Speaking of the late Qing Dynasty, the last emperor

Author: Shengye (compiled by Yin Nan), photography by Shengye
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-06-01
Features: Step into the realm of the Qing Dynasty, where truth and illusion intertwine, to truly experience the imperial life—whether thrilling, tender, unrestrained, or filled with intrigue. Get close to their inner depths, feel their beating hearts, and explore the hidden world behind the twelve emperors. In the chaotic maze of worldly affairs, those involved are often blinded by their own perspectives. What seems clear to later generations is often obscured for historical figures at the time, leading them to make wrong choices based on their own standpoints. This is the tragedy of those who lived in the transitional era of the Republic of China, the tragedy of Puyi, and the tragedy of an entire era.
The Guangxu Emperor was imprisoned on the Island of Ruyuan, while the Empress Dowager Cixi installed a new heir to the throne. Adoption, deposal, and reinstallation—facing the dying feudal dynasty, the autocratic Empress Dowager was powerless to turn back the tide. Ascension, abdication, and restoration—amidst the, the last emperor of the Qing Dynasty, Puyi, found his desires unfulfilled. Palaces, residences, prisons—once the Son of Heaven, he wandered and drifted under the whims of history. Emperors, war criminals, citizens—after abdicating, the last emperor of the Qing Dynasty became a self-reliant citizen of the Republic.
The Empress Dowager Cixi, who held absolute power and appointed relatives to key positions, hastily chose Puyi as the successor to the Qing Dynasty. She thrust a three-year-old child onto the throne, but what was the reasoning behind this decision? Puyi was the last emperor of the Qing Dynasty and the final emperor of China's two thousand-year imperial system. As the last emperor, Puyi's life was tumultuous. For three years as emperor, he was unprepared for the world. How did he spend those three years? Through multiple marriages and repeated disappointments, how did he endure this complex and mysterious emotional life?
The Qing Dynasty: The Last Emperor brings to life the extraordinary real-life journey of a remarkable citizen.