Xuantong Emperor of China
Henry Pu Yi or Aisin Gioro Puyi (愛新覺羅÷溥儀 in pinyin: ài xīn júe lúo ÷ pǔ yÃÂ), English name Henry Aisin-gioro, (February 17, 1906 - October 17, 1967) was the last Emperor of China. His reign name, Xuantong (宣統), means "The Proclamation of Unity"(?).
Chosen by Cixi on her deathbed, Pu Yi and ascended to the throne at age 2 years 10 months in December 1908 following his uncle's death on November 14. His father, Prince Zaifeng served as a regent until December 6, 1911 when Empress Dowager Longyu took over.
On March 1, 1931, he was installed by the Japanese as the emperor of the puppet state of Manchukuo under the reign title Kangde. After World War II, he was captured by the Russians and turned over to the Chinese Communists. He spent ten years in a reeducation camp and was declared reformed and became a supporter of the Communists. Afterwards, he was made a member of the National People's Congress. He wrote an autobiography in the 1960s and died in Beijing.
His life was portrayed in Bernardo Bertolucci's film The Last Emperor. Although the film contained some elements of dramatic license, it is considered to be a plausible portrayal of his life.
In both his autobiography and the film, Aixinjueluo is portrayed as a largely innocent pawn controlled by more powerful people. Some historians are skeptical about this account: Puyi had a strong interest in minimizing his own role in history, because any admission of active control would have led to his execution.
In 1962, he married for the fifth time to Li Shuxian.
Puyi was 61 years old at the time of his passing. He was childless.
In 1995, his widow was allowed to transfer his ashes to the Western Qing Tombs, where five of the 10 Manchu rulers are interred. He is the only Chinese Emperor in history whose body was burned into ashes, and thus he has a nickname as "the Fire Dragon" after his death. For others, they are buried with their body in whole.
| Preceded by: Guangxu Emperor of China |
Qing Dynasty | Succeeded by: (Empire ends) |