You have all heard of Sheng Xuanhuai, an official in the last years of the Qing Dynasty! He was the promoter of the Westernization Movement, and he was also a strange man who knew how to heal. But perhaps the most unique thing is that he once held a copy of Cixi's edict claiming that the Diaoyu Islands belonged to private individuals. In 1971, an old lady in the United States made a big splash at the hearings on the ownership of the Diaoyu Islands, and she took out a 100-year-old edict insisting that the Diaoyu Islands were her private property. Does this oracle really exist?
The Diaoyu Islands, a small island in the East China Sea, have long been the focus of disputes between China and Japan. And at a hearing in 1971, the issue became a hot topic again because of an old lady's actions. It is said that the old lady's name is Xu Yi, and she claims to be a descendant of Sheng Xuanhuai, a famous official at the end of the Qing Dynasty. At the meeting, she displayed a high-profile copy of Empress Dowager Cixi's edict, claiming that the Diaoyu Islands were her family's private property, and everyone present was shocked.
Sheng Xuanhuai's name may not be so well-known in modern times, but he was indeed an influential figure in the late Qing Dynasty. Born in 1844, he was originally a scholar who failed the imperial examination, and later joined the business world, and became Li Hongzhang's staff because of business, and promoted the Westernization Movement together. He started his career as a mining company and later expanded to railways, shipping and other fields.
In Sheng Xuanhuai's legendary life, the episode with the Empress Dowager Cixi is particularly eye-catching. It is said that at that time, the Empress Dowager Cixi was troubled by illness, and the imperial doctors of the court and China were helpless. In this case, Li Hongzhang recommended Sheng Xuanhuai to the Empress Dowager Cixi. Sheng Xuanhuai not only knew how to operate modernly, but also was proficient in traditional Chinese medicine, and finally cured Cixi's stubborn illness. The Empress Dowager Cixi was so grateful for this miracle that it is said that in return, she gave Sheng Xuanhuai a special gift of ownership of the Diaoyu Islands.
This incident sounds like the plot of a novel, but the edict in Xu Yi's hand seems to give the story a real proof. But the real world is much more complex than what is said in the novel. Regardless of the authenticity of the edict, the question of the ownership of the Diaoyu Islands cannot be decided by a piece of paper. The land is a matter of national sovereignty and geopolitics, and its complexity goes far beyond the realm of personal property.
The authenticity of historical documents often needs to be rigorously verified, and the identity of a person and the authenticity of the documents she holds also need corresponding evidence to prove. Individual claims often seem trivial in the face of national issues, but that doesn't stop us from exploring the history and stories behind them. If Xu Yi is really Sheng Xuanhuai's descendant, then this edict in her hand is a rare object of study, at least in terms of cultural and historical value.
China and Japan have insisted on the dispute over the Diaoyu Islands, and there has been no substantive progress for many years. In this context, Xu Yi's sudden appearance undoubtedly added a touch of mystery to this controversy. We cannot judge the truth of the matter based on a single edict, but it is certain that the appearance of every historical document can provide us with a new perspective on how to interpret history.
The story of this old lady makes us think deeply: the truth in history is sometimes more bizarre than fiction. We are pursuing the truth of history, and we are also witnessing the different interpretations and uses of history by people in each era. Just as the appearance of Cixi's edict is not only an echo of a historical event, but also a reflection and reflection on the reality of international relations.
The so-called Cixi edict displayed by Xu Yi at the 1971 hearing, whether true or not, has become an interesting story in the history of the Diaoyu Islands dispute. The authenticity and legal effect of this edict need to be further examined, but the historical entanglements and international disputes it reflects are indisputable facts.
History is woven by a series of events and stories, and each of our understanding and attitudes towards history is constantly influencing the direction of history. In our quest for the truth of history, we need to be both dispassionate and open-minded to all possibilities. The question of the ownership of the Diaoyu Islands may need more time and wisdom to answer.