The Puyi of the Forbidden City during the Regency Period and His 12-Day Dream - Based on the Beijing Coup and the Restoration of Xuantong - Kim Min-jeong

Forbidden City · Department of Political Science and International Relations, Ewha Womans University

1. Introduction

On February 12, 1912, Empress Dowager Longyu accepted the "Preferential Treatment for the Abdication of the Qing Emperor" and issued the "Abdication Edict," marking the end of the Qing Dynasty. The "Preferential Treatment" stipulated the terms of treatment for the Qing Emperor after his abdication. It stated, "The Emperor of the Great Qing shall retain his honorific title after abdication, and the government of the Republic of China shall treat the Qing Emperor with the courtesy due to a foreign monarch." However, even though democracy replaced monarchy and a new republican era of the Republic of China began, and even though the absolute monarchy that had lasted for approximately 2,000 years was successfully overthrown through "revolution," doubts arose as to whether the former Emperor of the Great Qing could truly be treated with the courtesy due to a "foreign monarch." Furthermore, Puyi, the last emperor of the Qing Dynasty, was allowed to reside in the Forbidden City even after his abdication and could continue to employ his personal guards. Moreover, according to the aforementioned preferential treatment, his princely titles could be maintained as before. In essence, the Forbidden City became a "state within a state." This is understood as the Chinese world order, still centered on the emperor, remaining valid even within the Republic of China in the 20th century.

The "state within a state" further fueled the dream of "restoring the feudal dynasty" among the remaining feudal forces. In 1917, Zhang Xun entered Beijing with 3,000 soldiers (also known as the "Braid Army"). Zhang Xun and his soldiers placed Puyi back on the dragon throne and, for 12 days, bowed and shouted "Long live the Emperor!" celebrating the successful restoration of Puyi. However, Li Yuanhong, Duan Qirui, and Feng Guozhang opposed the restoration of Emperor Xuantong. Duan Qirui organized an army to suppress the rebels and launched a campaign against Zhang Xun. Ultimately, Puyi's tutor and father drafted the abdication edict on his behalf, and the farce of Puyi's restoration came to an end. This paper aims to analyze the "driving force" behind the "Preferential Treatment for the Imperial Household" by examining China's history, where absolute royal power continued to be maintained through the "Preferential Treatment" even within a republican government, and where the dream of returning to an absolute monarchy was pursued through restoration. Furthermore, we will analyze why Puyi was expelled from the palace not during the Xinhai Revolution (1912) but during the Beijing Coup (1924). These analyses lead to the following questions: 2. The Puyi of the Forbidden City during the Regency Period and His 12-Day Dream - Based on the Beijing Coup and the Restoration of Xuantong - _Forbidden City

1) Why was the "Preferential Treatment for the Abdication of the Qing Emperor" established despite the collapse of the Qing Dynasty after the Xinhai Revolution?

2) Why did Emperor Xuantong attempt to restore the monarchy through Zhang Xun's coup, even after the establishment of the Republic of China?

3) Why was Puyi expelled from the palace during the Beijing Coup in 1924, rather than immediately after the Xinhai Revolution in 1912?

Ultimately, this leads to the conclusion that the Chinese world order, still centered on the emperor, remained valid even within the Republic of China after the Xinhai Revolution. The Chinese world order, formed during the Zhou Dynasty, survived within another country inside the Forbidden City, and when combined with Yuan Shikai's ambition to acquire absolute power as in the absolute monarchy, the "Preferential Treatment for the Abdication of the Qing Emperor" and Zhang Xun's restoration became possible. Unable to adapt to the modern innovation of "sovereignty of the people" gained through the Xinhai Revolution, Xuantong was able to live in the Forbidden City receiving the treatment of a monarch. Although the imperial system was abolished in the People's Republic of China with the advent of the republican era, this study will examine how Xuantong was able to continue to enjoy his authority within the imperial palace (Forbidden City) and what kind of 20th-century world he dreamed of through the coup led by Zhang Xun. Furthermore, we will examine the differences between the Xinhai Revolution and the Beijing Coup that led to Xuantong's expulsion from the palace.

