Cixi (1835-1908), commonly known as the "Empress Dowager of the West" by common people. Besides being adept at wielding political power, Cixi loved calligraphy and painting in her daily life. She especially enjoyed creating her own "imperial hand" artworks, often stamping a large seal on the upper right corner of her works that read "Treasure of the Imperial Hand of Empress Dowager Cixi," which she would then bestow upon all the princes and ministers to show favor and demonstrate her sophistication and erudition. In reality, Empress Dowager Cixi lacked artistic talent. After Emperor Guangxu ascended the throne, Cixi suddenly developed an interest in writing calligraphy to give as gifts, so she began learning calligraphy. However, her handwriting was not very good - the structure of her characters was stiff and loose, her strokes weak and childish, lacking vitality. Consequently, she stopped writing herself and instead found a female scribe to write for her and give as gifts. This scribe was named Miao Sueyun.
Miao Sueyun (1841-1918), whose given name was Jia Hui, came from a scholarly family in the suburbs of Kunming, Yunnan. She was skilled in calligraphy and painting since her youth and was known as a "female artisan of excellence."
In the eighth year of Emperor Guangxu's reign (1882), Miao Sueyun moved to Sichuan with her husband, but unfortunately, he fell ill while serving there. Seeking medical treatment, they traveled to the capital, where her husband eventually passed away. To support herself, Miao Sueyun had to rely on selling her calligraphy and paintings. The literati and refined scholars of the capital praised her work upon seeing it.
Coincidentally, Cixi was looking for a female scribe to write calligraphy for her to give as gifts. Thus, Miao Sueyun was summoned to the palace. Once inside the palace, Miao Sueyun, due to her familiarity with the ways of the court, won the admiration of everyone from the empresses and concubines to the eunuchs and palace attendants. They respectfully called her "female artist." Empress Dowager Cixi was also satisfied and kept her by her side to write on her behalf.