Wan Rong / Wen Xiu: The Last Empress and Empress Consort

Author: Wang Qingxiang
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2005-01-01
Features: As the last empress and concubine of the Chinese Empire, Wanrong went mad and died, while Wenxiu ran away. They were both victims of the imperial era, but also epitomized the great changes in modern Chinese society. Peeling away the layers of mist and dispelling the misconceptions of fictionalized tales, this book presents a realistic portrayal of the absurd decline of the Qing Empire a century ago. With 200 precious old photographs, it recreates the tragic life of Wanrong and the awakening of Wenxiu's female consciousness, reflecting the beauty and sorrow of late Qing Chinese women.
In writing The Marriage and Family Life of Puyi, the Last Emperor of China, I did not use a comprehensive narrative approach but instead wrote a biography for each of Puyi's five wives. Wanrong and Wenxiu were legitimate empress and concubine, entering the palace at the same time with overlapping lives, so their biographies are combined here. Tan Yuling and Li Yuxin were pseudo-princesses during Puyi's reign as the "Kangde Emperor" in Manchukuo. Although we cannot recognize their titles in the pseudo-court, we cannot deny them as Puyi's wives, so their biographies are also combined with that of Li Shuxian, Puyi's wife after his release from prison, who had a loving and married relationship with him. These three women had no overlapping marriages with Puyi but shared the tumultuous historical changes in his life.
In the preface to my book The Last Empress and Concubine, published in 1984, I wrote: "Every word in this book is based on evidence, but please note: our goal was merely to depict the historical prototypes based on objective materials, without excessive commentary. It may serve as historical data, but when it comes to biographies, further work will be needed when conditions permit." Now, the conditions are ripe for separate biographies of Puyi's five wives. The Marriage and Family Life of the Last Emperor of China is a valuable research topic because it reflects the ups and downs of the era from the perspective of a special family, with highly authentic, rich, and vivid historical content.
As empresses and concubines of the Qing Dynasty and pseudo-princesses according to Qing rituals, their marriage and family lives could not escape the legacy of the Qing Dynasty, nor could they erase the deep imprint of the Aisin Gioro imperial family. Wanrong, Wenxiu, and Tan Yuling all came from noble families, considered by the Qing to have "noble blood." Li Yuxin, though born into a commoner family, lived in a declining imperial family for a long time. They were the last representatives of the Aisin Gioro family, which had flourished for nearly three centuries before declining. In studying the fall of the imperial family, they provide strong evidence.
As the wives of a man with the status of an emperor, they each had their own political ideals and made efforts to help their husbands restore the "Great Qing Dynasty." At the same time, they gradually recognized the true faces of the Japanese militarists through practice. Wanrong struggled in the underworld, Wenxiu broke up with Puyi due to political rifts, Tan Yuling told her husband about the cruelty of the Japanese invaders in bed, and Li Yuxin sang and told stories to Puyi when he was humiliated by the Japanese. They lived in a specific historical and social context, and their lives were marked by Japan's establishment of Manchukuo.
As the last empress, concubines, "princesses," and wives of Puyi, their life paths all intersected with the most essential and profound part of Puyi's life. From their experiences, not only can we find Puyi as a relatable human being but also the true political face of the man who skillfully changed his identity in complex situations. Therefore, studying Puyi's life cannot be separated from the lives of his five wives.
As women of notable significance in certain aspects, their joys and sorrows, ideals and outcomes, can all be placed within the cultural heritage of the Chinese nation. Wanrong, Wenxiu, and Tan Yuling all walked through blood and tears—some went mad, some ran away, and some died. Their tragedies were not only the result of feudal moral concepts but also the consequence of foreign invasion. Thus, it cannot be called merely a personal tragedy of weak women but rather a tragedy of weakness and vulnerability in the history of the nation.
Li Yuxin, whose twelve years of marriage to Puyi spanned two eras, had her fate changed by the new China after enduring suffering and hardship. Li Shuxian, as a citizen's wife, brought Puyi to his end with warm affection, creating a timeless comedy. Through this comedy, we see a completely new era, a new society, and new concepts.
The above are just a few highlights. In short, The Marriage and Family Life of the Last Emperor of China is far more than just romantic tales of husband and wife; this topic undoubtedly has value. As for how well I wrote it, it will be limited by my understanding and the materials at hand. Success or failure is another matter entirely. I humbly ask the readers who care about me to judge.