2. The Xinhai Revolution and the "Preferential Treatment for the Abdication of the Qing Emperor" (1912)

Based on a secret Christian society founded by Hong Xiuquan, the Taiping Rebellion, a peasant revolutionary movement aiming to overthrow the Qing Dynasty and establish a new dynasty, occurred from 1851 to 1864. The Taiping Rebellion dealt a severe blow to the Qing Dynasty, promoting the rise of Han Chinese officials and significantly influencing subsequent Chinese revolutionary movements. After the defeat in the Sino-Japanese War in 1898, the Reform Movement, led by Kang Youwei and Liang Qichao, emerged with the aim of fundamentally reforming the institutions of Qing society.

Also known as the Wuxu Reform, it was a constitutional movement aiming to establish a constitution and a parliament, but it was frustrated by Yuan Shikai's betrayal and Empress Dowager Cixi's coup. Subsequently, revolutionary movements aimed at overthrowing the Qing Dynasty and establishing a republic became active.

As Emperor Guangxu and Empress Dowager Cixi died and the 3-year-old Puyi ascended the throne, the political situation of the Qing Dynasty became increasingly chaotic. The Qing Dynasty issued an order to nationalize railways, which had been privately operated - in principle, a sound measure, but strong opposition arose in various regions for various reasons - and attempted to alleviate its financial difficulties by borrowing a large sum of money from a consortium of international financiers, the Four-Nation Alliance. This exacerbated the suffering of the people, and widespread opposition arose in Hunan, Hubei, 1 Reginald Johnston, "Twilight in the Forbidden City," Tuttle Publishing, 2008, p. 120 2. The Puyi of the Forbidden City during the Regency Period and His 12-Day Dream - Based on the Beijing Coup and the Restoration of Xuantong - _Forbidden City

and Guangdong provinces, with a large-scale armed struggle erupting in Sichuan. In October of the same year, when the Qing Dynasty mobilized the New Army from Hubei to suppress the Sichuan uprising, revolutionaries who had been organizing the New Army's work through organizations like the Literary Society and the Gongjinhui in the Wuhan area revolted in Wuchang on October 10th, establishing the Military Government of the Republic of China, thus initiating the Xinhai Revolution.

The Wuchang Uprising spread throughout the country, receiving support from almost all provinces. Subsequently, on January 1, 1912, the Nanjing government was established with Sun Yat-sen as the Provisional President, and the Republic of China was inaugurated with the Three Principles of the People as its guiding ideology. The Qing Dynasty re-appointed Yuan Shikai, the de facto leader of the Beiyang warlords, and ordered him to suppress the revolutionary army. Johnston explains in his book "Twilight in the Forbidden City" that there was a plausible argument for Yuan Shikai's re-appointment. Johnston cites Yuan Shikai's strong reputation among foreigners as the reason he could raise foreign debt from international financial markets for the suppression of the rebellion. 2 Yuan Shikai was appointed Governor-General of Huguang and commander of the imperial army. He then took charge of military affairs, and the tide of battle quickly turned in favor of the revolutionaries in the fighting against the revolutionary army in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River. 3 However, Yuan Shikai did not pursue the revolutionary army with full force. Regarding this, Johnston

evaluates, "It was clear to anyone that Yuan Shikai was pursuing his own agenda, and that loyalty to the emperor was not the motive behind his actions."

4. Yuan Shikai received the position of Provisional President from Sun Yat-sen in exchange for the abdication of the Qing Emperor, and was formally inaugurated as President in March of that year, establishing the Beiyang government (Beijing government).

