Wan Rong / Wen Xiu Biography -- The Last Empress and Empress Consort of China

Author: Wang Qingxiang
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2005-03-01
Features: As the last empress and concubine of the Chinese Empire, Wanrong went mad and died, while Wenxiu ran away. Both were victims of the imperial era and epitomized the dramatic changes of modern society. Peeling away the layers of mist and dispelling the misconceptions of fictionalized tales, this book presents a realistic portrayal of the absurd downfall of the Qing Dynasty a century ago. With 200 precious old photographs, its 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 the Last Emperor of China, Puyi, I did not use a comprehensive narrative approach but 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 Yuchun were pseudo-princesses during Puyi's reign as the "Kangde Emperor" in Manchukuo. Although we cannot acknowledge their titles in the pseudo-court, we cannot deny them as Puyi's wives, so their biographies are included alongside Li Shuxian, who married Puyi after his release from prison. These three women had no overlapping marriages with Puyi but shared the tumultuous historical changes in his life.
The Last Empress and Concubine, published in 1984, was based on limited materials and only sketched the historical prototypes of Puyi's five wives. At the time, I lacked the conditions to delve deeply into their thoughts, personalities, and their relationship with the era and environment, nor could I provide a fair evaluation or eliminate the false elements in some sources. Therefore, in the preface to the first edition, written on February 15, 1984, I wrote: "Every word in this book is well-documented, there is no doubt about that. But please note: our goal was merely to portray the historical prototypes based on objective materials, avoiding excessive commentary. It may serve as historical data, but when it comes to biographies, we will need to write more detailed accounts when the conditions are ripe."
Now, the conditions are ripe for separate biographies of Puyi's five wives. The value of The Marriage and Family Life of the Last Emperor of China, Puyi lies in its profound reflection of the winds and rains of historical changes from the perspective of a special family, offering a highly realistic, rich, and vivid historical context. 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 or the deep imprint of the Aisin Gioro imperial family. Wanrong, Wenxiu, and Tan Yuling all came from noble families, considered by the Qing to possess "noble blood." Li Yuchun, though born into a commoner's family, spent much of her life in a declining imperial family. They were the last representatives of the Aisin Gioro family, which had flourished for nearly three centuries before declining. Their lives provide strong evidence for studying the fall of the imperial family.
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 revitalize 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 at night, and Li Yuchun 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 bore witness to Japan's establishment of Manchukuo.
As the empress, concubines, "princesses," and wives of the last emperor of China, Puyi, their life paths all intersected with the most essential and profound part of his 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 expressions 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 both the result of feudal moral concepts and the stimulation and of foreign invasion. Thus, it cannot be said that this was merely a personal tragedy of weak women but rather a tragedy of weakness and passivity in the history of the nation. Li Yuchun's twelve years of marriage to Puyi spanned two eras. Only after enduring suffering and hardship did the New China change her fate. Li Shuxian, as a citizen's wife, saw Puyi to the end of his days, and their warm relationship formed an eternal comedy, reflecting a completely new era, society, and values.
The above are just a few highlights. In short, The Marriage and Family Life of the Last Emperor of China, Puyi 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 I had access to. Success or failure is another matter entirely. I humbly ask the readers who care about me to judge.