13 replies to this topic

[astralis]

I felt sorry for him when I read about his story. for most of his life, he was nothing more than a puppet, a fact he knew quite well. the plight of a small man caught up against people with big ambitions.

[popcorn]

Certainly did not have a good life. Although being an emperor, I think i would rather choose to be a common citizen if I would him.

[light]

what happened to his father, the Regent..?

[wan sui yeh]

OK firstly his father(Zai Feng) retired from politics after the monarchy was abolished and acepted the Repuplic of China goverment and was praised by Kuomintang for distancing himself from politics and even was favourably commented on and visited by Sun Yat Sen himself. When his son Pu Yi was made the emperor of Manchuko, he invited him tojoin him in his puppet state but he decline, choosing to reamin in China and was firmly against his son decision to work with the Japanese Imperialist.

As for Pu Yi my evaluation of him is one of pity and sympathy. Having gain the throne in an early age during a period where the Qing collapse was inevitable, he was a mere figurehead with not much poltical significance. His ascending to the throne led him living an abnormal upbringing where he was surrounded by eunuchs and court ladies while devoided of his biological parent's care and love. His only serious fault is to work with the japanese with the vain hope of restoring the throne while this of course forever left his reputation tarnished as a traitor.He is considered as as a royalty born at the wrong place and at a wrong time, and throughout his life was used basically as a political instrument, first by Ci Xi( through her attempt of selecting a child emperor to mantain her rule), then by pigtail general Zhang Xun, followed by Japanese Imperialist( to set up manchuko) and finally by the Communist Goverment as propoganda . Truly pathetic, sad and undignify life for the Last Son of Heaven of China.

[pandamama]

I have always been fascinated by Henry Pu Yi, because I also find him a sympathetic and somehow pitiful character. There really was a big difference between the child (http://en.radio86.co...t-dragon-throne) and the man who became simply Henry Pu Yi (http://en.radio86.co...emperor-citizen)

[Lafaso870]

However he is just a puppet ,miserable life...

[Ting]

However he is just a puppet ,miserable life...

Maybe if he didn't support japanese, he will has a better life

[Song]

Maybe if he didn't support japanese, he will has a better life

hmm better life in hell? He got no option. If he choose not support the Japanese he would definitely put to death.

[yongzheng freak]

hmm better life in hell? He got no option. If he choose not support the Japanese he would definitely put to death.

What makes you say that?

[Mergen]

I've always held him in sympathy as a tragic hero. For all his desire to lead a Western life and escape to the West, he could never shake off his sense of responsibility in reviving the Qing Dynasty. Like all Qing emperors before him, for all their faults, they took the duty of emperorship seriously. You can call him politically naive to put his faith in White Russian generals or the Japanese militarists, but it was that sense of responsibility which led him. Otherwise, he could have lived out a comfortable life of exile in Europe. But he stayed behind in China, plotting to reclaim his inheritance. He might have made the wrong moves but the motivation was worthy of commendation. Hence, I confer upon him the posthumous title of Yingzong - or "Heroic Emperor" so that he could receive the proper honorific worthy of an Emperor.

[muaNXQ]

ya he seemed to be a puppet for his whole life. qing emperor, manchuquo emperor, nothing was a desicion made by him. I think his real life only started after he married his last wife. But sad, his real life did not last long either.

[muaNXQ]

OK firstly his father(Zai Feng) retired from politics after the monarchy was abolished and acepted the Repuplic of China goverment and was praised by Kuomintang for distancing himself from politics and even was favourably commented on and visited by Sun Yat Sen himself. When his son Pu Yi was made the emperor of Manchuko, he invited him tojoin him in his puppet state but he decline, choosing to reamin in China and was firmly against his son decision to work with the Japanese Imperialist.

As for Pu Yi my evaluation of him is one of pity and sympathy. Having gain the throne in an early age during a period where the Qing collapse was inevitable, he was a mere figurehead with not much poltical significance. His ascending to the throne led him living an abnormal upbringing where he was surrounded by eunuchs and court ladies while devoided of his biological parent's care and love. His only serious fault is to work with the japanese with the vain hope of restoring the throne while this of course forever left his reputation tarnished as a traitor.He is considered as as a royalty born at the wrong place and at a wrong time, and throughout his life was used basically as a political instrument, first by Ci Xi( through her attempt of selecting a child emperor to mantain her rule), then by pigtail general Zhang Xun, followed by Japanese Imperialist( to set up manchuko) and finally by the Communist Goverment as propoganda . Truly pathetic, sad and undignify life for the Last Son of Heaven of China.

true. I can also see a similarity between him and tsar nicolas II both of becoming emperor were not their own decisions and they were the last emperors of two large countries.

[Swordsman]

I only have sympathies of him as a puppet emperor.

人在江湖，身不由己。

Edited by Swordsman, 11 September 2011 - 12:39 PM.