11 Facts About Zaiyi

Zaiyi, better known by his title Prince Duan, was a Manchu prince and statesman of the late Qing dynasty.

Zaiyi was born in the Aisin Gioro clan as the second son of Yicong, the fifth son of the Daoguang Emperor.

Zaiyi's family was under the Bordered White Banner of the Eight Banners.

Zaiyi was adopted by his father's cousin, Yizhi, who had no son to inherit his Prince Rui peerage.

In 1861, Zaiyi was made a beile, before succeeding Yizhi as a junwang under the title "Prince Duan of the Second Rank" in 1894.

Zaiyi arranged a meeting between Empress Dowager Cixi and Boxer leader Cao Futian.

Zaiyi was in command of the Beijing Field Force against the forces of the Eight-Nation Alliance.

Zaiyi was regarded as a national hero by the ruling elite because of his aggressive anti-foreign stance.

Zaiyi refused to eat when a military officer threw a party for him in Western style.

Zaiyi became angry when he heard about his grandchildren riding in trains because he believed that trains were objects alien to China.

Zaiyi gave birth to Pujun, Prince Duan's second son.