In Emperor Puyi’s autobiography, The First Half of My Life, he frequently mentioned his sister, Princess Yunhuan. He mentioned how envious he was of Princess Yunhuan because she was able to have the freedom that he could never have.[1] Princess Yunhuan was the seventh sister of Emperor Puyi, the Last Emperor of China. Out of all of his seven sisters, Princess Yunhuan is considered to have the most freedom.[2] She had the freedom to marry for love and pursue her own career.[3] Princess Yunhuan devoted her life to teaching. She was even the first Qing Dynasty princess to open her own school.[4] She became known as the “People’s teacher of New China.” [5]
On 11 September 1921, Princess Yunhuan was born in Beijing. She was the seventh daughter of Zaifeng, the Prince of Chun. Her mother was Lady Denggiya, who was Prince Zaifeng’s concubine. She had four older brothers and six older sisters. Her eldest brother, Puyi, was the deposed Emperor of China. After the death of Emperor Puyi’s eldest sister, Princess Yunying, Princess Yunhuan became Prince Zaifeng’s second favourite daughter.[6]
In 1928, Prince Zaifeng’s family moved to Tianjin to be with Emperor Puyi. Princess Yunhuan was enrolled in a primary school run by the British called “Yew Wah School.” [7] Because the foreigners ran the school, Princess Yunhuan began to have more Western ideas.[8] This school had a lasting impact on her. It enabled her to oppose imperialism and look down on her brother, Emperor Puyi.[9] The school closed in 1936 when Princess Yunhuan was fifteen years old.[10]
In 1939, Prince Zaifeng moved back to Beijing. He was often in conflict with his son because Emperor Puyi relied heavily on the Japanese.[11] He only visited Puyi three times when he was the puppet Emperor of Manchukuo. Thus, Princess Yunhuan rarely saw her brother.[12] After they returned to Beijing, Princess Yunhuan was tutored at home.[13] She studied songs and poetry.[14] Princess Yunhuan began to see the importance of education and longed to open her own school.[15]
When the puppet state of Manchukuo fell on 18 August 1945, it did not affect her at all. In 1948, Princess Yunhuan and her friend, Li Shufen, opened a school called Jianzhi Women’s Vocational School.[16] She also changed her name from Aisin-Gioro Yunhuan to Jin Zhijian, which means “aspiration is as indestructible as gold” [17]. This symbolized her break from her imperial past.[18] At first, Princess Yunhuan’s lectures were not very good because she followed a pre-made script.[19] Gradually, she stopped following the scripts, and her lectures improved.[20] She lectured with enthusiasm, which engaged her many students.[21]
Under the founding of New China, Princess Yunhuan was recruited by the government to become a teacher at a public elementary school.[22] This made her the first Qing royal to participate in the revolution of the People’s Republic of China.[23] She even became a member of the Standing Committee of China that had attended the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party.[24] Princess Yunhuan quickly became acquainted with a Han Chinese teacher named Qiao Hongzhi. Qiao Hongzhi was plain looking and had very little education.[25] Nevertheless, Princess Yunhuan fell madly in love with him.[26]
On 12 February 1950, Princess Yunhuan and Qiao Hongzhi were married. This made her the first of Emperor Puyi’s siblings to marry a Han Chinese commoner.[27] She was also the only one of Emperor Puyi’s sisters whose marriage was not arranged.[28] Because it was a love match, the marriage was very happy.[29] It was said that Qiao Hongzhi had a sense of humour.[30] He often teased his wife about her not doing any housework.[31] He even joked if she had ever performed her duties as a princess.[32] They lived comfortably on two teachers’ salaries.[33] They had two sons and one daughter.
