The Forbidden City Met Two Last Emperors

The Forbidden City · Lee Ji-soo · Seoul National University

Introduction

On June 22, 2017, the 8th cohort of Sarangbang visited the Forbidden City under a sky filled with dark clouds to see Puyi (溥儀), the last emperor of the Qing Dynasty, and Yuan Shikai (袁世凱), who became the last emperor of the Republic of China. As if to add to the dramatic stage effects of the attempt to reconstruct the tragic exit of the two last emperors, a heavy rain was falling on the ancient palace in Beijing. After passing through Taihemen, the first gate on the south side of the Forbidden City, we were greeted by the largest square in the Forbidden City, approximately 38,000 square meters, paved with bluish floor bricks.

Across from us stood the Hall of Supreme Harmony, the emperor's official workplace and audience hall, steadfastly maintaining the forgotten prestige and majesty of the Qing Dynasty. It was the largest existing wooden structure in China and exuded an imposing aura. The record-breaking downpour in Beijing further enhanced its mystique as a forbidden imperial domain. However, contemplating the emotions of the two last emperors who departed from this place evoked a sense of loneliness and desolation. Seeking shelter from the rain under the eaves of Taihemen, we began our earnest reconstruction by searching for traces of Yuan Shikai.

What did the Forbidden City witness as the last emperor?

To answer this question, we must first identify who the last emperor of China was. This text begins with the premise that the Forbidden City witnessed two last emperors in the 20th century and attempts to reconstruct their stories. One was Puyi, the last emperor of the Qing Dynasty. The other was Yuan Shikai, the first and last emperor of the Republic of China. The process by which Puyi and Yuan Shikai are considered 'last emperors' is as follows: In 1908, the three-year-old Puyi ascended the throne unexpectedly, but due to the Xinhai Revolution, the Qing Empire collapsed just four years later on February 12, 1912. At that time, Yuan Shikai, the Prime Minister of the Qing Dynasty, proposed to Empress Dowager Longyu (隆裕太后) that the Qing imperial family had only two options: civil war or a peace treaty. He suggested a peace treaty that would entail the abdication of the Qing throne. Empress Dowager Longyu agreed to the peace treaty, stating that it would prevent the populace from suffering. The conditions offered by the Republic of China government, which promised preferential treatment to the Qing imperial family if they abdicated, played a significant role in the decision. With the condition of an annual subsidy of 4 million taels of silver, Emperor Xuantong (Puyi) was allowed to continue living in a restricted area of the Forbidden City, excluding the Hall of Preservation of Harmony, the Hall of Central Harmony, and the Hall of Supreme Harmony. Thus, an emperor with a guaranteed title resided in the Forbidden City, within the territory of the Republic of China.

However, less than four years after the proclamation of Puyi's abdication decree, on New Year's Day of 1916, Yuan Shikai, after serving as interim president and then official president,

declared the establishment of the Empire of China and entered the Forbidden City. Even during his presidency, he had occupied the Hall of Preservation of Harmony, the Hall of Central Harmony, and the Hall of Supreme Harmony as his office, spaces that were not permitted to the deposed Puyi. However, facing strong opposition to the monarchy, he eventually issued an order to abolish the monarchy on March 22 and announced on March 23 the abolition of his reign title, Hongxian, and the resumption of the Chinese Republic's calendar, starting from the 5th year of the Republic of China (1906). It was the moment when the meticulously constructed tower crumbled.

In the early 20th century, the Forbidden City in the turbulent city of Beijing witnessed two 'last emperors.' What were the circumstances and emotions surrounding the departure of Puyi, who was expelled, and Yuan Shikai, who sought to become the new master of the Forbidden City? To reconstruct the feelings of the two last emperors witnessed by the Forbidden City, we entered the rain-soaked Forbidden City in search of their traces.

Puyi's Forbidden City

Considering that the Qing monarchy was not overthrown by force and that the end of the imperial system was a product of compromise, the historical significance of the preferential treatment conditions proposed by Yuan Shikai to Empress Dowager Longyu is considerable.

Puyi's tutor, Reginald Fleming Johnston, argued that if Yuan Shikai had not persuaded the imperial family by proposing these preferential treatment conditions through behind-the-scenes negotiations with Sun Yat-sen, it would have been unlikely for the imperial family to be militarily subdued by the revolutionaries, leading to a civil war that would have lasted for at least several years (Johnston 2008, 144). According to his argument, the preferential treatment conditions played a decisive role in ensuring that the political transition in China was relatively peaceful compared to European transitions.

