Line of succession to the Chinese throne
Encyclopedia
In 1912, the Qing dynasty
was ousted and a Republic of China
declared. Puyi
, the last Qing emperor, was emperor of Manchukuo
(Manchuria) in 1931-1945. He died without issue in 1967. His brother Prince Pujie
was first in line under Manchukuo's succession law, which is the most recently published agreed upon succession rule for the house. Pujie was widely regarded as Puyi's heir. Since Pujie died in 1994, a half-brother, Jin Youzhi
, has claimed this status, notably in a 2006 lawsuit. This case was dismissed without a ruling on the issue. Jin has also attempted to obtain royalties from the sale of Puyi's autobiography.
In The Empty Throne, Tony Scotland tells how he found another claimant, Prince Yuyan
, living in a mud floor hovel near the imperial palace. Yuyan, a distant cousin of Puyi, told Scotland that the former emperor made him heir to the throne in a ceremony performed while they were imprisoned in Russia together in 1950. This claim is not supported by any official document, although it was customary in the Qing dynasty that an emperor name his successor in a will or edict. Puyi's autobiography confirms merely that the idea was discussed. Yuyan died in 1997. His eldest son is Prince Hengzhen, who was born in 1944. There is no indication that Yuyan designated him heir to the throne, or that he claims this status.
Current pretender: Prince Puren (Jin Youzhi)
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....
was ousted and a Republic of China
Republic of China
The Republic of China , commonly known as Taiwan , is a unitary sovereign state located in East Asia. Originally based in mainland China, the Republic of China currently governs the island of Taiwan , which forms over 99% of its current territory, as well as Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu and other minor...
declared. Puyi
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 Qing emperor, was emperor of 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...
(Manchuria) in 1931-1945. He died without issue in 1967. His brother Prince Pujie
Pujie
-External links:**...
was first in line under Manchukuo's succession law, which is the most recently published agreed upon succession rule for the house. Pujie was widely regarded as Puyi's heir. Since Pujie died in 1994, a half-brother, Jin Youzhi
Jin Youzhi
Jīn Yǒuzhī , born Pǔrèn , is the fourth and youngest son of Zaifeng, 2nd Prince Chun, and is, at age , the only surviving brother of Puyi, the last Emperor of China and of Manchukuo....
, has claimed this status, notably in a 2006 lawsuit. This case was dismissed without a ruling on the issue. Jin has also attempted to obtain royalties from the sale of Puyi's autobiography.
In The Empty Throne, Tony Scotland tells how he found another claimant, Prince Yuyan
Yuyan
Yuyan , style name Yanrui , nickname Xiaoruizi , was a Chinese calligrapher and a member of the Manchu Aisin Gioro clan, the imperial clan of the Qing Dynasty. He claimed that he was appointed heir by Puyi, the Last Emperor of China...
, living in a mud floor hovel near the imperial palace. Yuyan, a distant cousin of Puyi, told Scotland that the former emperor made him heir to the throne in a ceremony performed while they were imprisoned in Russia together in 1950. This claim is not supported by any official document, although it was customary in the Qing dynasty that an emperor name his successor in a will or edict. Puyi's autobiography confirms merely that the idea was discussed. Yuyan died in 1997. His eldest son is Prince Hengzhen, who was born in 1944. There is no indication that Yuyan designated him heir to the throne, or that he claims this status.
Current pretender: Prince Puren (Jin Youzhi)
- Jin YuzhangJin YuzhangJīn Yùzhàng is a descendant of the Qīng Dynasty , the Imperial Family of the Aisin-Gioro clan. He is the eldest grandson of Zaifeng, 2nd Prince Chun, and the eldest son of Jin Youzhi, formerly Pǔrèn, making Jin an heir to the Chinese throne. According to a succession law adopted in 1937, the...
, eldest son of Jin Youzhi. - Jin Yuquan