Embedded Files
Emperor Xuantong
Emperor Xuantong
(7 February 1906 – 17 October 1967)
- Reign: 2 December 1908 – 12 February 1912
- His reign marked the end of imperial China.
Xuantong, popularly known as Puyi, was the last emperor of China. He ascended the throne as Emperor Xuantong when he was two years and ten months old, chosen by Cixi on her deathbed. Puyi was the eldest son of Prince Chun, who was a younger half-brother of Emperor Guangxu.
When Empress Dowager Cixi was ruling in place of Emperor Guangxu, whom she had deposed in a military coup following his Hundred Days’ Reform, she ensured that Guangxu did not retake power after her death by choosing the toddler Puyi as the adopted heir of his uncle, and to succeed as the next emperor. When on November 14, 1908, Guangxu died suddenly, Puyi was quickly and officially enthroned as the emperor of China.
The young emperor needed to be watched over by his adopted mother, Empress Dowager Longyu (wife of Emperor Guangxu) and his father, who served as his regent. However, neither Puyi nor his father had much time at the helm of the empire, for the Qing dynasty would be overthrown in 1911, following the Xinhai Revolution. On 1 January 1912, the Republic of China was founded. On 12 February 1912, Empress Dowager Longyu, on behalf of Emperor Xuantong, signed the “Act of Abdication of the Emperor of the Great Qing.”
In return for the peaceful surrender of the monarchy, the Republic of China made eight pledges to the Emperor, which guaranteed the title of the Manchu Emperor; temporary residence in the Forbidden City and, later, in the Summer Palace; the protection of imperial tombs and monuments; the treatment of the emperor with respect as a foreign monarch; and the payment of 4,000,000 taels until currency reformation.
China's Final Emperor : Documentary on the Great Emperor Puyi of China
China's Final Emperor : Documentary on the Great Emperor Puyi of China
(Full Documentary)
(Full Documentary)
Puyi, last emperor of China, with his consort Wan Rong, last empress of China.
8 Interesting Facts on the Last Emperor of China — Puyi
8 Interesting Facts on the Last Emperor of China — Puyi
Aisian-Gioro (his Manchu surname) Puyi, was the last emperor of China. He led a particularly interesting life in China's turbulent era of change. The following facts will help you better understand the Last Emperor.
1. Puyi was the only emperor to be enthroned 3 times.
1. Puyi was the only emperor to be enthroned 3 times.
Puyi was the last emperor three times, but was not in power even for a day! Puyi was "the puppet emperor".
- Enthronement 1: From 1908 to 1912 was his first "reign", over the Qing Dynasty as Emperor Xuantong. His father Zaifeng was actually in power as prince regent.
- Enthronement 2: In 1917, Puyi was restored to the throne by the warlord Zhang Xun, a Qing Dynasty loyalist general. The restoration of the Qing Dynasty lasted only 12 days.
- Enthronement 3: During 1934 to 1945, Japan made Puyi ruler of Manchukuo, a puppet state of the Empire of Japan.
2. Puyi was the youngest emperor at only 2.
2. Puyi was the youngest emperor at only 2.
At the age of 2 years and 10 months, Puyi was summoned to the Forbidden City (the imperial palace) by the dying Empress Dowager Cixi. He was told to succeed Emperor Guangxu, since he had no heirs. Puyi was Guangxu's nephew.
The reason Puyi was chosen by Cixi was that it would be easy for her to continue to rule China (behind the screens), as he was just a toddler. She never thought that she'd die the day before Puyi's enthronement.
3. Puyi's abdication was the end of imperial China.
3. Puyi's abdication was the end of imperial China.
2,133 years of Chinese imperial history were ended by a mother's note for a 6-year-old emperor. Empress Dowager Longyu endorsed the abdication on 12 February 1912, handing over power to Yuan Shikai's Republican army.
4. Henry was the first emperor to learn English and wear suits.
4. Henry was the first emperor to learn English and wear suits.
Puyi became the first emperor to speak and write English (in 1917 and 1934). He was also commonly known as Henry, a name chosen by his English language teacher, Scotsman Reginald Johnston.
Having learned English, math, world history, and geography from Johnston, Puyi opened his eyes to the world. Then he started to wear suits, and he cut his Manchurian queue off.
5. The last emperor was the first emperor to be divorced.
5. The last emperor was the first emperor to be divorced.
Puyi had five spouses. In 1931, his second wife Wenxiu, the Consort Shu, divorced him due to 'emptiness of life for nine years'. His third wife Li Yuqin, who was designated as his Concubine Xiang, divorced him in 1945.
6. Puyi served 10 years in prison as a war criminal.
6. Puyi served 10 years in prison as a war criminal.
After the establishment of the People's Republic of China in 1949, Puyi had to be "reformed" under the "Communist re-education programme" for political prisoners. Thus he spent ten years in the Fushun War Criminals Management Centre in Liaoning Province from 1950 to 1959.
7. Puyi spent his final 8 years as an ordinary PRC citizen.
7. Puyi spent his final 8 years as an ordinary PRC citizen.
After being released from prison, he became a citizen of the People's Republic of China with special permission from Chairman Mao Zedong.
He became a member of a national organization serving the people — the CPPCC (the fourth National Committee of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference).
He also worked as a gardener and ticket seller at the Beijing Botanical Gardens from 1960. And from 1964 until his death in 1967, he worked as an editor for the CPPCC.
8. The Last Emperor made Puyi the most famous Chinese emperor in 1987.
8. The Last Emperor made Puyi the most famous Chinese emperor in 1987.
The Last Emperor, which was about the life of Puyi, is an British-Italian epic biographical film produced in 1987. It won nine Oscars at the 60th Academy Awards.
Report abuse