Based on this, we will re-examine the process of Puyi's departure from the Forbidden City in three main scenes by examining the situation within the Forbidden City at the beginning and end of the preferential treatment conditions. The first scene is the meeting between Empress Dowager Longyu and Yuan Shikai in the Hall of Dongyuan Pavilion within the Hall of Yangxin in the Forbidden City. Through this meeting, Empress Dowager Longyu permitted the transition from the Qing Empire to the Republic of China. The second scene is the first meeting between Puyi and Zhang Xun in the Hall of Yangxin. Puyi accepted the restoration movement by agreeing to become emperor at Zhang Xun's request. The third scene is Puyi's receipt of the final ultimatum from Feng Yuxiang (馮玉祥) in the Hall of Jingshou. The government of the Republic, which Feng Yuxiang had seized through a coup, notified the imperial family of revised preferential treatment conditions, ordering Puyi's swift departure. Thus, Puyi was able to leave the stifling life of the Forbidden City and freely pursue his ambition to ascend the throne again according to his own will.

First Scene: Puyi, Emperor of Qing and Citizen of the Republic. In his autobiography 'From Emperor to Citizen' (original title: My First Half of Life), Puyi recalls the most memorable event during his final days in the Forbidden City as the meeting between Empress Dowager Longyu and Yuan Shikai in the Hall of Dongyuan Pavilion. One winter day, Puyi witnessed Empress Dowager Longyu leaning against the kang (heated brick bed) by the south window in the Hall of Dongyuan Pavilion, wiping tears with a handkerchief. Her conversation partner was a fat, ugly old man who was also shedding tears profusely. Although the 'fat old man' spoke animatedly with a loud voice while wiping his nose and tears, the seven-year-old Puyi could hardly understand him. He only learned later from the eunuchs that this fat old man was Yuan Shikai. He only realized in retrospect that this was the only time he saw Yuan Shikai in person and the last day Yuan Shikai met the Empress Dowager.

On January 28, 1912, the topic of conversation between Yuan Shikai, who was speaking loudly with tears and snot, in the Hall of Dongyuan Pavilion was the issue of the Qing imperial family's departure from the palace. Facing the Xinhai Revolution, he secretly met with the Empress Dowager, stating that there was no way out for the Qing imperial family other than implementing a republican system.

However, before being certain of the feasibility of Sun Yat-sen's offer to transfer the interim presidency, Yuan Shikai had consistently opposed the implementation of a republic in the peace negotiations between the revolutionary army and the Qing army, advocating for a constitutional monarchy.

But Yuan Shikai, whom Puyi witnessed, had already prioritized his ambition for the presidency over his loyalty to the imperial family. Citing the failures of Louis XVI of France and the fate of his descendants who were not spared by the revolution, and persuaded by the preferential treatment conditions offered by Sun Yat-sen, Empress Dowager Longyu issued Puyi's abdication decree on February 12, 1912. Puyi calmly recounts the events immediately following the proclamation of the decree in his memoirs.

Based on Empress Dowager Longyu's edict, Yuan Shikai organized the provisional republican government of the Republic of China

and, on the other hand, based on the agreement reached with the southern revolutionary army,

he transformed overnight from Prime Minister of the Great Qing Empire to the Provisional President of the Republic of China.

Thus, I began my life in a small court, living next to the Grand President.

(Puyi 1988, 65).

Article 3 of the Qing Imperial Preferential Treatment Conditions, which stated 'temporarily residing in the palace,' did not specify a concrete timeframe. Consequently, Empress Dowager Longyu and many other princes and officials believed that the preferential treatment conditions would guarantee the nominal preservation of the imperial family. However, Puyi did not think so (Puyi 1988, 179). Not only did he not believe the preferential treatment conditions would last, but he also felt his personal safety was threatened. He feared that a sudden danger to his life might arise as he witnessed the ongoing civil wars, with one side gaining the upper hand only to be defeated. He confessed in his memoirs that immediately after the establishment of the Republic of China, his sole concern was whether the authorities would harm him, not whether they would treat him preferentially.

Through the scene of the Dongyuan Pavilion meeting, we saw Empress Dowager Longyu issue the edict approving the Republic and proclaim the emperor's abdication decree, finally granting Emperor Xuantong the legal status of a citizen of the Republic of China, albeit with only a title. However, the emperor continued to reside in the Forbidden City in Beijing, so those hostile to the Republican government still regarded him as the center of the world, and various schemes for restoration ultimately led to Puyi being driven out of the Forbidden City.

Second Scene: Puyi Becomes Emperor Again. Although it will be discussed in detail later, Yuan Shikai eventually ascended the throne in January 1916, but died just five months and five days later. Puyi recalls the situation after Yuan Shikai's death as follows:

During the Yuan Shikai era, princes and officials who had been in hiding reappeared in social gatherings. On New Year's Day and my birthday, the Grand President sent envoys to offer congratulations, and my father also sent a lavish banquet to Li Yuanhong and Jin Qiser. In any case, the Forbidden City regained its former liveliness. And in the year of Zhengsi (the 6th year of the Republic), Zhang Xun entered the palace to pay his respects, and the momentum for restoration began to build (Puyi 1988, 126).

