A Film & Image Portrait of Puyi, Last Emperor of China

I lived in China for a year in the late 80's. And, as foreigners do, developed a more than passing interest in Puyi, the last emperor - Aisin-Gioro Puyi (1906-1967).

Mainly through reading his autobiography, 'From Emperor to Citizen' (ghosted by Li Wenda) which I bought in the bookshop of the Friendship Hotel where I was staying.

This is a portrait in images and extant film footage, some of it in colour!

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• Aisin-Gioro Puyi (1906-1967)
• Puyi
• Last Emperor of China
• From Emperor to Citizen

[Eirene001]

In the end of this little movie, Pu Yi seems really happy. Or was he still playing a part, like he had done all his life, the part of the model citizen?

[nickwallacesmith]

hi Eirene001 - i have the sense he's plying the part of the happy reformed citizen - when i read 'from emperor to citizen' he was at times quite imperious and you had the sense he was unhappy about his change in status in life. cheers

[MarkLindenOMeara]

For more info read Twilight in the Forbidden City.... republished and available on Amazon.com

[nickwallacesmith]

hi MarkLindenOMeara - thanks for putting 'Twilight in the Forbidden City' my/our way - always interested in new books of the last days of the qing dynasty. i went to a restauant in beijing run by the grand-daughter of the last cook of the dowger empress - miss li li in at 11 yng fang hutong, de nei da jie, in xi cheng district - they served what they called chinese court dishes. there was calligraphy of pujei, puyi's brother on the walls. cheers

[Stoclet]

"From Emperor to Citizen", is a very difficult change for one's life. Maybe that explains why "occasionally something imperious pops out". In "The last Emperor", he simplifies it all by becoming a gardener and dealing with life directly with his hands.

Tell us more, Nick.

[nickwallacesmith]

hi again Stoclet, i visited a restaurant run by the grand-daughter of the last cook of the dowger empress of china, Cixi - there was calligraphy of Pujie (Pu-chieh) (1907–1994) on the walls and the food cooked was what have been served at the late ging court

[golmatung]

I apology for interrupting with bad ideas, I wonder why as I watch United State different political parties together fight their common interest in which they think is best to run their country business regardless to whether other people like it or not but when it to China it is totally different history. Why is that? Don't you want to compete against USA counterpart while you seem capable?

[golmatung]

Because you watch! 假设我这样做，我们可以成功地实现一次访问我们的共同目标，因为­我没有机会和金钱，每次到中国旅游，即使我想太多。我认为之一，­创建自己的游戏，进行他的生活提供一个更好的机会来表达自己的想­法是比失败尝试做别人的游戏过程。Jiǎshè wǒ zhèyàng zuò, wǒmen kěyǐ chénggōng dì shíxiàn yīcì fǎngwèn wǒmen de gòngtóng mùbiāo, yīnwèi wǒ méiyǒu jīhuì hé jīnqián, měi cì dào zhōngguó lǚyóu, jíshǐ wǒ xiǎng tài duō. Wǒ rènwéi zhī yī, chuàngjiàn zìjǐ de yóuxì, jìnxíng tā de shēnghuó tígōng yīgè gèng hǎo de jīhuì lái biǎodá zìjǐ de xiǎngfǎ shì bǐ shībài chángshì zuò biérén de yóuxì guòchéng.

[golmatung]

@nickwallacesmith Blame has to be right, person need feedback to guide, but feedback is missing, one may not know what one doing is right. Wife or association is needed to launch communication to guide the games. I am sure one don't mean to make mistake but one was trying to help but get cheated by enemy who knows its plann along the way. or use different method to approach and still guide the games.

[nickwallacesmith]

hi Stoclet

when i was living in beijing for 1988, i bought "From Emperor to Citizen" at the book store of the hotel i was at - and you are right about about his life explaining his behaviour after 1949 - people say he was killed during the cultural revolution which began in 1966 - he died the next year at its height