In 1960, Emperor Puyi was pardoned as a war criminal and was released from prison. Because Emperor Puyi represented China’s imperial past, Princess Yunhuan did not bother to pick him up at the station to bring him home.[34] She did not even make the effort to meet him because he represented many principles that she strongly opposed.[35] It was not until the Spring Festival that Premier Zhou wanted to meet Emperor Puyi and his family that Princess Yunhuan reluctantly met her brother again.[36] In order to please Premier Zhou, she called Emperor Puyi her “Big Brother.” [37] This was the only time Princess Yunhuan ever spoke to Emperor Puyi after the war.[38] Emperor Puyi could scarcely recognize his little sister because she had changed since he had last seen her.[39] After the conversation, Premier Zhou praised her for being a great teacher.[40] Princess Yunhuan replied, “I didn’t make any achievements, just studying hard.” [41]
In that same year, Qiao Hongzhi suddenly died. His death left Princess Yunhuan to raise her children by herself.[42] With only a teacher’s salary, she struggled to support her family.[43] Because she was a Princess of the Qing Dynasty, the new government offered to give her financial aid.[44] However, Princess Yunhuan did not want to identify herself as an imperial princess but as an ordinary citizen.[45] Therefore, she refused the government’s aid.[46] Princess Yunhuan continued to teach. In 1979, Princess Yunhuan officially retired from teaching. However, she continued to be involved in education.[47]
On 9 August 2004, Princess Yunhuan died. Her last words were, “My family is a sinner of Chinese history in a sense, and it is my greatest honour to have the opportunity to serve the people in my life.” [48] This meant that she believed that since the creation of the Qing Dynasty, the imperial family had cruelly mistreated the common people.[49] By serving the people through education, Princess Yunhuan believed she was making reparations for what her ancestors and her brother had done to the common people.[50] Princess Yunhuan was eighty-three when she died. She was the first Qing imperial family member to be buried in Babaoshan Cemetery.[51]
Even though Princess Yunhuan was a member of the Qing Dynasty imperial family, she was devoted to the People’s Republic of China. She went from a Princess of the Qing Dynasty to “Teacher who walks into the masses.” [52] Due to her passion for teaching, Princess Yunhuan became a highly respected and famous teacher. Her devotion to her people led the government to honour her by burying her in the Babaoshan Cemetery. It is no wonder that Emperor Puyi both envied and admired his youngest sister, Princess Yunhuan.
Usually, when a Chinese dynasty falls, the imperial family suffers a tragic end.[53] When the Qing Dynasty fell, the imperial family did not suffer a horrible end. Instead, the People’s Republic of China pardoned the royals and gave them the opportunity to become ordinary citizens under the new regime.[54] They helped the royals find jobs or aided them financially. Thus, the Qing Dynasty royals had a better ending than the other royals of previous fallen Chinese dynasties.[55] Because of the government’s pardon of the Qing Dynasty royal family, their descendants are still living in Beijing today.[56]
Sources:
DayDayNews. (October 16, 2020). “What is the final outcome of Pu Yi’s seven sisters? Three people live to the 21st century”. Retrieved on 19 November 2022 from https://daydaynews.cc/en/history/amp/856197.html.
DayDayNews. (January 19, 2021). “Seventh Sister looked down on her elder brother Pu Yi, Premier Zhou hosted a banquet to resolve the conflict between brothers and sisters in a few words”. Retrieved on 19 November 2022 from https://daydaynews.cc/en/history/amp/972167.html.
DayDayNews. (July 13, 2020). “The younger sister of the last emperor Pu Yi, who lived to 2004, said something that Pu Yi did not dare to say when she died”. Retrieved on 19 November 2022 from https://daydaynews.cc/en/entertainment/amp/668346.html.
iMedia. (n.d.). “The last gege in the late Qing Dynasty, who lived until 2004, said something Puyi did not dare to say before his death”. Retrieved on 19 November 2022 from https://min.news/en/history/f63605e74f8a3b184c72e5beb0038153.html.
iNews. (n.d.). “She is Puyi’s sister, who lived incognito until 2004, and she dying of a family scandal at the age of 83.”. Retrieved on 19 November 2022 from https://inf.news/en/history/537107402ae0ded96bacb8b7248412a0.html.
iNews. (n.d.). “The seven sisters of the last emperor Puyi are all superb, but the ending is different.”. Retrieved on 17 November 2022 from https://inf.news/en/history/a63acf578e7646fa47708dcf6f6e263b.html.
Laitimes. (January 17, 2022). “Puyi’s last sister, who became a people’s teacher, lived for 83 years and was buried in Babaoshan after his death”. Retrieved on 19 November 2022 from https://www.laitimes.com/en/article/1vjrq_23ism.html.
