The Tongzhi Emperor (27 April 1856- 12 January 1875); born Zaichun; was the ninth emperor of the Manchu-led Qing Dynasty; and the eighth Qing emperor to rule over China proper; from 1861 to 1875. His reign; which effectively lasted through his adolescence; was largely overshadowed by the rule of his mother; the Empress Dowager Cixi. Although he had little influence over court affairs; the time of his reign gave rise to what historians call the "Tongzhi Restoration"; an unsuccessful attempt to stabilize and modernize China.