Yuan's death led to a movement to restore the Qing Dynasty, led by figures like Zhang Xun (孫文), who did not support the Republican government and had sworn allegiance to the Qing. The Zhengsi Restoration led by Zhang Xun was one such event, during which Puyi became the 'Emperor of Qing' again for 11 days. During the Xinhai Revolution, Zhang Xun, who was in charge of defending Nanjing, fought fiercely for ten days against the revolutionary army's attacks. Even after the establishment of the Republic of China, he remained loyal to the Qing Dynasty and stationed his troops in Shandong Province, considering himself a loyal subject of the Qing. After Yuan Shikai's death, he staged a coup and seized control of Beijing. Zhang Xun entered the Forbidden City on June 16, 1917, paid homage to Puyi, and on July 1, declared the revival of the Qing Dynasty. On that day, the 11-year-old Puyi, seated on the dragon throne, changed the 6th year of the Republic to the 13th day of the 5th month of the 9th year of Xuantong. However, this anachronistic coup immediately faced fierce resistance throughout China, and Sun Yat-sen (孫文) declared a punitive expedition against the Republic of China.

On July 5, a biplane appeared in the skies over the Forbidden City. Puyi and the officials and maids, seeing an airplane for the first time, were bewildered by the strange bird, but when three bombs fell with loud explosions, they were all shocked. The Zhengsi Restoration ultimately failed after 11 days, and Zhang Xun fled to the Dutch legation.

Although the restoration incident was a severe setback for Zhang Xun, the loss for Puyi was much greater. The imperial family's ambition for restoration was exposed, leading patriotic individuals who supported the republic to view the emperor as an enemy of the republic. This had a significant impact on the special treatment received from the Republican government, eventually leading Feng Yuxiang (馮玉祥) to completely expel Puyi from the Forbidden City to permanently eliminate the possibility of restoration. After the farce of the Xuantong Restoration ended, a tragedy unfolded where the emperor was expelled from the palace.

Third Scene: Puyi Becomes a Citizen Again. Puyi's life in the Forbidden City ultimately ended with Feng Yuxiang's coup. Although Article 3 of the Qing Imperial Preferential Treatment Conditions, stating 'temporarily residing in the palace,' did not specify a concrete timeframe, it eventually came to an end. When news of Feng Yuxiang's coup reached the palace, the Forbidden City trembled with fear once again after the failure of the restoration. Finally, on November 15, 1924, Feng Yuxiang, advancing rapidly into Beijing, surrounded the Forbidden City by force, notified the imperial family of the revised preferential treatment conditions, and ordered Puyi's departure.

Around 9 p.m. on the 15th, Puyi was spending time with Empress Wanrong (婉蓉) in the Hall of Jingshou, eating fruit, when he heard about the coup. When the ministers informed him that the Republic would abolish the existing preferential treatment conditions and create a new revised set, he stood up abruptly, spitting out the apple he was eating, so stunned was he. The revised Qing Imperial Preferential Treatment Conditions stipulated in Article 1 that the Emperor Xuantong of the Great Qing would henceforth abolish the title of Emperor and possess all rights equal to those of the citizens of the Republic of China under the law. Article 3 stated, 'The Qing imperial family shall immediately leave the palace based on Article 3 of the original preferential treatment conditions. They may choose their residence freely thereafter, and the government of the Republic shall continue to be responsible for their protection.'

Under threat of artillery fire on the Forbidden City if the demands were not met, Puyi had no choice but to comply, as he recalled the situation at the time (Puyi 1988, 218). As he got out of the car upon arriving at the north gate of the palace to leave the Forbidden City, he heard someone say, 'As a citizen, you will have the right to vote and be elected. You might even be elected Grand President in the future!' To offer the possibility of becoming Grand President to someone expelled from the throne – could this be any different from advising him to give up his life? Puyi himself stated that the words 'Grand President' made him uncomfortable. By then, he understood the meaning of 'hiding one's talent and not exposing it.'

Instead, Puyi said, 'I never wanted those preferential treatment conditions in the first place. Now that they are abolished, it aligns with my thoughts. Therefore, I fully agree with what you say. As emperor, I had no freedom; now I will gain 'freedom.'' Puyi had come to detest the restrictions and hindrances imposed upon him as a deposed emperor and desired the 'freedom' to escape the controlled life within the Forbidden City. The freedom he sought was the realization of his ideal: to freely restore the glorious achievements of his ancestors and revive the majesty of the Great Qing Empire according to his own thoughts, and to ascend the throne again for that purpose.

The sixteen years of nominal emperorship instilled in Puyi the consciousness that he alone was the legitimate emperor of China, even after being expelled from the Forbidden City. This consciousness led to actions aimed at realizing the fantasy of restoring the Great Qing Empire, resulting in his collusion with Japanese warlords who invaded China and making him an accomplice in the invasion, endangering his homeland. Later, he was condemned as a war criminal of the Sino-Japanese War and was imprisoned for a long period in a Soviet Siberian labor camp. Puyi's complex fate stemmed from his ambition to become the true emperor of China. On the other hand, this ambition was significantly influenced by the various preferential treatments granted under the premise of the establishment of the Republic of China. Therefore, it can be said that the 'Qing Imperial Preferential Treatment Conditions' both led him to step down from the throne and ascend it.

