The Henry Pu Yi reference article from the English Wikipedia on 24-Apr-2004
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Henry Pu Yi

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Henry Pu Yi or Aixinjueluo Puyi (愛新覺羅·溥儀 in pinyin: ài xīn júe lúo · pŭ yí), English name Henry Aisin-gioro, (February 17, 1906 - October 17, 1967) was the last Emperor of China. His reign name, Xuantong (宣統), means "The Proclamation of Unity"(?).

Chosen by Cixi on her deathbed, Pu Yi and ascended to the throne at age 2 years 10 months in December 1908 following his uncle's death on November 14. His father, Prince Chun II served as a regent.

Henry Pu Yi as a boy
He abdicated on February 12, 1912 following the Xinhai Revolution, but retained the title of emperor and the royal family continued to reside in the Forbidden City. There he was taught the English language and chose the name "Henry" for himself, reputedly after King Henry VIII of England. Zhang Xun restored his throne for twelve days from July 1 1917 to July 12. Puyi signed documents of forfeiting imperial status, hence becoming a Chinese citizen, when he was expelled in 1925 by Feng Yuxiang.

On March 1, 1931, he was installed by the Japanese as the emperor of the puppet state of Manchukuo under the reign title Kangde. After World War II, he was captured by the Russians and turned over to the Chinese Communists. He spent ten years in a reeducation camp and was declared reformed and became a supporter of the Communists. Afterwards, he was made a member of the National People's Congress. He wrote an autobiography in the 1960s and died in Beijing.

His life was portrayed in Bernardo Bertolucci's film The Last Emperor. Although the film contained some elements of dramatic license, it is considered to be a plausible portrayal of his life.

In both his autobiography and the film, Aixinjueluo is portrayed as a largely innocent pawn controlled by more powerful people. Some historians are skeptical about this account: Puyi had a strong interest in minimizing his own role in history, because any admission of active control would have led to his execution.

In 1962, he married for the fifth time to Li Shuxian.

Puyi was 61 years old at the time of his passing. He was childless.

In 1995, his widow was allowed to transfer his ashes to the Western Qing Tombs, where five of the 10 Manchu rulers are interred.

Preceded by:
Guangxu Emperor of China		 Qing Dynasty Succeeded by:
(Empire ends)

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