Why did Empress Dowager Cixi want hundreds of boys before she died?

The fundamental purpose of Cixi's doing this is, in the final analysis, to get peace after death. And the motivation of all this is caused by feudal thought.

First of all, the ancients thought that boys had the cleanest body. At that time, influenced by feudal ethics and various legends of charlatans, people thought that once people grew up or lost their bodies, they would no longer be pure. His old Yang Qi will be invaded by the outside world. This is why there is such an absurd theory as boy's work and boy's urine.

Cixi certainly believes in this. Hundreds of boys she found before she died mainly dug her grave. The reason why these children are allowed to dig is because their bodies are the cleanest, and the cemetery dug for themselves will certainly not be filthy, so that Cixi can enjoy peace after her death.

Secondly, the ancients thought that Yang Qi was the best boy. You know, in the feudal culture of China, ghosts and gods are very believed. At that time, Cixi believed that all ghosts were afraid of yang, and the strongest yang was children. Therefore, Cixi recruited hundreds of children to dig cemeteries, hoping to use their special functions to exorcise ghosts. Then prevent empress dowager cixi from being harmed by these evil spirits after her death.