The Forbidden City and Yuan Shikai

Yuan Shikai was the first and last emperor of the Empire of China. While Puyi became emperor without his own volition, Yuan Shikai steadily approached the Forbidden City through constant effort and ambition. During the period when the Qing Dynasty collapsed and the Republic of China took its place, we will examine Yuan Shikai's journey toward the throne and illuminate his life as witnessed by the Forbidden City after the establishment of the Republic in three main scenes. Through this, we can reconstruct Yuan Shikai's image as the last emperor as seen by the Forbidden City. The first scene is his betrayal of the imperial family when he was Prime Minister of the Qing Dynasty to become President. In return for persuading the Qing court with preferential treatment conditions, he succeeded Sun Yat-sen as the Provisional President of the Republic of China. The second scene is his defiance of the trend of the times by considering the democratic elements of a republic as obstacles and proclaiming himself the new emperor. Yuan Shikai exploited democratic procedures and eliminated political rivals to rise from Provisional President to official President, and then to Emperor of the Empire of China. The third scene is the process of retracting his monarchy after its proclamation due to intense domestic and international opposition, contracting an illness, and ultimately dying. He rescinded the monarchy in less than three months and announced the resumption of the 5th year of the Republic of China. It took Yuan Shikai, the first and last emperor of the Empire of China, a total of 83 days from becoming President of the Republic to proclaiming himself Emperor of the Empire and then revoking it, and he died just five months and five days later.

Scene Three: Puyi Becomes a Citizen Again Puyi's life in the Forbidden City finally came to an end with Feng Yuxiang's coup d'état. Although Article 3 of the preferential treatment for the Qing imperial family, which stated that they would 'temporarily reside in the palace,' did not specify a time limit, it eventually had an end. When the news of Feng Yuxiang's coup reached the palace, the Forbidden City trembled with fear once again after the failed restoration.

31 On November 15, 1924, Feng Yuxiang, who had arrived in Beijing with overwhelming force, surrounded the Forbidden City with his troops, notified them of the revised preferential treatment terms, and ordered Puyi's eviction.

Around 9 p.m. on the 15th, Puyi was in the Hall of Mental Cultivation, spending time with his empress, Wanrong, eating fruit, when he heard about the coup. When his ministers told him that the Republic intended to abolish the existing preferential treatment and create a new revised version, he jumped up, spitting out the apple he was eating onto the ground in shock. The revised terms for the Qing imperial family stipulated in Article 1 that the Xuantong Emperor of the Great Qing would henceforth abolish the title of Emperor and possess all legal rights equal to those of a citizen of the Republic of China. Article 3 stated, 'Based on the original Article 3 of the preferential treatment, the Qing imperial family must immediately leave the palace grounds. They are free to choose their subsequent residence, and the government of the Republic will continue to provide protection.'

Puyi recalled the situation at the time, stating that he had no choice but to accept the demand under threat of artillery fire on the Forbidden City if he refused (Puyi 1988, 218). As he got out of the car at the northern gate of the palace to leave the Forbidden City, he heard someone say, 'As a citizen, you will have the right to vote and be elected. You may even be elected President in the future!' To offer the possibility of becoming President to someone who had just been expelled from the throne – could this be considered different from advising someone to give up their life?

32 Puyi also stated that the word 'President' made him uncomfortable. This was because, by then, he understood the meaning of 'hiding one's talents and not revealing them.' Puyi said, 'I never wanted those preferential terms in the first place. Now that they have been abolished, it aligns with my own thoughts. Therefore, I completely agree with what you say. Being Emperor meant a lack of freedom; now I will gain 'freedom.'' As the abdicated emperor, Puyi had long resented the restrictions and obstacles imposed upon him and desired the 'freedom' to escape his controlled life within the Forbidden City. The freedom he envisioned was the realization of his ambition to freely restore the glorious achievements of his ancestors according to his own thoughts and to revive the majesty of the Great Qing Empire, and to achieve this, he wished to ascend the throne once more.

His sixteen years as a nominal emperor instilled in Puyi a consciousness of being the sole legitimate emperor of China, even after his expulsion from the Forbidden City. This consciousness led to actions aimed at realizing the fantasy of restoring the Great Qing Empire, resulting in his collusion with Japanese warlords who invaded China, making him an accomplice in the invasion and endangering his homeland. Later, he was convicted as a war criminal of the Sino-Japanese War and was imprisoned for an extended period in a Soviet Siberian labor camp. Puyi's complex and tumultuous fate stemmed from his ambition to become the true emperor of China. Meanwhile, that ambition was greatly influenced by the various preferential terms granted on the premise of establishing the Republic of China.