[1] iNews, n.d., “She is Puyi’s sister, who lived incognito until 2004, and she dying of a family scandal at the age of 83.”
[2] iNews, n.d., “She is Puyi’s sister, who lived incognito until 2004, and she dying of a family scandal at the age of 83.”
[3] DayDayNews, 16 October, 2020, “What is the final outcome of Pu Yi’s seven sisters? Three people live to the 21st century”
[4] DayDayNews, 16 October, 2020, “What is the final outcome of Pu Yi’s seven sisters? Three people live to the 21st century”
[5] Laitimes, 17 January 2022, “Puyi’s last sister, who became a people’s teacher, lived for 83 years and was buried in Babaoshan after his death”, para. 8
[6] iNews, n.d., “The seven sisters of the last emperor Puyi are all superb, but the ending is different.”
[7] Laitimes, 17 January 2022, “Puyi’s last sister, who became a people’s teacher, lived for 83 years and was buried in Babaoshan after his death”
[8] Laitimes, 17 January 2022, “Puyi’s last sister, who became a people’s teacher, lived for 83 years and was buried in Babaoshan after his death”
[9] Laitimes, 17 January 2022, “Puyi’s last sister, who became a people’s teacher, lived for 83 years and was buried in Babaoshan after his death”; DayDayNews, 19 January 2021, “Seventh Sister looked down on her elder brother Pu Yi, Premier Zhou hosted a banquet to resolve the conflict between brothers and sisters in a few words”
[10] Laitimes, 17 January 2022, “Puyi’s last sister, who became a people’s teacher, lived for 83 years and was buried in Babaoshan after his death”
[11] iNews, n.d., “The seven sisters of the last emperor Puyi are all superb, but the ending is different.”
[12] iNews, n.d., “The seven sisters of the last emperor Puyi are all superb, but the ending is different.”
[13] Laitimes, 17 January 2022, “Puyi’s last sister, who became a people’s teacher, lived for 83 years and was buried in Babaoshan after his death”
[14] Laitimes, 17 January 2022, “Puyi’s last sister, who became a people’s teacher, lived for 83 years and was buried in Babaoshan after his death”
[15] Laitimes, 17 January 2022, “Puyi’s last sister, who became a people’s teacher, lived for 83 years and was buried in Babaoshan after his death”
[16] iMedia, n.d., “The last gege in the late Qing Dynasty, who lived until 2004, said something Puyi did not dare to say before his death”
[17] iMedia, n.d., “The last gege in the late Qing Dynasty, who lived until 2004, said something Puyi did not dare to say before his death”, para. 17
[18] iMedia, n.d., “The last gege in the late Qing Dynasty, who lived until 2004, said something Puyi did not dare to say before his death”
[19] iMedia, n.d., “The last gege in the late Qing Dynasty, who lived until 2004, said something Puyi did not dare to say before his death”
[20] iMedia, n.d., “The last gege in the late Qing Dynasty, who lived until 2004, said something Puyi did not dare to say before his death”
[21] iMedia, n.d., “The last gege in the late Qing Dynasty, who lived until 2004, said something Puyi did not dare to say before his death”
[22] iMedia, n.d., “The last gege in the late Qing Dynasty, who lived until 2004, said something Puyi did not dare to say before his death”
[23] DayDayNews, 16 October, 2020, “What is the final outcome of Pu Yi’s seven sisters? Three people live to the 21st century”
[24] Laitimes, 17 January 2022, “Puyi’s last sister, who became a people’s teacher, lived for 83 years and was buried in Babaoshan after his death”
[25] iMedia, n.d., “The last gege in the late Qing Dynasty, who lived until 2004, said something Puyi did not dare to say before his death”
[26] iMedia, n.d., “The last gege in the late Qing Dynasty, who lived until 2004, said something Puyi did not dare to say before his death”
[27] DayDayNews, 16 October, 2020, “What is the final outcome of Pu Yi’s seven sisters? Three people live to the 21st century”
[28] DayDayNews, 16 October, 2020, “What is the final outcome of Pu Yi’s seven sisters? Three people live to the 21st century”
[29] iMedia, n.d., “The last gege in the late Qing Dynasty, who lived until 2004, said something Puyi did not dare to say before his death”
