In the long river of history, some moments are frozen into eternity, becoming turning points, affecting the fate of a person and even a country. In 1950, such a moment befell Pu Yi, the last emperor of the Qing Dynasty. When the horn of New China sounded, when the footsteps of the volunteers crossed the Yalu River, the former emperor made an astonishing move in a humble room in the Fushun War Criminals Management Center. He tore open his cotton coat and took out a treasure that had been hidden for many years - the seal of Emperor Qianlong. It is a mark that has witnessed the rise and fall of empires, and it is a reenactment of a dusty history. But why did Pu Yi show this seal at this moment? What kind of struggle and changes did he go through in his heart? What kind of story is hidden behind this seal?
Pu Yi's dilemma and awakening
At the beginning of the founding of the People's Republic of China, Pu Yi's life was full of contradictions and struggles. The former emperor is now a war criminal, and this change of identity makes him feel deeply powerless and confused. The days in the Fushun War Criminals Management Center were the most difficult period in Pu Yi's life, and it was also the most turbulent period in his thinking.
The life in the Fushun War Criminals Management Center was completely different from Puyi's previous palace life. There are no servants to wait, no endless honor, only humble living conditions and strict rules and regulations. Pu Yi was forced to learn to take care of himself, from washing his face and brushing his teeth to making his bed, these seemingly simple daily activities were undoubtedly a huge challenge for him, who had never done housework himself.
In this environment, Pu Yi began to reflect on his past. He recalled his life: from the young emperor who ascended the throne at the age of three, to the teenager who was forced to announce his abdication, and then to the puppet emperor of Manchukuo, every change of identity was accompanied by huge psychological pressure and political turmoil. Especially during the puppet period of Manchukuo, although he was called emperor, he was actually a puppet of the Japanese Kwantung Army, and this experience made him feel deeply ashamed and helpless.
As time passed, Pu Yi's life in the management center gradually stabilized. He began to receive an education about the policies and ideas of the new China, and this new knowledge gave him a deeper understanding of his past. He realized that his life was carried away by the torrent of history, and many times he was a victim of his inability to resist, but there were also many times when he was a participant in the wrong decisions.
Especially after the outbreak of the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea, Pu Yi's mentality has undergone significant changes. When he heard that the Chinese People's Volunteers had heroically crossed the Yalu River to confront the world's most powerful army, he was shocked like never before. This shock is not only the fear of war, but also the admiration for the courage and sacrifice of the new Chinese people. He began to think about how he, as a former emperor, should face his past and find his place in the new era.
This thinking eventually led him to make a major decision to hand over the Qianlong seal, which he had kept for many years, as an expression of support for the new China and repentance for his past actions. This act is not only a symbol of Pu Yi's personal historical turning point, but also a symbol of his transformation from a feudal veteran to a citizen of the new era.
Pu Yi's awakening, although late, was the most important awakening in his life. From an emperor who was coerced by history to a citizen who took the initiative to embrace the new era, Pu Yi's transformation not only changed his own destiny, but also added a rare strength for reconciliation and progress in China in that turbulent era.
The Influence and Transformation of New China
In the days of the Fushun War Criminals Management Center, Pu Yi, the former emperor, was facing the transformation of New China. Here, there is no longer the dignity and glory of the past, only the discipline and education of transformation. The new China's policy towards war criminals was strict and humane, aiming to make these former sinners realize their mistakes and become useful talents in society again through education and labor.
In the management office, Pu Yi began his study life. The daily curriculum is rigorous, covering the laws and policies of the new China, as well as the basic principles of Marxism. These courses are undoubtedly a new baptism of thought for Pu Yi. He began to understand that the strength of a country is not only based on the maintenance of imperial power, but also on the happiness of the people and the prosperity of the country.
In the process, Pu Yi also began his working life. The reform policy of the People's Republic of China emphasized the importance of labor, believing that through labor people could cultivate a sense of responsibility and collectivism. Pu Yi was assigned to a plantation to grow vegetables and grain with other war criminals. This was the first time he had planted the seeds with his own hands, and the first time he felt the temperature of the soil and the hardships of labor.
Here, Pu Yi also got acquainted with an old farmer who came to guide the labor. The old farmer was a landowner, but during the land reform in New China, his land was distributed to farmers. The old peasants did not resent this, but actively participated in the new production activities and became members of a cooperative. Pu Yi saw the changes of the peasants in New China from the old peasants, and saw their love for the land and hope for the future.
In the library of the management center, Pu Yi also read a lot of propaganda materials for the new China. In these materials, he saw the achievements of New China in various fields and saw that the lives of ordinary people were gradually improving. These materials gave Pu Yi a deeper understanding of New China and a deeper reflection on his past behavior.
In such an environment, Pu Yi's thinking gradually changed. He began to realize that the strength of a country was not based on the authority of the emperor, but on the happiness of the people and the progress of the country. He also began to understand how much damage his actions had caused to the country and its people.