33 Therefore, it can be said that the 'Preferential Treatment for the Qing Imperial Family' ultimately led to his descent from the throne and his ascent to it.

The Forbidden City and Yuan Shikai

Yuan Shikai was the first and last emperor of the Chinese Empire. If Puyi became emperor without his knowledge, Yuan Shikai, through relentless effort and ambition, steadily approached the Forbidden City. During the period when the Qing dynasty collapsed and the Republic of China took its place, we will examine Yuan Shikai's journey toward the throne by dividing it into three main scenes, shedding light on Yuan Shikai's life as the last emperor as seen by the Forbidden City. The first scene is his betrayal of the imperial family while serving as Prime Minister of the Qing to become President. In exchange for persuading the Qing to accept the preferential terms, he succeeded Sun Yat-sen as the provisional president of the Republic of China. The second scene is his act of going against the tide of the times, considering the democratic elements of the republic as obstacles, and proclaiming himself the new emperor.

34 He revoked his monarchy after less than three months and announced the resumption of the fifth year of the Republic of China. It took Yuan Shikai, the first and last emperor of the Chinese Empire, a total of 83 days from being President of the Republic to becoming Emperor of the Empire and then retracting it, and he died 5 months and 5 days later.

First Scene: Prime Minister of Qing, President of the Republic. On January 1, 1912, the Qing Dynasty collapsed with the Xinhai Revolution, led by Sun Yat-sen's Three Principles of the People, and the Republic of China was proclaimed. Provisional President Sun Yat-sen stated that he took office only because there was no suitable person and offered Yuan Shikai the presidency if he could achieve a republic without war. Yuan Shikai opposed this, asking how a republican government could be established while the emperor still existed, but he was inwardly hesitant. As Prime Minister, he was responsible for suppressing the revolutionary party, making it difficult for him to openly advocate for a republic. However, he had actually supported constitutionalism since the reign of Emperor Guangxu (光緖帝), stating that 'those who obstruct constitutionalism are traitors.'

When Sun Yat-sen repeatedly and firmly promised to hand over the presidency if the emperor abdicated and a republic was proclaimed, Yuan Shikai finally accepted the behind-the-scenes offer.

On January 16, 1912, Yuan Shikai submitted a memorial to Empress Dowager Longyu regarding the financial difficulties caused by the nationwide anti-feudal movement and the popular support for the realization of a republic. Citing the example of Louis XVI of France, who was out of touch with worldly affairs and whose descendants were all killed by revolutionaries, he urged her to consider the situation and follow 'the will of the people.' This later overlapped with Zhang Qian's (張騫) advice to Yuan Shikai, telling him to 'be like Washington, not like Louis XVI who lost his head,' highlighting the irony of power.

Indeed, the day after the proclamation of Puyi's abdication decree, Sun Yat-sen submitted his resignation and recommended Yuan Shikai as the Provisional President. Two days later, on February 15, Yuan Shikai became the Provisional President. However, the Republic of China was not yet equipped with the capacity and structure to lead national affairs. As a result, the old bureaucracy centered around Yuan Shikai seized power, leading to the weakening of the revolutionary spirit. He then began a dictatorship by exploiting indirect democratic elections and eliminating political rivals. Finally, on October 10, 1913, Yuan Shikai

was elected official President through various stratagems. The presidential inauguration ceremony and the Wuchang Uprising commemoration were held together, and the venue he chose was not the National Assembly or the Presidential Office, but the former imperial palace of the Qing Dynasty, the Forbidden City. On October 10, 1913, in front of the Hall of Supreme Harmony, Yuan Shikai, dressed in the full regalia of Grand Marshal of the Army and Navy, took the oath before the members of the National Assembly.

It is where important events of the imperial court and the imperial family were held.

A fierce rain was falling, just as it had when the 8th cohort of Sarangbang stood in the square of Taihe Hall. “I solemnly swear that I will faithfully observe the Constitution and execute the duties of the President.” The rain stopped after the inauguration ceremony. According to Hou Yi's <Hongxian Gusui>, which describes three unfortunate incidents during Yuan Shikai's inauguration, the weather was clear and fine for several days before and after October 10th, but it suddenly rained only during the inauguration ceremony. The brocade five-colored flag hanging in Taihe Hall was so blurred by the rain that it looked as if tears of blood had been left on the silk. Second Scene: President of the Republic, Emperor of the Empire. At that time, international politics was characterized by fierce competition among Western nations and Japan's encroachment on China after encountering the West. Yuan Shikai sought to emulate Japan's Emperor Meiji, but he admired even more the iron-fisted rule of Germany's Wilhelm II (Friedrich Wilhelm Victor Albert), who dominated Europe, and Bismarck's (Otto Eduard Leopold von Bismarck) arms expansionism (Hou 2003, 286). Wilhelm II emphasized, “A republic is not suited for China; a strong monarchy must be established.” He invited Yuan Shikai's son, Yuan Keding, to Germany for a banquet and sent a letter stating that China could only become strong by implementing a monarchy. Yuan Shikai, accustomed to the hierarchical bureaucracy and top-down command structure of the imperial system and military, found democratic political elements such as the National Assembly, the responsible cabinet, and party politics of the Republic to be obstacles to implementing his will.

