Tongzhi mark and period 1862-1874, hand-painted Chinese rectangular porcelain vase, with a poem. Height 9.5 inches = 23.7 cm; Weight: 739 g = 1 lb. 10 oz. Provenance: private collection in Sarasota, Florida, USA Tongzhi (1862-1874) The Tongzhi (To Rule Together a State of Order) Emperor, born Zaichun AISIN GIORO in April 27, 1856, became emperor at the age of five, as the only surviving son of the Xianfeng Emperor and the Noble Consort Yi (Empress Dowager Cixi). He was the ninth emperor of the Manchu Qing Dynasty, and the eight Qing emperor to rule over China. During his period in practice his mother, the Empress Dowager Cixi, wielded the real power, ruling sitting behind a curtain in the audience hall. Under his reign some attempts to political reforms was made, which are known as the Tongzhi Restoration. In January 12, 1875, the Tongzhi Emperor died at age 19 of small pox without a son. It has been rumored that his cause of death was actually syphilis "due to his excessive and bizarre sexual appetite and alleged affairs with prostitutes outside of the palace".