Princess Der Ling
Encyclopedia
"Princess" Der Ling (18851944) was a Manchu
, the daughter of Yu Keng (裕庚). Yu Keng was a member of the Manchu Plain White Banner Corps
(正白旗) and according to his daughter was a Lord. This is of some doubt. After serving as Chinese minister to Japan he was appointed minister to the French Third Republic
for four years in 1899. He was known for his progressive, reformist views, as well as for his unvarying support of the Empress Dowager Cixi
. In 1905, Yukeng died in Shanghai. YuKeng's story is retold in the movie Dai noi kwan ying.
Yu Keng's daughters Der Ling and Rong Ling (the future Madame Dan Paochao of Beijing) therefore got a western education, having studied dance in Paris with Isadora Duncan. Upon return from France, Der Ling became the First lady-in-waiting
to Empress Dowager Cixi
, as well as a translator. She stayed at court until March 1905. In 1907, Der Ling married Thaddeus C. White, an American.
Using the title of princess, which would create controversy for her in both China and the United States in future, Der Ling wrote down her unique experience in court in her memoirs Two Years in the Forbidden City, which were published in 1911, and wrote about the experience through her next seven books. "Two Years" gives historical insights into life at court and Der Ling's service to the Dowager Empress, essentially a world that has disappeared.
A biography of Der Ling, "Imperial Masquerade: The Legend of Princess Der Ling," by Grant Hayter-Menzies, was published in January 2008 by Hong Kong University Press.
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...
, the daughter of Yu Keng (裕庚). Yu Keng was a member of the Manchu Plain White Banner Corps
Eight Banners
The Eight Banners were administrative divisions into which all Manchu families were placed. They provided the basic framework for the Manchu military organization...
(正白旗) and according to his daughter was a Lord. This is of some doubt. After serving as Chinese minister to Japan he was appointed minister to the French Third Republic
French Third Republic
The French Third Republic was the republican government of France from 1870, when the Second French Empire collapsed due to the French defeat in the Franco-Prussian War, to 1940, when France was overrun by Nazi Germany during World War II, resulting in the German and Italian occupations of France...
for four years in 1899. He was known for his progressive, reformist views, as well as for his unvarying support of the Empress Dowager Cixi
Empress Dowager Cixi
Empress Dowager Cixi1 , of the Manchu Yehenara clan, was a powerful and charismatic figure who became the de facto ruler of the Manchu Qing Dynasty in China for 47 years from 1861 to her death in 1908....
. In 1905, Yukeng died in Shanghai. YuKeng's story is retold in the movie Dai noi kwan ying.
Yu Keng's daughters Der Ling and Rong Ling (the future Madame Dan Paochao of Beijing) therefore got a western education, having studied dance in Paris with Isadora Duncan. Upon return from France, Der Ling became the First lady-in-waiting
Lady-in-waiting
A lady-in-waiting is a female personal assistant at a royal court, attending on a queen, a princess, or a high-ranking noblewoman. Historically, in Europe a lady-in-waiting was often a noblewoman from a family highly thought of in good society, but was of lower rank than the woman on whom she...
to Empress Dowager Cixi
Empress Dowager Cixi
Empress Dowager Cixi1 , of the Manchu Yehenara clan, was a powerful and charismatic figure who became the de facto ruler of the Manchu Qing Dynasty in China for 47 years from 1861 to her death in 1908....
, as well as a translator. She stayed at court until March 1905. In 1907, Der Ling married Thaddeus C. White, an American.
Using the title of princess, which would create controversy for her in both China and the United States in future, Der Ling wrote down her unique experience in court in her memoirs Two Years in the Forbidden City, which were published in 1911, and wrote about the experience through her next seven books. "Two Years" gives historical insights into life at court and Der Ling's service to the Dowager Empress, essentially a world that has disappeared.
A biography of Der Ling, "Imperial Masquerade: The Legend of Princess Der Ling," by Grant Hayter-Menzies, was published in January 2008 by Hong Kong University Press.
Works
- Two Years in the Forbidden City (1911)
- Old Buddha (1928)
- KowtowKowtowKowtow is the act of deep respect shown by kneeling and bowing so low as to have one's head touching the ground. An alternative Chinese term is ketou, however the meaning is somewhat altered: kòu originally meant "knock with reverence", whereas kē has the general meaning of "touch upon ".In Han...
(1929) - Lotos Petals (1930)
- Jades and Dragons (1932)
- Golden Phoenix (1932)
- Imperial Incense (1933)
- Son of Heaven (1935)
- Song of Heaven (1938)
External links
- Princess Der Ling web site http://solongletty.tripod.com/princessderling
- "Imperial Masquerade: The Legend of Princess Der Ling" http://www.amazon.com/Imperial-Masquerade-Legend-Princess-Ling/dp/9622098819