In China, the position is in the order of Empress Dowager Cixi, the emperor, and Empress Dowager Ci'an from the left; thus, hypothetically speaking, the order in Japan would be the emperor, and the empress since there is no position corresponding to Empress Dowager Cixi.
中国では西太后・皇帝・東太后と並ぶが、日本では西太后に当る地位がないので、言ってみれば、（空席）・天皇・皇后となるのである。