13 Facts About Zaitao

Zaitao, courtesy name Shuyuan, art name Yeyun, was a Manchu prince of the Qing dynasty.

Zaitao was a half-brother of the Guangxu Emperor and an uncle of Puyi, the last Emperor of China.

Zaitao was born in the Manchu Aisin Gioro clan as the seventh son of Yixuan.

Zaitao's family was under the Plain Red Banner of the Eight Banners.

Zaitao was adopted by an older male relative, Yimo, who had no son to succeed him.

In 1890, during the reign of the Guangxu Emperor, Zaitao was granted the title of a second class.

In 1898, Zaitao was transferred from Yimo's lineage to the lineage of Yihe, Prince Zhong of the Second Rank, as Yihe's adopted son because Yihe had no son to succeed him.

In 1911, Zaitao was appointed as the Minister of the Military Consultancy and placed in charge of the Imperial Guard, as well as being appointed as chief of general staff.

Zaitao was designated as the commander of the Mongol Bordered Yellow Banner.

In 1917, when the warlord Zhang Xun briefly restored Puyi to the throne, Zaitao was appointed as the Commanding Officer of the Imperial Guards.

In 1931, Zaitao was recruited by the Nationalist Government of the Republic of China to join the National Crisis Conference.

Zaitao was trained in both long and short range types of performing martial arts, and specialised in playing monkey roles in opera.

Zaitao was tutored by Yang Xiaolou and Zhang Qilin.