Throughout China's long history, some emperors have gone through the legendary experience of ascending the throne twice or more for various reasons. These experiences reflect not only the twists and turns of their personal fortunes, but also the complexity of the political struggle and the social turmoil of the time.
1. Yuan Wen Zongtu Timur
Yuan Wenzong Tutimur was the only emperor of the Yuan Dynasty to ascend the throne twice. As the second son of Yuanwuzong Haishan, his life trajectory is full of drama. He first ascended the throne in September of the first year of Zhihe (1328), but for various reasons, he had to temporarily abdicate. Later, due to the death of Yuan Mingzong and Shiqiu, Tutimur was once again proclaimed emperor and re-ascended the throne.
2. Ming Yingzong Zhu Qizhen
Ming Yingzong Zhu Qizhen was the sixth and eighth emperor of the Ming Dynasty, and his path to the throne was also full of twists and turns. He first ascended the throne in 1435, but was later captured due to the Tumubao Rebellion, and his younger brother Zhu Qiyu took the opportunity to ascend the throne. After being put back by Wara, Zhu Qizhen did not give up the idea of resetting. After a series of struggles and preparations, he finally re-ascended the throne in 1457 through the Rebellion of the Gate and regained his throne.
3. Tang Zhongzong Li Xian
Tang Zhongzong Li Xian was an emperor of the Tang Dynasty, and his fortunes also experienced two ups and downs. The first time he ascended the throne was after the death of Tang Gaozong in 683, however, for various reasons, he was deposed by Wu Zetian as the king of Luling. Later, Wu Zetian re-established him as crown prince, and after his death in 705, Li Xian ascended the throne as emperor again.
4. Tang Ruizong Li Dan
Tang Ruizong Li Dan is the eighth son of Tang Gaozong and the fourth son of Wu Zetian. His life story is equally legendary. He was first made emperor in 684, but was forced to abdicate as Wu Zetian's power grew. In 690, after Wu Zetian was proclaimed emperor, Li Dan was renamed Wu and became the emperor's heir. However, after Tang Zhongzong Li Xian was poisoned in 710, Li Dan was once again put on the throne in a coup d'état, achieving his second ascension to the throne.
5. Tang Xiaozong Li Chen
Tang Zhaozong Li Ye was the twentieth emperor of the Tang Dynasty, and his path to the throne was also full of twists and turns. He first ascended the throne in 888, but in 900 he was forced to abdicate by eunuchs and passed the throne to the crown prince Li Yu. However, only a year later, with the eradication of the eunuch power, Li Ye was able to reinstate as emperor again.
6. Song Gaozong Zhao Gou
Song Gaozong Zhao Gou was the founding emperor of the Southern Song Dynasty, and his road to the throne was also full of twists and turns. In 1127 he ascended the throne as emperor in Nanjing Yingtianfu, but he was forced to abdicate just two years later due to the Miao-Liu Mutiny. However, he did not give up the idea of reinstatement, and with the support of Han Shizhong and others, he successfully restored and re-ascended the throne.
7. Emperor Hui of the Jin Dynasty
Emperor Hui of the Jin Dynasty, Sima Zhen, was the second emperor of the Western Jin Dynasty, and his reign was full of turmoil and strife. Due to the intervention of Empress Jia Nanfeng, the Eight Kings Rebellion led to his deposition. However, in 301 he was reinstated as emperor again, but the good times were short-lived, and in 307 he was poisoned again, ending his legendary life.
8. Puyi
Pu Yi was the last emperor of the Qing Dynasty and the only emperor in Chinese history to ascend the throne three times. He ascended the throne as emperor for the first time in 1909, however, with the outbreak of the Xinhai Revolution and the fall of the Qing Dynasty, he was forced to abdicate in 1912. However, his fate did not end there, and in 1917, during the restoration of Zhang Xun, he briefly ascended the throne again and became emperor, however, he abdicated again with the failure of the restoration. In 1934, he was made Emperor of Manchukuo by Japan, and he ended his reign as Emperor after Japan's surrender in 1945.