The Rise and Fall of China’s Last Imperial Household

The life of Aisin-Gioro Puyi (1906–1967), China’s last emperor, was marked by political upheaval, personal tragedy, and reinvention. His marital history—spanning five women across vastly different phases of his life—offers a unique lens into the collapse of imperial China, the turbulent Republican era, and the early decades of Communist rule. From the Forbidden City’s gilded cages to Soviet prisons and finally life as a common citizen, Puyi’s relationships mirrored his nation’s transformation.

The Tragic Empress: Wanrong (1906–1946)

Wanrong, born Gobulo Wanrong into a noble Manchu family, became Puyi’s empress in 1922 at age 17. Educated in Western and classical Chinese traditions, she was celebrated for her beauty and intellect. Initially favored by Puyi, their relationship soured due to court intrigues and her rivalry with Consort Wenxiu.

After the 1924 expulsion from the Forbidden City, Wanrong followed Puyi to Tianjin and later to the Japanese puppet state of Manchukuo. Isolated and neglected, she descended into opium addiction. In 1945, as Soviet forces advanced, Puyi abandoned her during their flight. She died malnourished and alone in a Yanji prison in 1946, her body reportedly wrapped in a straw mat—a grim contrast to her imperial beginnings.

The Rebel Consort: Wenxiu (1909–1953)

Wenxiu, of the Erdet clan, entered the palace as a consort in 1922. Unlike Wanrong, she came from a declining aristocratic family. A talented poet and calligrapher, she endured bullying from Wanrong and indifference from Puyi.

In 1931, Wenxiu made history by divorcing Puyi—an unprecedented act for an imperial consort. The sensational “Scissors Incident” (where she allegedly threatened suicide) forced Puyi to grant her freedom with a modest settlement. Remarrying a Nationalist officer in 1947, she lived quietly until her 1953 death from heart disease. Her defiance became symbolic of women rejecting feudal traditions.

The Beloved Concubine: Tan Yuling (1920–1942)

Puyi’s third wife, Tan Yuling (née Tatara), was a 17-year-old student when she married the 32-year-old ex-emperor in 1937. Their relationship, by all accounts, was affectionate. She provided companionship during Puyi’s fraught Manchukuo years, where he served as Japan’s puppet ruler.

Her sudden death from “typhoid” in 1942 remains controversial. Puyi later suspected Japanese poisoning, as she had opposed their interference. He posthumously granted her the title “Noble Consort Mingxian” and preserved her room untouched—a shrine to their bond. Forensic tests in 2006 detected mercury in her remains, fueling conspiracy theories.

The Child Bride: Li Yuqin (1928–2001)

Chosen at age 15 to replace Tan Yuling, Li Yuqin symbolized Puyi’s desperation for control amid Japan’s collapsing empire. The working-class Han girl endured strict rules, including memorizing 21 oppressive “household commandments.”

Liberated in 1945, she worked as a librarian in Communist China and divorced Puyi in 1957. Remarrying an engineer, she became a local politician—a rare example of a former imperial consort thriving under socialism. Her memoir revealed Puyi’s psychological abuse, challenging romanticized narratives of his later years.

The Nurse and the Reformer: Li Shuxian (1925–1997)

Puyi’s 1962 marriage to nurse Li Shuxian marked his final reinvention as a “remolded citizen.” Sponsored by Premier Zhou Enlai, this union aimed to normalize the ex-emperor’s life. Despite Puyi’s health struggles (including kidney cancer), their five-year marriage was reportedly happy. Li cared for him until his 1967 death and later defended his legacy, though she burned parts of his diaries—a loss historians still lament.

Cultural Echoes: How These Women Shaped History

These relationships reflect broader societal shifts:
– Wanrong’s tragedy epitomized the old aristocracy’s inability to adapt
– Wenxiu’s divorce foreshadowed New Culture Movement ideals of women’s autonomy
– Tan Yuling’s mystery underscored Manchuria’s geopolitical tensions
– Li Yuqin’s transformation mirrored China’s class-leveling campaigns
– Li Shuxian’s pragmatism aligned with the CCP’s rehabilitation of “reactionaries”

Legacy in Modern Memory

From Bernardo Bertolucci’s The Last Emperor (1987) to recent TV dramas, Puyi’s wives continue captivating audiences. Their stories humanize China’s journey from empire to modernity—a tapestry of resilience, oppression, and quiet rebellion that still resonates today.

As historians reassess this period through gender lenses, these women emerge not merely as footnotes to Puyi’s life, but as complex individuals navigating extraordinary circumstances—their collective legacy a poignant chapter in China’s modern narrative.