[30] iMedia, n.d., “The last gege in the late Qing Dynasty, who lived until 2004, said something Puyi did not dare to say before his death”
[31] iMedia, n.d., “The last gege in the late Qing Dynasty, who lived until 2004, said something Puyi did not dare to say before his death”
[32] iMedia, n.d., “The last gege in the late Qing Dynasty, who lived until 2004, said something Puyi did not dare to say before his death”
[33] iMedia, n.d., “The last gege in the late Qing Dynasty, who lived until 2004, said something Puyi did not dare to say before his death”
[34] DayDayNews, 19 January 2021, “Seventh Sister looked down on her elder brother Pu Yi, Premier Zhou hosted a banquet to resolve the conflict between brothers and sisters in a few words”
[35] DayDayNews, 19 January 2021, “Seventh Sister looked down on her elder brother Pu Yi, Premier Zhou hosted a banquet to resolve the conflict between brothers and sisters in a few words”
[36] DayDayNews, 19 January 2021, “Seventh Sister looked down on her elder brother Pu Yi, Premier Zhou hosted a banquet to resolve the conflict between brothers and sisters in a few words”
[37] DayDayNews, 19 January 2021, “Seventh Sister looked down on her elder brother Pu Yi, Premier Zhou hosted a banquet to resolve the conflict between brothers and sisters in a few words”, para. 12
[38] DayDayNews, 19 January 2021, “Seventh Sister looked down on her elder brother Pu Yi, Premier Zhou hosted a banquet to resolve the conflict between brothers and sisters in a few words”
[39] DayDayNews, 19 January 2021, “Seventh Sister looked down on her elder brother Pu Yi, Premier Zhou hosted a banquet to resolve the conflict between brothers and sisters in a few words”
[40] DayDayNews, 19 January 2021, “Seventh Sister looked down on her elder brother Pu Yi, Premier Zhou hosted a banquet to resolve the conflict between brothers and sisters in a few words”
[41] DayDayNews, 19 January 2021, “Seventh Sister looked down on her elder brother Pu Yi, Premier Zhou hosted a banquet to resolve the conflict between brothers and sisters in a few words”, para. 18
[42] iMedia, n.d., “The last gege in the late Qing Dynasty, who lived until 2004, said something Puyi did not dare to say before his death”
[43] iMedia, n.d., “The last gege in the late Qing Dynasty, who lived until 2004, said something Puyi did not dare to say before his death”
[44] iMedia, n.d., “The last gege in the late Qing Dynasty, who lived until 2004, said something Puyi did not dare to say before his death”
[45] iMedia, n.d., “The last gege in the late Qing Dynasty, who lived until 2004, said something Puyi did not dare to say before his death”
[46] iMedia, n.d., “The last gege in the late Qing Dynasty, who lived until 2004, said something Puyi did not dare to say before his death”
[47] iMedia, n.d., “The last gege in the late Qing Dynasty, who lived until 2004, said something Puyi did not dare to say before his death”
[48] DayDayNews, 13 July, 2020, “The younger sister of the last emperor Pu Yi, who lived to 2004, said something that Pu Yi did not dare to say when she died” para. 14
[49] iMedia, n.d., “The last gege in the late Qing Dynasty, who lived until 2004, said something Puyi did not dare to say before his death”
[50] iMedia, n.d., “The last gege in the late Qing Dynasty, who lived until 2004, said something Puyi did not dare to say before his death”
[51] DayDayNews, 16 October, 2020, “What is the final outcome of Pu Yi’s seven sisters? Three people live to the 21st century”
[52] iMedia, n.d., “The last gege in the late Qing Dynasty, who lived until 2004, said something Puyi did not dare to say before his death”, para. 37
[53] iNews, n.d., “She is Puyi’s sister, who lived incognito until 2004, and she dying of a family scandal at the age of 83.”
[54] iNews, n.d., “She is Puyi’s sister, who lived incognito until 2004, and she dying of a family scandal at the age of 83.”
[55] Laitimes, 17 January 2022, “Puyi’s last sister, who became a people’s teacher, lived for 83 years and was buried in Babaoshan after his death”
[56] Laitimes, 17 January 2022, “Puyi’s last sister, who became a people’s teacher, lived for 83 years and was buried in Babaoshan after his death”
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