Subsequently, in peace talks held in Shanghai between the revolutionaries and the imperial court from late 1911 to early 1912, the two parties reached a highly unusual compromise of an "uncomfortable coexistence." While Yuan Shikai led the establishment of the Beiyang government and the republic, he also sought to protect the absolute monarchy by entering into the "Preferential Treatment for the Abdication of the Qing Emperor" with the Qing Dynasty. The "Preferential Treatment for the Imperial Household," consisting of eight articles including "The Emperor of the Great Qing shall retain his honorific title after abdication, and the Republic of China shall treat him with the courtesy due to a foreign monarch," along with four articles on the treatment of Qing royalty and seven articles on the treatment of ethnic minorities, allowed Puyi, the former emperor of the Qing Dynasty, to continue living in the Forbidden City even after the fall of the Qing Dynasty. 3 Reginald Johnston, op. cit., p. 122 4 Reginald Johnston, op. cit., p. 122 2. The Puyi of the Forbidden City during the Regency Period and His 12-Day Dream - Based on the Beijing Coup and the Restoration of Xuantong - _Forbidden City

There is a need to question why the "Preferential Treatment for the Imperial Household" was possible even after the establishment of the Republic of China government. The preferential treatment was a "product of compromise" from the peace talks, meaning neither the monarchist faction nor the republicans were completely defeated. Johnston viewed the reason the court agreed to the compromise, including the emperor's abdication, as being "because the compromise aligned with Yuan Shikai's ambitions and plans." 5 The fundamental reform of feudal society failed during the Xinhai Revolution due to the complex interplay of Yuan Shikai's desire to become emperor and the pre-existing and experiential concepts of ruler and ruled based on the ancient Chinese world order. Yuan Shikai's decision not to pursue the suppression of the rebellion to the end was because he intended to become emperor. By failing to change the anti-feudal social structure through the Xinhai Revolution, Puyi was able to live in the palace, enjoying the authority of an emperor, even after the establishment of the republic. This was possible because Yuan Shikai, who suppressed the Xinhai Revolution, had ambitions for power that created the possibility of a return to imperial rule. His ambitions, masked by compromise, manifested as "preferential treatment for the emperor," leaving open the possibility of a return to imperial rule.

After the Xinhai Revolution, Emperor Xuantong continued to live his life within the Forbidden City. Despite the fall of the Qing Dynasty, Xuantong dreamed of restoration. 5 Reginald Johnston, op. cit., pp. 144-145 The background to Xuantong's dream of restoration likely existed in the "possibility of a return to imperial rule" explained earlier. His life in the Forbidden City, where he could maintain the authority of an emperor while having his rights fully guaranteed, likely enabled him to dream of restoration. His fervent desire for restoration is clearly evident in his autobiography. He

states, "At that time, what occupied my mind was not the deaths of many people in the Northeast, nor how the Japanese would rule this colony. (omitted) My concern was to demand the restoration of the throne and to have them recognize me as emperor."

6 Based on Puyi's memoirs and the memoirs of those who lived in the Forbidden City during the Qing Dynasty, the opinions on the restoration of Xuantong and the Zhang Xun coup found in primary sources reveal that the perspective of "restoring the Great Qing Empire" was central to the restoration. The memoirs of eunuchs and palace maids who lived in the Forbidden City during the Qing Dynasty, describing the daily lives of ordinary people within the palace and the strict rules and regulations imposed on them, demonstrate the existence of remnants of the absolute monarchy within the Forbidden City. This indicates that a small empire based on the world order was operating within the Forbidden City during the republican era. The "Preferential Treatment for the Imperial Household" allowed Xuantong to continue to perceive the Forbidden City as "imperial" by providing "preferential treatment to the emperor" even after the fall of the Qing Dynasty. During Puyi's formative years, he was able to enjoy some of the emperor's authority through the "Preferential Treatment," and the remaining feudal forces within the Forbidden City treated him as emperor, thus making Puyi's Forbidden City a "mini-court" (小朝廷). Therefore, when Zhang Xun led the Braid Army and launched a coup to restore Emperor Xuantong, Xuantong's compliance without objection likely stemmed from the desire to restore the mini-court to a full court. Ultimately, the "Preferential Treatment" led Yuan Shikai and Xuantong, the two protagonists, to engage in a performance of "dreams in the same bed" on the stage of the Forbidden City. 6 Puyi (1988), "From Emperor to Citizen (Vol. 1)," Munhakgwa Pipyeongsa, translated by Lee Choong-yang, p. 369 2. The Puyi of the Forbidden City during the Regency Period and His 12-Day Dream - Based on the Beijing Coup and the Restoration of Xuantong - _Forbidden City

