65 Facts About Wanrong

Wanrong is sometimes anachronistically called the Xuantong Empress, referring to Puyi's era name.

Wanrong was the titular empress consort of the former Qing dynasty from their marriage in 1922 until the exile of the imperial family in November 1924.

Wanrong later became the empress consort of the Japanese puppet state of Manchukuo in northeastern China from 1934 until the abolition of the monarchy in August 1945, at the conclusion of the Second World War.

Wanrong died in prison in June 1946 and her remains were never found.

Wanrong adopted a Western name, Elizabeth, which was inspired by Queen Elizabeth I of England.

Wanrong was born into the Gobulo clan on 13 November 1906, which translates to the 32nd year of the second month of the fourth day of the Guangxu Emperor's reign, under the Plain White Banner of the Eight Banners and of Daur ancestry.

When Wanrong became empress in 1922, her father took employment in the Imperial Household Department until Wanrong was expelled.

Wanrong had a brother, Runliang as well as a half-brother, Runqi.

Unlike many of his contemporaries, Rongyuan believed in gender equality in regards to education, so he arranged for Wanrong to be educated in the same manner as her brothers.

Wanrong selected Wenxiu, a 12-year-old girl, but the decision was opposed by the former concubine dowager Consort Jin based on her status and appearance.

The dowager consorts suggested Puyi choose Wanrong, who was about the same age and had a similar family background as he did.

Wanrong was fed up with the lessons and unhappy about marrying someone she had never met before.

Wanrong's wedding included three traditional ceremonies, both before and after the grand nuptials: The ceremony of betrothal gifts, in which a large procession presented gifts from Puyi at her home; the Daizheng ceremony, in which the Emperor sent messengers to the bride's home to inform them of the wedding date; and the title-conferring ceremony, in which The Book of Empress Title-conferring was presented to Wanrong at her home.

Later, in Wanrong's new living quarters, she kowtowed to him six times as the decree of their marriage was read in celebration.

Sun Yaoting, her personal eunuch servant, said despite her volatile character and occasional bursts of temper, Wanrong was generally kind to servants and would offer him food as she often dined without Puyi.

Wanrong enjoyed reading, jazz, Western cuisine, playing the piano, writing in English and photography.

An article in Time magazine dated Monday, 12 May 1924, titled "China: Henry the Democrat", noted Huan Tung, and Wanrong had adopted Western names, with Wanrong's being Elizabeth.

Wanrong once played "drop the handkerchief" in the courtyard into nine o'clock in the evening.

Wanrong had few visitors, except for her servants, and was often lonely.

Sun said Wanrong never closed the door at night, but only drew the door curtain.

Sun reminisced Puyi once appeared with a German-made bicycle to help Wanrong learn how to ride a bike with the eunuchs helping.

Wanrong would send subordinates on occasion to donate money to the poor outside the Forbidden City.

Puyi and Wanrong settled in the Zhang garden in Tianjin later moving in 1929 to the Quiet Garden Villa within the Japanese concession in Tianjin.

Wanrong found various avenues for entertainment in Tianjin: theatre, dancing, skating, horse-riding, sports, shopping, and more.

Wanrong apparently did not participate in activities like dancing in the ball, nor did she buy any sweepstakes, she did not ride a horse or play balls.

Puyi showed a preference for Wanrong and spent more time with her, which eventually led to Wenxiu divorcing him in 1931.

Wanrong kept a diary while in Tianjin and wrote numerous entries about Wenxiu, her illnesses, and her neglect at the hands of Puyi.

Wanrong disliked the Japanese and was firmly against Puyi's plans to go to Manchuria, and for a moment Puyi hesitated, leading Doihara to send for Puyi's cousin, the very pro-Japanese Yoshiko Kawashima, to visit him to change his mind.

Prince Su's Mansion in Lushun served as Puyi's temporary palace in which Wanrong would spend a few months before settling in Xinjing.

Wanrong began to detest the Japanese and secretly planned to escape on two occasions.

Wellington Koo, a diplomat, recalled in his memoirs when he was in Dalian, he once met a man who said he was sent by Wanrong to seek his help in escaping from Xinjing.

