Zaize
Encyclopedia
Zaize was a Manchu noble
Aisin Gioro
clan. Born Zaijiao, he was the grandson of Mianyu, Prince Hui, younger brother of the Daoguang Emperor
. He advocated for constitutional monarchy
in China.
In 1877, Zaize was made an Duke of the Second Rank
, and in 1894 he married the daughter of Guixiang, brother of the Empress Dowager Cixi
, de facto ruler at the time, and thus enjoyed a favorable position in court, and gained the First-class Duke status. In 1901, he was made a deputy commander of the Plain Blue Banner. In 1905, he was commissioned by Empress Dowager Cixi to go on a tour of Europe, Japan, and the United States to learn from their respective political systems. When he returned to China in 1906, he sent in a petition to change China into a constitutional monarchy
, following the German and Japanese model, which had the most centralized power.
In 1907 he was made the President of the Board of Finance, and became a beizi
in rank (a Prince of the 4th class). In Yikuang's "Imperial Family Cabinet", Zaize was also the Minister of Finance. Along with others Zaize proposed killing Yuan Shikai
. After the success of the Xinhai Revolution
which made China into a republic
, he continued to be bent on restoring the monarchy. He died in 1928.
Qing Dynasty nobility
The Qing Dynasty of China developed a complicated peerage system for ranking nobility. All titles were to be inherited by a noble's eldest son, but always one grade lower. There were instances, however, where an emperor approved of a title being hereditary . This was regarded as an honour by the...
Aisin Gioro
Aisin Gioro
Aisin Gioro was the family name of the Manchu emperors of the Qing Dynasty. The House of Aisin Gioro ruled China until the Xinhai Revolution of 1911, which established a republican government in its place. The word aisin means gold in the Manchu language, and "gioro" is the name of the place in...
clan. Born Zaijiao, he was the grandson of Mianyu, Prince Hui, younger brother of the Daoguang Emperor
Daoguang Emperor
The Daoguang Emperor was the eighth emperor of the Manchurian Qing dynasty and the sixth Qing emperor to rule over China, from 1820 to 1850.-Early years:...
. He advocated for constitutional monarchy
Constitutional monarchy
Constitutional monarchy is a form of government in which a monarch acts as head of state within the parameters of a constitution, whether it be a written, uncodified or blended constitution...
in China.
In 1877, Zaize was made an Duke of the Second Rank
Qing Dynasty nobility
The Qing Dynasty of China developed a complicated peerage system for ranking nobility. All titles were to be inherited by a noble's eldest son, but always one grade lower. There were instances, however, where an emperor approved of a title being hereditary . This was regarded as an honour by the...
, and in 1894 he married the daughter of Guixiang, brother 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....
, de facto ruler at the time, and thus enjoyed a favorable position in court, and gained the First-class Duke status. In 1901, he was made a deputy commander of the Plain Blue Banner. In 1905, he was commissioned by Empress Dowager Cixi to go on a tour of Europe, Japan, and the United States to learn from their respective political systems. When he returned to China in 1906, he sent in a petition to change China into a constitutional monarchy
Constitutional monarchy
Constitutional monarchy is a form of government in which a monarch acts as head of state within the parameters of a constitution, whether it be a written, uncodified or blended constitution...
, following the German and Japanese model, which had the most centralized power.
In 1907 he was made the President of the Board of Finance, and became a beizi
Qing Dynasty nobility
The Qing Dynasty of China developed a complicated peerage system for ranking nobility. All titles were to be inherited by a noble's eldest son, but always one grade lower. There were instances, however, where an emperor approved of a title being hereditary . This was regarded as an honour by the...
in rank (a Prince of the 4th class). In Yikuang's "Imperial Family Cabinet", Zaize was also the Minister of Finance. Along with others Zaize proposed killing Yuan Shikai
Yuan Shikai
Yuan Shikai was an important Chinese general and politician famous for his influence during the late Qing Dynasty, his role in the events leading up to the abdication of the last Qing Emperor of China, his autocratic rule as the second President of the Republic of China , and his short-lived...
. After the success of the Xinhai 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...
which made China into a republic
Republic
A republic is a form of government in which the people, or some significant portion of them, have supreme control over the government and where offices of state are elected or chosen by elected people. In modern times, a common simplified definition of a republic is a government where the head of...
, he continued to be bent on restoring the monarchy. He died in 1928.