The Manchurian aristocratic Aixin Jueluo family has been in power for nearly three hundred years and has witnessed the whole process from its heyday to its decline. The well-known last emperor Puyi, his life is like a roller coaster, ascending the throne at the age of three, abdicating at the age of six, ascending the throne again at the age of twelve, and then abdicating again, becoming a veritable "puppet emperor".
Under the huge shadow of this history, there is another little-known character, he is Pu Yi's half-brother - Aixin Jueluo Pu Ren. A "teacher" who chose to stay away from the struggle for imperial power and live an ordinary life. Why was he able to escape the fate of the royal family and live to the age of 2015?
In 1918, a life destined to be ordinary in the royal family was born, he was Aixin Jueluo Puren. His eldest brother, Pu Yi, was no longer an emperor at that time, and the death of Emperor Guangxu made Pu Yi ascend the throne as emperor at the age of three, abdicate at the age of six, and restore and retire at the age of twelve. Such ups and downs in life are enough to dazzle anyone. However, Pu Ren's life trajectory is very different.
Pu Yi was caught up in the whirlpool of power and became a victim of politics since he was a child, while Pu Ren grew up in a relatively calm environment under the protection of his father Zaifeng. After Pu Yi abdicated, Zaifeng was deposed as regent, and he returned to the relatively peaceful palace of Prince Alcohol with his family to educate his children himself.
Pu Ren's childhood was far away from the splendor of the Forbidden City, and also far away from the deceit there. His education was more practical and humanistic, and this education method greatly influenced Pu Ren's life choices. In such an environment, Pu Ren's personality and vision are very different from Pu Yi's. He was not portrayed as an emperor who only knew power and scheming, but had more humanistic care and civilian feelings.
As time passed, Pu Ren gradually grew up, and he chose the path of an ordinary person - to become a teacher. This was undoubtedly a very unconventional choice among the members of the royal family at that time. Pu Ren's decision is not only a personal career choice, but also a silent reflection on the history of imperial power. He used his actions to express a kind of indifference and detachment from the traditional imperial power, which was quite forward-looking in the society at that time.
Pu Ren's life is relatively ordinary, without magnificent historical dramas, but he has also avoided countless political turmoil. His life is closer to the common people and more down-to-earth. This transition from the royal family to a commoner is not only a change of identity, but also a complete change in mentality and lifestyle. He taught, disseminated knowledge, and influenced generations of students in his own way, although this influence was not as vigorous as that of imperial power, but it was also subtle, warm and long-lasting.
In Pu Ren's educational career, he always insisted on teaching and not getting involved in the world, which allowed him to maintain a quiet atmosphere in the turbulent times. And his life thus reflects more of a respect and love for ordinary life. In his teaching, he not only imparts knowledge, but also pays more attention to cultivating students' moral character and independent thinking ability. This educational philosophy was very advanced at the time, showing his profound humanistic care and unique insights into education.
Time is like flowing water, and the years are long. From 1918 to 2015, Pu Ren experienced almost a century of ups and downs. In the past 100 years, China has undergone a tremendous transformation from a feudal society to a republic, and earth-shaking changes have taken place in its social outlook and ideological concepts. As an ordinary person, Pu Ren has witnessed all these changes, and his life seems to be a living history textbook, recording the changes and development of an era.
Pu Ren's life choice may be incomprehensible to many people. In modern society, the aura of royalty still has a strong appeal, but Pu Ren has chosen a different path, a choice that demonstrates his unique understanding of personal worth and social responsibility. He was not limited by his background, but found the meaning and value of life in his own way.
Such a Pu Ren, although he did not appear on the main stage of history, silently contributed his light and heat in an ordinary post. Although his life is not full of dramatic ups and downs and changes like Pu Yi, it shows the dignity and worth of human beings in another way.