Wanrong told me that this man was disguised as an antique dealer to avoid the attention of the Japanese.

Wanrong said she asked me to help her escape from Changchun because she knew I was going to Manchuria; he said she felt miserable about her life because she was surrounded by Japanese attendants in the palace, and her every move was watched and denounced.

Wanrong knew that the emperor could not escape, and if she could, she could have helped him to escape.

Apart from Puyi's coronation in 1934, Wanrong only made one other public appearance as Empress of Manchukuo, in June 1934, when Prince Chichibu visited Manchukuo on behalf of the Showa Emperor to mark close ties between Japan and Manchukuo.

Wanrong was taught drawing and music, such as the piano as well as playing chess and tennis recreationally.

Puyi wrote Wanrong became so engrossed in these superstitions she would blink and spit unnecessarily, tellingly, as if she was mentally ill.

Puyi and Wanrong's relationship continued to deteriorate, albeit with continuing formalities such as Wanrong paying tribute to the emperor.

Wanrong is said to have thrown objects around in a rage.

Between 10 July 1938 and 10 July 1939, Wanrong reportedly purchased over 740 ounces of opium, which was estimated to be around 2 ounces a day, if all consumed.

Wanrong's monthly spending increased by twice the original amount, with most going towards buying opium and large numbers of fashion and movie magazines.

Wanrong later tried issuing a proclamation about going to Lushun on 21 January 1935 to "avoid the cold," likely with the intention of abandoning Wanrong, but the Japanese saw through his plans and prevented him from leaving.

Wang Qingyuan, an attendant for Puyi, said that the emperor had a strict rule that Wanrong was not allowed to contact the outside world.

Wanrong gave birth to an illegitimate child, a girl, but the baby was killed on delivery, and the newborn was supposedly thrown into a boiler.

Wanrong was immediately removed by Puyi's Japanese handlers to a remote hospital.

One account said Puyi lied to her, saying her daughter was being raised by a nanny, and Wanrong never knew about her daughter's death.

The other account said Wanrong found out or knew about her daughter's infanticide and lived in a constant daze of opium consumption since then.

Wanrong was eventually confined to her quarters at all times, with only a handful of servants permitted to attend her.

Wanrong kept on eating in a comical way to turn everyone's attention toward him.

Wanrong's toenails were no longer cut, bending around into the flesh of her feet, and her teeth became discolored due to chronic smoking.

When Wanrong was mentally lucid she is said to have cried and cursed her father, accusing him of ruining her life.

Wanrong was so isolated in the last years of her life that Puyi's concubine, Li Yuqin, who arrived in 1943, only saw her face during the collapse of the regime in 1945.

Wanrong left behind Wanrong, his concubine Li Yuqin, and other imperial household members in Dalizi.

Soviet soldiers quickly arrived in Dalizi and came into contact with Wanrong's entourage, telling Prince Pujian, a relative of Puyi's, that they had come to liberate Northeast China as well as asking to see the Empress.

The officers briefly met Li Yuqin and Wanrong before departing, leaving the group undetained.

On one occasion, Li Yuqin went to see Wanrong who reached out her thin arm, making a wave to sit on her bedside.

Li Yuqin, Puyi's concubine, was later taken back by her family, but Wanrong had no place to settle down, as her father was in prison and her brother had abandoned her.

Wanrong had no choice but to move around with the army.

The general hatred for Puyi meant few had any sympathy for Wanrong, who was seen as another Japanese collaborator, and a guard told Lady Saga "this one won't last," making it a waste of time feeding her.

Wanrong was unable to walk and the man in charge of the prison said it would be best to leave Wanrong, in case she died on the way.

Wanrong died at the age of 39 on 20 June 1946 in Yanji, Jilin province, from the effects of malnutrition and opium withdrawal in a pool of her own bodily fluids.

Wanrong was buried still alive, because the guards were not aware she was still breathing.

Wanrong attached great significance to her position as Empress and she was therefore willing to be a wife in name only.

Wanrong wrote a song called "Paper Kite" between 1922 and 1924.

Wanrong was portrayed by Joan Chen in Bernardo Bertolucci's 1987 film The Last Emperor.