A prince born in the last years of the Qing Dynasty - Aixin Jueluo Shanqi, his life was full of twists and turns, especially how he chose to face the emerging republic after the collapse of the feudal monarchy. In 1898, when he was only 32 years old, he succeeded as Prince Su, which should have been infinitely beautiful, but the giant wheel of history left him in turmoil. The decline of the Qing court and the outbreak of the Xinhai Revolution all this made his fate go.
Aixin Jueluo Shanqi, the life of Prince Su, is the epitome of the Qing Dynasty from its heyday to its decline. His story can be said to be a tragic song of China's last imperial system. Shanqi was born in 1866, at a time when princes and nobles were still able to shine. His childhood, unlike the children of other Eight Banner nobles, was spent under strict martial arts training. His grandfather, Prince Hua Feng of Suge, admired martial arts and even invited the famous martial artist Dong Haichuan to teach Shanqi himself.
As an adult, Shanqi soon showed political and military talents beyond ordinary people. At the age of 20, he was named a second-class general of Zhenguo by Emperor Guangxu, and soon after, he succeeded his grandfather and became Prince Su. It can be said that the young Shanqi is the rising star of the court. In 1898, his father died in Long, and Shanqi officially stepped into this challenging role after completing his final filial piety to his father.
In the past few years since he ascended the throne, the Qing Dynasty's national strength has been declining day by day, and internal and external troubles have continued. The Boxer Rebellion, the invasion of the Great Powers, and later the invasion of the Eight-Nation Coalition put both the Shanqi royal palace and the Qing dynasty in jeopardy. In particular, in 1900, when the artillery of the Eight-Nation Coalition opened the gates of Beijing, Shanqi was appointed by the Empress Dowager Cixi as the imperial commander, responsible for protecting the safety of the imperial family. During that difficult period of escaping westward, Shanqi not only showed his loyalty and bravery, but also won the appreciation of Cixi.
In 1911, the Xinhai Revolution broke out, and the last piece of the Qing Dynasty, the last feudal dynasty, was finally crushed by the giant wheel of history. Although Shanqi tried to save the imperial system, he also had to admit that the wave of the republic was unstoppable. Soon after, he painfully witnessed the abdication of the Qing Emperor, and the feudal imperial system came to an end on the stage of Chinese history.
In the face of fundamental changes in the national system, Shanqi's heart experienced violent fluctuations. From a loyal feudal prince to an outcast of an era, his identity and beliefs have been challenged like never before. In the years that followed, he watched the establishment of a new deal, and he himself became a passerby of history.
In his later years, he was more in reflection and reminiscence. He could not accept the new political system, nor could he let go of the failure of the imperial system for which he had fought all his life. This change of mentality eventually led him to make a major decision to send all his children abroad and strictly prohibit them from returning to China and serving the land.
Behind this decision, in addition to dissatisfaction and disappointment with the new regime, it is more of a helplessness for the future and a kind of cutting off the past. He hopes that his children can find their own world in a new environment and no longer be bound by the family history.
Shanqi's decision has also become the focus of controversy in the outside world. Some call him a traitor, others think he is a helpless father. In particular, the behavior of one of his daughters abroad has cast a shadow on Shanqi's reputation. It is said that this daughter lived an indulgent life abroad, and even involved in some scandals, which greatly damaged Shanqi's family reputation.
Shanqi's life came to an end in 1922. His life, from an auxiliary minister of an empire, to a remnant of a republic, to an old man abandoned by the times, every turn was full of drama. His choices, both in his loyalty to the imperial period and in his departure from the republican era, were the product of the great changes of that era.
In the age of the Internet and media, Shanqi's story may be just one of countless historical stories, but his experience profoundly reflects the changes of an era and personal choices. Is his life a journey from loyalty to betrayal, and then from betrayal to self-redemption? Perhaps only history will give the answer.
The life of Aisin Jueluo Shanqi is a microcosm of the late history of the Qing Dynasty and an example of the interweaving of personal destiny and national destiny. His story shows us that in that era of change, everyone can be a victim of history, or a creator of history. Although Shanqi's choice has caused controversy, it also reflects the helplessness and struggle of people in an era. Looking back today, we may be able to understand more deeply that the choices of history are sometimes not black and white, but struggles and choices in a gray area.