37 obstacles to implementing his will.

It was just when it was considered an obstacle to putting one's will into action.

Therefore, Wilhelm II's letter, which encouraged the revival of the imperial system, provided justification for Yuan Shikai's dissatisfaction that the current system was slowing down important national decisions, and at the same time, it further strengthened his desire to ascend to the throne of emperor. He soon began to overhaul the National Assembly and the Provisional Law, demanding an expansion of presidential powers. His logic was that the President being bound by the provisional law was equivalent to 400 million people being bound by the law. He argued that “diplomatic powers should naturally be vested in the President, and the declaration of war and the conclusion of peace treaties do not require the consent of the Senate,” and that “the formal constitution should be enacted by a National Convention, not the National Assembly, promulgated by the President, and the power of drafting should also be vested in the President and the Senate.”

Yuan Shikai's attempt to trample on the democratic spirit of the republic met with resistance, but it was ultimately reflected in the formal provisional law. The Provisional Law of the Republic of China, promulgated on May 1, 1914, stipulated the presidential system as the state structure, but by adding the President's power to dissolve the National Assembly, it granted Yuan Shikai power almost equivalent to that of an emperor.

Subsequently, on December 11, 1915, Yuan Shikai was nominated as emperor through a vote by the secretly established National Convention. The Zhuanhui (Pro-Monarchy Society), which actively supported his enthronement, argued that the nation was suffering because the people, swayed by emotion during the Xinhai Revolution, had hastily chosen a republic.

39 The National Petition Alliance emerged and petitioned various legislative bodies for systemic reform, and through the National Convention, a legislative vote resulted in 1993 out of 1993 votes in favor of monarchy. Behind these events was the leadership of Yuan Shikai and his close associates.

The process up to this point was not smooth. Japan, which had supported the restoration of the monarchy, showed a sudden change in attitude, and when the system vote was held on October 28, Japan, Britain, Russia, France, and Italy advised to delay or suspend the move towards monarchy. As the progression towards monarchy encountered unexpected variables, Yuan Shikai's subordinates urged him to ascend to the throne as soon as possible before the situation worsened. Yuan Shikai, momentarily hesitant due to the unexpected negative foreign reactions, soon agreed to his close associates' proposal to hold the enthronement ceremony domestically first and then select an auspicious day to invite foreign envoys. On December 11, the Senate submitted a petition to enthrone Yuan Shikai as emperor. On the 19th, the Grand Hall Preparatory Office, an organization for preparing the imperial enthronement, was established. Taihe Hall, Zhonghe Hall, and Baohe Hall in the Forbidden City were renamed Shengyun Hall, Tiyuan Hall, and Jinge Hall, respectively, and their original golden tiles were repainted red.

However, the excitement was short-lived. On December 23, telegrams arrived from Tang Jiyao and Ren Kecheng, who were supposed to support him, demanding the preservation of the republic and the permanent abolition of the monarchy.

40 The National Salvation Army of the Republic of China was organized and, with fervent popular support, launched an operation to expel the Hongxian Emperor. There were those who outwardly supported his ambition to become emperor but secretly planned his suppression. However, Yuan Shikai concluded that there was no turning back now that things had reached this point and that the matter must be pursued swiftly without hesitation.

Thus, on January 1, 1916, Yuan Shikai proclaimed the birth of a new imperial dynasty as scheduled. The Presidential Office was renamed Shenhua Palace, the country's name was changed to the Empire of China, and the era name was Hongxian, thus he ascended the throne as the Hongxian Emperor. However, the enthronement ceremony was not held, considering the strong domestic and international demands for the preservation of the republic and his personal safety. Although there was no grand enthronement ceremony, all memorials and official documents were to be dated from the first year of Hongxian, and the Imperial Seal of the Empire of China and the ceremonial robes for civil and military officials were created, establishing the internal framework of an empire. However, all diplomatic documents using the first year of Hongxian were returned, and Yuan Shikai, fearing foreign powers, used the era name of the Republic of China when sending documents abroad. In diplomatic activities, he used the title of President, not Emperor. Thus, China found itself in a peculiar situation where an empire existed internally while the republic appeared externally, neither being a republic nor an empire, but both. Simultaneously, Yuan Shikai was an emperor internally and a president externally, thus neither a president nor an emperor, but both. Foreign newspapers satirized him as the 'Emperor-President' (Hou 2003, 325).

41 neither a president nor an emperor, but both. Foreign newspapers satirized him as the 'Emperor-President' (Hou 2003, 325).

