Li Yuqin
Encyclopedia
Li Yuqin also known as the "Last Imperial Concubine" , (15 July 1928 – 24 April 2001) was the fourth wife (or third concubine) and last Imperial Concubine of Puyi
, the last Emperor of China
's Qing Dynasty
.
Li Yuqin was 15 years old in 1943 when she became the fourth wife of China's last emperor, Puyi, of the Manchu
minority that ruled China for over 300 years (1644–1911). She died at age 73 in the northeastern city of Changchun
after a six-year battle with cirrhosis
, according to the official Xinhua News Agency.
Puyi, who was deposed as emperor in the 1911 Chinese revolution
, and became a puppet emperor in Japanese-occupied Manchuria, picked Li Yuqin as his concubine, but abandoned her after World War II
, when Manchukuo
fell amid Japan's defeat. Li Yuqin remained in Manchuria
after Puyi was taken to Russia
by Soviet troops
. After the Communist Party
seized power in China in 1949 she continued to live in China and became a librarian during 1956 in Changchun
.
In May 1958 she formally divorced Puyi and later married a technician, and had two sons. The prison authority once tried to persuade her to give up the divorce for the sake of the Puyi's transformation into a new person. Later, her son recalled with the comment: "My mother had the right to pursue her own happiness."
Puyi
Puyi , of the Manchu Aisin Gioro clan, was the last Emperor of China, and the twelfth and final ruler of the Qing Dynasty. He ruled as the Xuantong Emperor from 1908 until his abdication on 12 February 1912. From 1 to 12 July 1917 he was briefly restored to the throne as a nominal emperor by the...
, the last Emperor of China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
's Qing Dynasty
Qing Dynasty
The Qing Dynasty was the last dynasty of China, ruling from 1644 to 1912 with a brief, abortive restoration in 1917. It was preceded by the Ming Dynasty and followed by the Republic of China....
.
Li Yuqin was 15 years old in 1943 when she became the fourth wife of China's last emperor, Puyi, of the Manchu
Manchu
The Manchu people or Man are an ethnic minority of China who originated in Manchuria . During their rise in the 17th century, with the help of the Ming dynasty rebels , they came to power in China and founded the Qing Dynasty, which ruled China until the Xinhai Revolution of 1911, which...
minority that ruled China for over 300 years (1644–1911). She died at age 73 in the northeastern city of Changchun
Changchun
Changchun is the capital and largest city of Jilin province, located in the northeast of the People's Republic of China, in the center of the Songliao Plain. It is administered as a sub-provincial city with a population of 7,677,089 at the 2010 census under its jurisdiction, including counties and...
after a six-year battle with cirrhosis
Cirrhosis
Cirrhosis is a consequence of chronic liver disease characterized by replacement of liver tissue by fibrosis, scar tissue and regenerative nodules , leading to loss of liver function...
, according to the official Xinhua News Agency.
Puyi, who was deposed as emperor in the 1911 Chinese revolution
Xinhai Revolution
The Xinhai Revolution or Hsinhai Revolution, also known as Revolution of 1911 or the Chinese Revolution, was a revolution that overthrew China's last imperial dynasty, the Qing , and established the Republic of China...
, and became a puppet emperor in Japanese-occupied Manchuria, picked Li Yuqin as his concubine, but abandoned her after World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, when Manchukuo
Manchukuo
Manchukuo or Manshū-koku was a puppet state in Manchuria and eastern Inner Mongolia, governed under a form of constitutional monarchy. The region was the historical homeland of the Manchus, who founded the Qing Empire in China...
fell amid Japan's defeat. Li Yuqin remained in Manchuria
Manchuria
Manchuria is a historical name given to a large geographic region in northeast Asia. Depending on the definition of its extent, Manchuria usually falls entirely within the People's Republic of China, or is sometimes divided between China and Russia. The region is commonly referred to as Northeast...
after Puyi was taken to Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
by Soviet troops
Red Army
The Workers' and Peasants' Red Army started out as the Soviet Union's revolutionary communist combat groups during the Russian Civil War of 1918-1922. It grew into the national army of the Soviet Union. By the 1930s the Red Army was among the largest armies in history.The "Red Army" name refers to...
. After the Communist Party
Communist party
A political party described as a Communist party includes those that advocate the application of the social principles of communism through a communist form of government...
seized power in China in 1949 she continued to live in China and became a librarian during 1956 in Changchun
Changchun
Changchun is the capital and largest city of Jilin province, located in the northeast of the People's Republic of China, in the center of the Songliao Plain. It is administered as a sub-provincial city with a population of 7,677,089 at the 2010 census under its jurisdiction, including counties and...
.
In May 1958 she formally divorced Puyi and later married a technician, and had two sons. The prison authority once tried to persuade her to give up the divorce for the sake of the Puyi's transformation into a new person. Later, her son recalled with the comment: "My mother had the right to pursue her own happiness."
External links
- Ex-wife of China's Last Emperor Dies People's Daily Online, April 28, 2001