Under the influence and transformation of New China, Pu Yi gradually changed from a war criminal to a citizen of New China. He began to learn to respect others, to be considerate of the labor of others, and to work for the good of the collective. All these changes indicate that Pu Yi is gradually washing away his past and gradually integrating into this new era on the land of New China.
The War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea and the Transformation of the Heart
In October 1950, just one year after the founding of the People's Republic of China, in the face of tensions on the Korean Peninsula, the Chinese government decided to send Chinese volunteers across the Yalu River to participate in the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea. This decision is not only a support for the international communist movement, but also a safeguard for the sovereignty and security of New China.
At the Fushun War Criminals Management Center, Pu Yi, the last emperor of the former Qing Dynasty, has been stripped of all power, but he still keeps an eye on the outside world. When it was learned that China had decided to enter the war to support North Korea's resistance to the U.S. military, the news caused a strong reaction in the war criminals management center. Pu Yi and other war criminals heard the heroic deeds of the volunteers through the radio in the management center, and these news gradually changed their views on New China.
In the early days of the war, the Volunteers showed a high will to fight and sacrifice in the face of well-equipped United Nations troops. This spirit not only earned respect on the battlefield, but also deeply influenced Pu Yi. He began to realize that the new China was fundamentally different from the Qing Dynasty that he had ruled in terms of national philosophy and national spirit. New China emphasized the power of the people and the interests of the collective, rather than the personal power of the emperor.
As the war progressed, the Volunteer Army achieved a series of important victories under extremely difficult conditions, which had a huge impact at home and abroad. Through his studies and daily news reports, Pu Yi gradually understood the meaning behind these victories, and he developed a deep understanding of the military and political leadership of the new China.
In the process, Pu Yi also witnessed how New China mobilized and organized the rear to support the front. People across the country spontaneously donated money and materials to support the frontline fighters. This scene of national participation made Pu Yi feel the unity and strength of the new Chinese society. He saw the loyalty of ordinary people to the state and their desire for peace, which was very different from the feudal society he had experienced in the past.
In this atmosphere of strong nationalism and collectivism, Pu Yi's thinking began to change. He is no longer the former emperor who only dreams of restoring the imperial system, but gradually becoming an ordinary war criminal who is embracing new ideas and new cultures. He began to conscientiously participate in the study and labor of the management institute, and worked hard to contribute to the construction of New China through his own transformation.
The War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea was not only a military struggle, but also an ideological revolution for Pu Yi. Through this war, he saw the strength of New China and felt the pride and responsibility of being a Chinese. This transformation eventually led him to participate more actively in the construction of the new society in later years, striving to be a useful citizen rather than an emperor abandoned by history.
The dedication and symbolism of the Qianlong seal
On the land of New China, in the winter of 1950, a shocking thing happened quietly. Pu Yi, the former emperor, made a significant decision in the Fushun War Criminals Management Center. He took out a seal of the Qianlong Emperor from his cotton clothes, which was not only a treasure that he had treasured for many years, but also a symbol of imperial power in the Qing Dynasty.
This seal, called the Tianhuang Triptych, was very loved by Emperor Qianlong during his lifetime and carried it with him all year round. Its material is precious, its historical value is immeasurable, and it is a treasure of Chinese civilization. Pu Yi handed over this seal, not only a confession of his past behavior, but also an expression of support and trust for New China.
At the beginning of the founding of the People's Republic of China, the country was in a state of ruin. The victory in the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea raised the morale of the people throughout the country and the people's patriotic enthusiasm was in full swing. In this context, Pu Yi's behavior undoubtedly gave a strong signal to the Chinese people: even the former emperor was willing to sacrifice everything for the construction of New China.
When the staff of the War Criminals Management Center received the seal, they were deeply surprised and immediately reported the matter to the central authorities. The central authorities spoke highly of Pu Yi's behavior, believing that it was a clear proof that he was actively transforming and integrating into the new society. The seal was eventually sent to the museum and became a national treasure for posterity.
This event is not only an important symbol of Pu Yi's personal transformation process, but also a symbol of new China's cultural self-confidence. It shows that New China has not only inherited the excellent traditions of the Chinese nation, but has also been able to absorb various members of society, including Pu Yi, to jointly contribute to the future of the country.
In the years that followed, Pu Yi's life changed dramatically. He was no longer the emperor abandoned by history, but became an ordinary citizen. He actively participates in social activities, strives to learn new knowledge, and uses his own experience to warn future generations not to repeat the mistakes of the past.
In December 1959, the central government announced the list of the first batch of amnesty war criminals, and Pu Yi's name was among them. From then on, he completely took off the halo of the emperor and began the life of an ordinary person. He wrote "The First Half of My Life", which recorded that turbulent history with his own personal experience, and also expressed his gratitude to New China and his hopes for the future.
The handing over of Qianlong's seal was not only a turning point in Puyi's personal history, but also a bright spot in the history of New China. It witnesses the end of an era and heralds the beginning of a new era. On the land of New China, both the former emperor and the ordinary people are contributing to the prosperity of the country in their own ways.