A Throne in Turmoil: The Precarious State of the Qing Dynasty

The year 1901 found the Qing Empire reeling from the catastrophic Boxer Rebellion, a violent anti-foreigner movement that had brought military intervention from eight foreign powers. The imperial court, having fled Beijing in disgrace, established a temporary capital in Xi’an before gradually making its way eastward. This period represented one of the most humiliating chapters in China’s long history, with the imperial household reduced to refugees in their own empire. The court’s authority hung by a thread, balanced precariously between domestic unrest and foreign pressure.

At the heart of this political maelstrom stood Empress Dowager Cixi, the de facto ruler of China for nearly four decades. Her decision to support the Boxers had proven disastrous, and now she navigated the delicate process of restoring her authority while appeasing foreign powers who demanded punishment for those responsible for the violence. The court’s temporary relocation to Kaifeng created an unusual environment where normal protocols were suspended, and political maneuvering took on new urgency in the confined space of exile.

The Problem of Pujun: An Heir in Question

The position of Pujun as Da-A-Ge represented one of the most controversial decisions of Cixi’s reign. Installed in 1900 amid the Boxer crisis, his appointment had been intended to replace the ineffective Emperor Guangxu while pleasing the conservative faction led by his father, Prince Duan. The selection of Pujun—a teenager known more for his rough manners than scholarly aptitude—had been controversial from the outset.

Now, with the Boxer movement defeated and its supporters disgraced, Pujun’s position became increasingly untenable. His father, Prince Duan, had been exiled for his role in the rebellion, and foreign powers viewed the heir apparent as a symbol of the anti-foreign sentiment that had provoked the conflict. Yet removing him posed its own challenges, as it would represent yet another reversal of policy for an already weakened regime.

The Promise and the Waiting Game

Empress Dowager Cixi had previously indicated to official Wu Yong that the matter of Pujun would be addressed once the court reached Kaifeng. This assurance, quietly communicated to influential viceroy Zhang Zhidong, created expectation among the reform-minded officials who saw Pujun’s removal as essential to reconciling with foreign powers and stabilizing the regime.

Zhang Zhidong, a leading advocate for modernization and cautious engagement with foreign powers, watched developments closely from his post. As weeks passed without action, he grew increasingly impatient. The delay seemed calculated—Cixi apparently wished to allow the imperial household to celebrate her birthday before addressing the contentious matter, perhaps as a final gesture of kindness toward the young heir.

When the festivities concluded without movement on the issue, Zhang took decisive action, sending a telegram to the Grand Council urging resolution of the matter. This communication set in motion the final deliberations that would determine Pujun’s fate.

Deliberations in the Grand Council

The arrival of Zhang Zhidong’s telegram prompted immediate discussion among the Grand Councilors—Ronglu, Lu Chuanlin, and Qu Hongji. Their exchange revealed the complex political calculations surrounding the heir apparent’s position.

Ronglu, perhaps Cixi’s most trusted advisor, approached the matter with characteristic pragmatism. When Qu Hongji suggested that the issue should be separated into two questions—removing Pujun and selecting a new heir—Ronglu immediately recognized the complications inherent in the latter proposition. His question about whether any suitable candidates existed among the imperial clan highlighted the dynasty’s succession crisis: the Xianfeng Emperor’s line had produced few viable heirs, and the Guangxu Emperor remained childless.

The councilors recognized that the very institution of designating an heir apparent had proven problematic. The precedent established in 1900 had been born of crisis and had contributed to the disaster that followed. As Ronglu noted, the political establishment was unlikely to support repeating such a controversial move, particularly given the current fragile state of affairs.

The Empress Dowager’s Dilemma

When Cixi summoned Ronglu for a private audience, she revealed the political pressures that had stayed her hand. “From the first month until now,” she confessed, “people have continuously complained that I have been too accommodating to foreigners, too severe in punishing the imperial clan.” Her hesitation stemmed from concern about appearing to bow too readily to foreign pressure or unnecessarily persecuting her own relatives.