The "Preferential Treatment for the Imperial Household" allowed Xuantong to continue to perceive the Forbidden City as "imperial" by providing "preferential treatment to the emperor" even after the fall of the Qing Dynasty. During Puyi's formative years, he was able to enjoy some of the emperor's authority through the "Preferential Treatment," and the remaining feudal forces within the Forbidden City treated him as emperor, thus making Puyi's Forbidden City a "mini-court" (小朝廷). Therefore, when Zhang Xun led the Braid Army and launched a coup to restore Emperor Xuantong, Xuantong's compliance without objection likely stemmed from the desire to restore the mini-court to a full court. Ultimately, the "Preferential Treatment" led Yuan Shikai and Xuantong, the two protagonists, to engage in a performance of "dreams in the same bed" on the stage of the Forbidden City.

3. The Beijing Coup (1924) and Puyi's Expulsion from the Forbidden City

In July 1917, Zhang Xun's attempt to restore the Qing Dynasty occurred. At that time, due to Liang Guiding's flight to escape arrest, Feng Yuxiang was reinstated as a brigade commander and defeated Zhang Xun. In 1924, Feng Yuxiang staged a coup and successfully ousted Cao Kun, a direct subordinate of President Yuan Shikai. In 1918, Feng Yuxiang was ordered by Duan Qirui to suppress Sun Yat-sen, but he sent a telegram for peace negotiations, enraging Duan Qirui. Subsequently, Feng Yuxiang interacted with Sun Yat-sen, aiming for democratization, and joined the Chinese Kuomintang. In the Second Zhifeng War (war between the Zhili and Fengtian cliques) in 1924, he sided with the Fengtian clique, ousted Cao Kun of the Zhili clique, and occupied Beijing. After occupying Beijing, Feng Yuxiang revised the "Preferential Treatment for the Abdication of the Qing Emperor" from 1912 and threatened the Qing imperial family. Consequently, Feng Yuxiang's army occupied the Forbidden City, and Emperor Puyi and the Empress were expelled, and the Qing imperial family was evicted from the Forbidden City.

The "expulsion of Puyi" can be seen as one of the most crucial aspects of the Beijing Coup. However, Puyi's expulsion has not been deeply explored in modern history, largely due to a lack of abundant resources. The reason the Qing imperial family, which had survived even after the Xinhai Revolution, was completely expelled from the Forbidden City by the Beijing Coup was not solely due to Feng Yuxiang's threat. Financial difficulties arising from the preferential treatment of the Qing imperial family after the establishment of the Republic of China, the resulting increased suffering of the people, and the remnants of feudalism all contributed to Puyi's expulsion and the eviction of the Qing imperial family. The difference in the historical context and the mindsets of the individuals involved in 1912 and 1924 is also a factor. The difference between Yuan Shikai's mindset, who sought to become emperor by restoring the imperial system, and Feng Yuxiang's mindset, who aimed for democratization and the elimination of remaining feudal forces, was a decisive factor in determining the fate of the Qing imperial family within the Forbidden City. It is undeniable that the "mindset" of the ruler at the time of each revolution was a decisive factor in the fate of Xuantong and the Manchu dynasty.