Third Scene: Funeral of a President in Emperor's Attire. The opposition to the new monarchy was not limited to foreign governments. On January 1, when the Empire of China was proclaimed, various regions across the country declared independence, the National Protection Army was formed and marched towards Beijing, and the seething popular opposition plunged the new emperor into a predicament. He tried to reverse the tide of domestic affairs by persuading General Zhang Xun, but Zhang Xun was a restorationist who wanted to re-establish the Qing imperial family and did not genuinely support Yuan Shikai. Zhang Xun did not dispatch his troops and instead criticized Yuan Shikai, saying it was shameful to Empress Dowager Longyu to arbitrarily claim the title of emperor while the Xuantong era name was still in effect. The notifications from his acquaintances, severing ties with Yuan Shikai for abandoning his obligations to the Qing dynasty, also tormented him (Xin 2010, 573). His cousin Yuan Xuzheng expressed his displeasure, saying, “Our family has received favors from the Qing dynasty for generations. Becoming President is like stealing a treasure. How will you face the Empress Dowager in the afterlife?” His younger brothers issued a statement: “We completely sever our fraternal ties. Even if a monarchy is established, wealth and honor have nothing to do with us.

42 Even if it fails, we will bear no responsibility for its transgressions.”

Despite the threats and opposition, the proclamation of the Empire of China lasted less than three months. On March 22, Yuan Shikai issued an order to withdraw the monarchy, and on the 23rd, he canceled the Hongxian era name. It took a total of 83 days for the President of the Republic to ascend to the throne as Emperor of the Empire and then step down. Yuan Shikai, who contracted a chronic illness during this period, succumbed to disappointment, unable to overcome his anger and resentment, five months and five days after proclaiming himself emperor. His initial illness was bladder stones, which worsened because he did not trust Western doctors and did not seek early treatment. As his condition deteriorated due to uremia, he could neither eat nor urinate and was unable to get out of bed. A French doctor attempted treatment late, but it was too late to be effective. Yuan Shikai finally passed away in the early morning of June 6. When his body was encoffined, his head was adorned with an emperor's crown, he was dressed in ceremonial robes worn during celestial sacrifices, and he wore red shoes. He was in the attire of an emperor. In Anyang, Henan Province, there is a 40,000-pyeong (approximately 132,000 square meters) tomb complex for Yuan Shikai, reminiscent of an imperial mausoleum. Since the Hongxian era name was canceled, instead of a mausoleum (Ling), which is a royal tomb, it was named Lin, meaning a sage's tomb, but it was given the special name 'Yuanlin' based on Gonglin (Confucius's tomb) and Guanlin (Guan Yu's tomb).

43 Lin and Ling have the same pronunciation, so the calculation was to avoid the name but retain the substance. Although he was an 'Emperor-President,' he seemed to have exited the stage of the Forbidden City with the honors of the first and last emperor of the Empire of China. However, this was orchestrated by his close associates, who still held considerable power, and he was widely condemned nationwide as a 'thief who stole the country' (Yun 2016, 121).

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Leaving the Forbidden City

Through the six scenes, the fates of the last two emperors who met at the Forbidden City were similar yet different. If the Forbidden City was a 'home' destined for Puyi, then for Yuan Shikai, it was a 'product of obsession' acquired at the risk of his destiny. For Puyi, the Forbidden City was a space of love and hate. He felt doubt towards the static thoughts and people of the Forbidden City, unlike the outside world that changed day by day beyond its walls. On the other hand, for Yuan Shikai, the Forbidden City was a space of aspiration. His ambition for power led him from Prime Minister of the Forbidden City to the position of President of the Republic, and finally, he proclaimed himself emperor and ascended the throne.

However, the departure of both emperors who met at the Forbidden City was a tragedy. Puyi experienced a tumultuous reign of 'enthronement-abdication-restoration-abdication' during his short tenure. This is unique among the twelve emperors of the Qing Dynasty. Although he wished to escape to find freedom, the Forbidden City, where he was master for 17 years, became the space where his desire to sit on the throne again became even more solidified at the moment he was forced to leave by the final ultimatum. Yuan Shikai's theatrical life, witnessed by the Forbidden City, is also a tragedy. Having risen from the ranks to the position of emperor, he proclaimed the Empire of China despite threats and opposition, but he abdicated less than three months later. His performance in the emperor's attire ended with the scorn of the masses. His family turned their backs on him, and the world hated him.

45 His performance in the emperor's attire ended with the scorn of the masses. His family turned their backs on him, and the world hated him.