Ronglu’s response demonstrated his political acumen. While acknowledging her difficult position, he emphasized that foreign powers remained quiet specifically because they trusted she would handle the matter appropriately. Should they lose patience and demand action themselves, China’s position would become even more precarious. This argument struck home with Cixi, who immediately recognized the wisdom of proactive measures.

Ronglu further reassured her that Pujun had little support within the court itself, and that decisive action would encounter minimal resistance. His counsel ultimately persuaded the Empress Dowager that immediate action represented the wisest course.

The Decree of Removal

With her mind settled, Cixi moved decisively. She determined that Pujun would be stripped of his position as heir apparent but granted the title of Duke . This compromise allowed her to remove him from the succession while providing some face-saving compensation.

The practical arrangements were assigned to Ronglu and Song Shou, the Governor of Henan. Pujun would initially reside at the Eight Banner Hostel under the supervision of minor officials before being escorted to Mongolia, where he would join his exiled father. He would receive a monetary settlement to support his new life away from the court.

These arrangements balanced several concerns: removing Pujun from political influence, ensuring his physical safety , and avoiding any spectacle that might further damage the imperial dignity. The emphasis on conducting the matter with discretion reflected the court’s awareness of its precarious position.

The Final Act: A Quiet Departure

On the day of implementation, Ronglu consulted with Interior Minister Jilu regarding the practicalities of removing Pujun from the palace. Their concerns centered on the possibility of resistance or undignified scenes that might further embarrass the court.

Jilu’s solution demonstrated knowledge of the young man’s character: he would enlist Pujun’s old wet nurse, the one person who still exercised influence over him. This approach typified the Qing court’s operation—formal power structures often yielded to personal relationships and informal channels of influence.

When the full Grand Council assembled before Cixi for final approval, the atmosphere was solemn. The Empress Dowager, her voice strained, confirmed the arrangements before turning to the Emperor Guangxu for any final words. The Emperor, who had lived under the shadow of his potential replacement, reportedly expressed satisfaction with the resolution—a rare moment of alignment between the two figures who had dominated Qing politics for decades.

Cultural and Social Implications

The removal of Pujun represented more than just a political decision; it reflected profound shifts in Qing political culture. The fact that foreign opinion factored significantly into internal succession decisions demonstrated how completely the Boxer Rebellion had shattered China’s isolation. No longer could the imperial court make decisions based solely on domestic considerations—the international community had become a permanent factor in Chinese governance.

The episode also highlighted the changing nature of imperial authority. Cixi, though still formidable, now had to balance multiple constituencies: conservative Manchu nobles, reform-minded Han officials, foreign powers, and Chinese public opinion. Her hesitation and need for reassurance from advisors revealed the limitations of even her considerable power in this new political environment.

The resolution of the succession question without bloodshed or major controversy also suggested a maturation of Qing political processes. Despite the high stakes, the matter was handled through bureaucratic channels and reasoned debate rather than violence or purge—a small but significant step toward modern governance.

Legacy and Historical Significance

The dismissal of Pujun as heir apparent marked the end of a disastrous experiment in imperial succession. More broadly, it represented the failure of the conservative, anti-foreign faction that had supported the Boxers and advocated for confrontation with foreign powers. Their defeat paved the way for the New Policies reforms of the early 1900s—China’s last attempt at modernization under imperial rule.

Historians have debated whether earlier resolution of the succession question might have strengthened the Qing position. What remains clear is that the episode demonstrated the court’s inability to address fundamental questions of leadership and succession—problems that would contribute to the dynasty’s collapse a decade later.

For Pujun himself, the removal meant a life of obscurity far from the centers of power. He lived until 1942, witnessing the fall of the empire he might have ruled and the tumultuous early decades of republican China—a living relic of a vanished political order.

The careful, deliberate process by which his removal was handled stands as a case study in late Qing governance: constrained by foreign pressure, divided by internal factions, yet still capable of resolving sensitive matters through established protocols and personal relationships. In this narrow sense, the episode offers a more nuanced view of the late Qing state than its common characterization as completely moribund and ineffective.

Ultimately, the unraveling of Pujun’s status as heir apparent serves as a poignant symbol of the larger unraveling of the Qing order—a process that would culminate in the 1911 Revolution and the end of two millennia of imperial rule in China.