Zaifeng: An ordinary person of the last imperial family of the Qing Dynasty
Zaifeng, this name may not be too familiar to most people. However, his life, especially his later life, contains many stories and lessons worth pondering. Zaifeng's life, like a microcosm of China's late Qing dynasty, witnessed the rise and fall of an empire, and also reflected the life and emotions of an ordinary person.
Zaifeng's life began in the imperial family, he was the half-brother of the Guangxu Emperor Zai Yi and the father of Puyi, the last emperor of the Qing Dynasty. On December 6, 1911, at the age of 28, Zaifeng resigned as regent and reoriented his life.
He freed himself from the shackles of political power and ushered in the happy life he deserved.
After resigning as regent, Zaifeng's life became regular and free. He loves to read and focuses mainly on history books, while also keeping a diary. This diary not only provides future generations with precious information about the history of the late Qing Dynasty, but also shows his thirst for knowledge and love of life. In his study hangs a couplet: "There are books and wealth, and there are little immortals who have nothing to do", in which the word "famous" was changed to "there are books", showing his appreciation of knowledge.
Zaifeng was not only interested in history, but also cultivated his own interests in astronomy and geography.
He studied astronomy and owned sundials, planetary instruments, globes, astronomical telescopes and other equipment. He even led the children to watch the constellations at night, cultivating their interest in the universe. These interests and hobbies gave Zaifeng a spirit of scientific exploration, and if it were not for his royal status, he would probably have become a natural scientist.
Not only that, Zaifeng's personal life also includes family. His original wife was Ronglu's daughter Gualja, but the two gradually became estranged. Zaifeng married a concubine, Deng Jiashi, in 1913 and gave birth to two boys and four daughters.
Although monogamous and concubines were common in feudal society, Zaifeng's family life was still full of challenges and emotional entanglements.
Despite Jae-ho's desire to live an ordinary life after resigning as regent, he was still drawn into major historical events. He participated in a series of major events such as deciding the abdication of the Qing emperor and entertaining Sun Yat-sen, although he had cut his braids and put on new clothes. This fate of being involved in historical events prevented him from truly getting rid of politics.
However, over time, Zaifeng's life has changed dramatically. He lost the financial support of the Great Qing Kingdom and gradually became impoverished.
Eventually, he was forced to sell his curios and farm property to support his family. When Puyi was expelled from the palace, Zaifeng also suffered a heavy blow in life.
In the context of the rise of the puppet Manchukuo in northeastern China, Zaifeng was invited to go, but he refused. He sees this as a trap that can lead to manipulation and exploitation. He advised Pu Yi several times to avoid Japanese control, but Pu Yi insisted that Zaifeng and other family members stay in Changchun. At this time, Zaifeng showed his perseverance in his family, and even threatened to protect his family by hunger strike.
Zaifeng's later life was also full of setbacks and sadness.
He lost his loved ones, especially Deng Jia, who he had been with for a long time, which made him feel painful. However, he remained true to his principles and attitude towards life.
In the end, Zaifeng decided to sell his royal palace, ending years of sitting on the mountain. Aware of the changes in history and the arrival of a new era, he chose to sell his property, buy a new house with half of the money, and give the other half to his children. This decision reflects his sobriety and pursuit of ordinary life.
Finally, Zaifeng died in 1951 due to diabetes and kidney failure. In his life, although he did not achieve brilliant achievements in politics, he showed the wisdom and tenacity of ordinary people.