The Dowager Empress of China, 1904. The Dowager Empress Cixi (1835-1908) was regent and de facto ruler of China from 1861 until her death, even though her nephew, the Guangxu Emperor, was nominally on the throne from 1875. His wife, the Empress Xiao Ding Jing (1868-1913) is standing in front of the Dowager Empress. A print from The Girl's Own Annual, 12 November 1904.