We will now attempt to draw another conclusion regarding the third question. 2. The Puyi of the Forbidden City during the Regency Period and His 12-Day Dream - Based on the Beijing Coup and the Restoration of Xuantong - _Forbidden City

While the Xinhai Revolution was a confrontation between the monarchist and revolutionary factions, the Beijing Coup was a power struggle between the Zhili and Fengtian warlord cliques. During the Xinhai Revolution, the "Preferential Treatment for the Abdication of the Qing Emperor," which existed behind the establishment of the republic, would have been an insignificant factor for the revolutionaries and the populace. However, the Beijing Coup was a competition between the warlords of the Zhili clique, Yuan Shikai's direct subordinates, and the Fengtian clique. Therefore, from the perspective of Feng Yuxiang and the Fengtian clique, they would have wanted to eliminate or change everything related to Yuan Shikai and his direct subordinates. Johnston evaluates Feng Yuxiang's proposed revision of the "Preferential Treatment for the Abdication of the Qing Emperor" in his book as follows:

"It was discovered that the new agreement had the fatal flaw that there was no guarantee in any form that the Republic would faithfully adhere to it."

This further proves that Feng Yuxiang and the Fengtian warlord army desired the true demise of the absolute monarchy. It appears they sought to completely eliminate the possibility of the existence of an imperial court, which could have been maintained by showing deference to the Qing imperial family. Therefore, it can be boldly concluded that Feng Yuxiang, who was at the center of the Beijing Coup, did not harbor ambitions of ascending the throne. This is why the revision and abolition of the preferential treatment, and furthermore, the expulsion of Xuantong and the Empress from the Forbidden City, became possible.

4. Conclusion

There is a scarcity of research materials detailing the objective of Xuantong's restoration through the Zhang Xun coup and the 12 days of Xuantong's life after the restoration, which made writing this paper challenging. Almost all materials merely describe the incident where Zhang Xun, with the Braid Army, attempted to restore Xuantong in betrayal of Duan Qirui. Furthermore, there is no research that connects the restoration of Xuantong with the concept of "Tianxia" (天下, all under heaven). Although the restoration of Xuantong is recorded as a historical event, there has been no research that examines Xuantong's desire to be restored after his abdication in conjunction with the restoration of the Tianxia order. It is difficult to assume that the young Puyi sought to gain practical benefits from the absolute monarchy he experienced during the short period of 12 days through Zhang Xun's restoration. However, as Puyi described in his autobiography, his continued desire for imperial authority even in Manchukuo as an adult was influenced by the "China-centric Tianxia order" from his imperial education. We have examined how the restoration of Xuantong occurred due to the combination of Puyi's pursuit of imperial rights and the mindset of the remaining feudal forces who lived with him in the Forbidden City. However, even though the restoration of Xuantong failed, Xuantong and the Qing imperial family were still able to maintain their authority and power within the Forbidden City. The driving force behind the maintenance of the Qing imperial family's authority was the "Preferential Treatment for the Abdication of the Qing Emperor," and Yuan Shikai's ambition to become emperor (or, as it could also be called, to establish a new dynasty) made this preferential treatment possible. However, considering the objective of the Xinhai Revolution, which was the "fall of the dynasty," the reason of "minimal courtesy to the Qing Dynasty" for the remnants of the Qing Dynasty within the Forbidden City presents a significant contradiction. 2. The Puyi of the Forbidden City during the Regency Period and His 12-Day Dream - Based on the Beijing Coup and the Restoration of Xuantong - _Forbidden City

