Tongzhi Restoration. His reign name is a contraction of the classical phrase tonggui yu zhi (同歸與治), which means "to reform/restore together a state of order".
Tongzhi became an emperor of the age of five when his father, Emperor Xianfeng passed away. His mother, Empress Dowager Cixi, his senior mother, Empress Dowager Ci'an, and his uncle, Prince Gong, became regents after getting rid of the former regent, Sushun.
He married Lady Alute from a Mongol clan. He died of smallpox and had no sons to succeed him. His mothers, the two dowagers, resumed regency after appointing 1st Prince Chun's son, Guangxu, his reigning title.
Tongzhi was only 19 when he died. A few months later, his empress, Empress Alute committed suicide.
Tongzhi became an emperor of the age of five when his father, the XianfengEmperor passed away.
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.
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