In the Forbidden City, where we sought the traces of the 'two last emperors,' we encountered Puyi, the last emperor of the Qing Dynasty, and Yuan Shikai, the first and last emperor of the Empire of China. They performed different plays on the same stage, the Forbidden City in Beijing, a city in turmoil in the early 20th century, but both were tragic protagonists who exited to jeers. The rain and dark sky that poured down as the 8th cohort of Sarangbang entered the Forbidden City heightened the atmosphere of the tragic stage on which they stood. Finally, as we completed our journey to find the traces of the two emperors and exited through the north gate, the fierce rain also stopped, as if the final curtain of the play had fallen. References Reginald Johnston. 2008. Twilight in the Forbidden City: The Last Emperor Puyi's Teacher Johnston Records the Fall of the Empire. Translated by Kim Seong-bae. Gyeonggi: Dolbegae. Min Jeong-gi. 2015. “The Forbidden City as Depicted by Mass Media in the Late Qing Period: Changes and Continuities in Representation Practices.” Journal of Korean Studies, September, 31-61.

Continuities in Representation Practices.” Journal of Korean Studies, September, 31-61.

Xin Dong-jun. 2010. Reading Modern Chinese History Through Figures: A Panorama of Nation Building, Reform, and Revolution. Seoul: Everrich Holdings. Shin Soo-ming. 2013. The Forbidden City, The Last Eunuchs: Testimonies of Glory and Shame Created by the Qing Imperial Family. Translated by Su Zhulian. Gyeonggi: Glhangari.

Shin Dong-jun. 2010. 《Reading Modern Chinese History Through Figures: A Panorama of Nation Building, Reform, and Revolution》. Seoul: Everrich Holdings. Shin Soo-ming. 2013. 《The Forbidden City, The Last Eunuchs: Testimonies of Glory and Shame Created by the Qing Imperial Family》. Translated by Su Zhulian. Gyeonggi: Glhangari.

46 Shame Created by the Qing Imperial Family》. Translated by Su Zhulian. Gyeonggi: Glhangari. Shin Seung-ha. 2004. Modern China: Reform and Revolution, The Fall of the Last Dynasty of the Chinese Empire. Seoul: Daemyung Publishing. Yan Zongnian. 2004. Emperors of the Qing Dynasty. Translated by Jang Seong-cheol. Seoul: Sansuya.

Shame Created by the Qing Imperial Family》. Translated by Su Zhulian. Gyeonggi: Glhangari. Shin Seung-ha. 2004. 《Modern China: Reform and Revolution, The Fall of the Last Dynasty of the Chinese Empire》. Seoul: Daemyung Publishing. Yan Zongnian. 2004. 《Emperors of the Qing Dynasty》. Translated by Jang Seong-cheol. Seoul: Sansuya.

Shin Seung-ha. 2004. 《Modern China: Reform and Revolution, The Fall of the Last Dynasty of the Chinese Empire》. Seoul: Daemyung Publishing. Yan Zongnian. 2004. 《Emperors of the Qing Dynasty》. Translated by Jang Seong-cheol. Seoul: Sansuya.

Sansuya. William T. Rowe. 2014. Harvard Chinese History: Qing, China's Last Empire. Translated by Kim Se-chan. Seoul: Neomeobooks.

Sansuya. William T. Rowe. 2014. 《Harvard Chinese History: Qing, China's Last Empire》. Translated by Kim Se-chan. Seoul: Neomeobooks.

Sansuya.

William T. Rowe. 2014. 《Harvard Chinese History: Qing, China's Last Empire》. Translated by Kim Se-chan. Seoul: Neomeobooks.

Kim Se-chan translated. Seoul: Neomeobooks. Yun Hye-young. 2016. “Yuan Shikai, From 'A Great Thief Who Stole the Country' to a 'Great Man.'” Sungkyun China Brief, May, 118-122.

Yun Hye-young. 2016. “Yuan Shikai, From 'A Great Thief Who Stole the Country' to a 'Great Man.'” Sungkyun China Brief, May, 118-122.

“Yuan Shikai, From 'A Great Thief Who Stole the Country' to a 'Great Man.'” Sungkyun China Brief, May, 118-122.

Evelyn S. Rawski. 1977. The Last Emperors: A Social History of the Qing Imperial Family. Translated by Gu Beom-jin. Seoul: Kkachi. Zhuang Lian. 2005. The Most Distinctive Emperors in Chinese History. Translated by Ahn Myung-ja and Kim Moon. Seoul: Eojini.

Gu Beom-jin translated. Seoul: Kkachi. Zhuang Lian. 2005. 《The Most Distinctive Emperors in Chinese History》. Translated by Ahn Myung-ja and Kim Moon. Seoul: Eojini.

Zhuang Lian. 2005. 《The Most Distinctive Emperors in Chinese History》. Translated by Ahn Myung-ja and Kim Moon. Seoul: Eojini.

Kim Moon translated. Seoul: Eojini. Puyi. 1988. From Emperor to Citizen. Translated by Lee Yun-yang. Seoul: Literature and Criticism. Hou Yi. 2003. Yuan Shikai. Translated by Jang Ji-yong. Seoul: Jiho.

Puyi. 1988. 《From Emperor to Citizen》. Translated by Lee Yun-yang. Seoul: Literature and Criticism. Hou Yi. 2003. 《Yuan Shikai》. Translated by Jang Ji-yong. Seoul: Jiho.

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