The life of Xuantong within the Forbidden City after the Xinhai Revolution was likely more luxurious than we imagine. This is because, according to the provisions of the "Preferential Treatment for the Abdication of the Qing Emperor," Xuantong received much better treatment than his status as the emperor of a fallen dynasty would suggest. Puyi enjoyed a comfortable life within the Forbidden City, employing palace maids, eunuchs, and others. However, this life ended in 1924 when Puyi was expelled due to the Beijing Coup. Here, we can also reflect on the research question of why Puyi was expelled in 1924 during the Beijing Coup, rather than during the Xinhai Revolution in 1912. Considering that the main actors of the revolutions were Yuan Shikai and Feng Yuxiang, there is a commonality in that the threat of Puyi's expulsion was caused by fellow countrymen. However, the different goals in their mindsets became the primary factor determining the fate of the Qing Dynasty. The fundamental difference in mindset between Yuan Shikai, who wanted to preserve the Qing Dynasty and become emperor himself, and Feng Yuxiang, who aimed for democratization, determined the rise and fall of the absolute monarchy. The expulsion of Puyi and the Qing imperial family from the Forbidden City due to the Beijing Coup can be seen as the dawn of true democracy after the establishment of the Republic of China.

The absolute monarchy, based on the Chinese world order formed during the ancient Zhou Dynasty, lasted for approximately 4,000 years. In the early 20th century, the absolute monarchy faced a crisis due to revolutionary movements advocating for the establishment of a republic and the downfall of feudalism, but even after the fall of the last Qing imperial family, a small empire (absolute monarchy) within the palace could survive. Through this study, we have learned whether feudal society is maintained or collapses depending on the mindset of the revolutionary actors. This is significant in that it can explain the reality of the order of the absolute monarchy period being applied in contemporary Chinese society. It also has timeliness in that it allows for a reconsideration of the mindset of the actors who seek to lead the Chinese world order within a republican framework.

The absolute monarchy, based on the Chinese-centric world order that formed during the ancient Zhou Dynasty, was maintained for approximately 4,000 years. In the early 20th century, absolute monarchies faced a crisis due to revolutionary movements advocating for the establishment of a republic and the downfall of feudalism. However, even after the collapse of the last Qing imperial house, a small empire (absolute monarchy) within the palace walls managed to survive. This study reveals whether feudal society is maintained or collapses depending on the mindset of the revolutionary subjects. This is significant in that it can explain the reality of the order from the era of absolute monarchy still operating in contemporary Chinese society. Furthermore, it is timely in that it allows for a reconsideration of the mindset of subjects seeking to lead the Chinese-centric world order within a republican framework.

Bibliography Yan Zongnian (2017). Translated by Jang Seong-cheol. "The Emperors of the Qing Dynasty." Korea:

Sansuya

Reginald Johnston (2008). Translated by Kim Seong-bae. "Twilight in the Forbidden City." Korea:

Dolbegae

Puyi (1988). Translated by Lee Choong-yang. "From Emperor to Citizen (Vol. 1, 2)." Korea:

Munhakgwa Pipyeongsa

Irie Yoko (2014). Translated by Seo Eun-sook. "Stories of the Forbidden City." Korea: Dolbegae Wang Yichao (2017). Translated by Yoo So-young. "Ordinary People of the Forbidden City." Korea:

Sagyejeol 2. The Puyi of the Forbidden City during the Regency Period and His 12-Day Dream - Based on the Beijing Coup and the Restoration of Xuantong - _Forbidden City

Zhuang Lian (2005). Translated by Ahn Myung-ja. "The Most Distinctive Emperors in Chinese History."

Korea: Eojin-i

Kawashima Shin (2013). Translated by Cheon Seong-rim. "Modern and Contemporary Chinese History 2, The Quest for a Modern Nation-State, 1894-1925." Korea: Samcheonri

Moden and Contemporary Chinese History 2, The Quest for a Modern Nation-State, 1894-1925." Korea: Samcheonri

Im Myeong-hyeon (2019). "What Happened in China Then?" Korea:

Dodulsaegim.

Jang Yun-mi. 2017. "The Persistence of the Principle of "Power Unification" (權力一統) in China's Modern Nation-State Conception."

Journal of Modern China Studies VOL.21 NO.3 :77-125

Journal of Modern China Studies VOL.21 NO.3 :77-125

Arthur Waldron. 2002. "From war to nationalism." Cambridge

University Press.