CHINA
The Manchu Dynasty
(Ta Ch'ing Ch'ao )
1875 - 1908 H.I.M. Emperor Kuang-hsü [Tê Tsung Ching Huang Ti] [T'ung T'ien Ch'ung Yün Ta Chung Chih Chêng Ching Wên Wei Wu Jên Hsiao Jui chih Tuan Chien K'uan Ch'in Ching], Great Emperor of the Great Ching Dynasty, Son of Heaven, Lord of Myriad Years, etc. b. at the Taiping-hu Mansion, Peking 2nd August 1872, son of General H.I.H. Prince Yi-huan [Hsien], 1st Prince Ch'un, and adopted son of H.I.M. Emperor Tung-chih, educ. privately. Granted the rank of a first grade official 1873, rcvd. the peacock feather and prom. to the rank of Fêng Ên Fu Kuo Kung 1874. Chosen by the Dowager Empress to succeeded on the death of his adopted brother, 12th January 1875. Proclaimed, 13th January 1875. Installed on the throne of his ancestors, 25th February 1875. Reigned under the regency of the Grand Empress Dowager Tzu Hsi until he came of age and assumed full ruling powers, 4th March 1889. Instigated a number of reforms, which were opposed by the Grand Empress Dowager, who eventually succeeded in engineering a coup d'état forcing him into confinement, 21st September 1898. Imprisoned in the Yü-lan T'ang within the grounds of the Summer Palace, his private rooms being walled-off from views of the surrounding lake and gardens. Rcvd: Knt. of the Order of the Black Eagle of Prussia in brilliants (28.6.1898), the Collar of the Supreme Order of the Chrysanthemum of Japan, and GC of the Orders of Kamehameha I of Hawaii (1882), Red Eagle of Prussia in brilliants (28.6.1898), etc. m. (first) at the Imperial Palace, Forbidden City, Peking, 26th February 1889, H.I.M. Dowager Empress Lung Yu [Hsiao Ting] (b. 1868; d.s.p. at the Forbidden City, Peking, 22nd February 1913, bur. Ch'ung-ling Mausoleum, Hebei), granted the rank of Empress with the title of Hsiao Tang Huang Hou with the style of Her Imperial Majesty 26th February 1889, and became Dowager Empress with the title of Lung Yu Huang T'ai Hou 13th November 1908, Regent for her adopted son 6th December 1911 to 12th February 1912, daughter of General H.E. Kuei-hsiang, a Duke of the third grade, of the Ye'honala clan, Dep. C-in-C, and niece of the Grand Empress Dowager T'zu Hsi. m. (second) at Peking, 25th February 1889, Tuan-k'ang Huang Kuei T'ai Fei [Wenching] [Chang Chin] (b. 1874; d.s.p. at the Yug Ho Palace, in the Forbidden City, Peking, 20th October 1924, bur. Ch'ung-ling Mausoleum, Hebei), granted the titles of Chin Pin at her marriage in 1889, prom. to Chin Fei in 1894, to Tuan Chuang Huang Kuei Fei in 1913, to Huang Kuei T'ai Fei, 30th November 1922, and posthumously to Wenching, daughter of H.E. Chang-Tsu, of the Tatala clan, sometime Vice-Minister. m. (third) at Peking, 25th February 1889, K'o-shun Kuei Fei [Chang Chen] (b. 1876; k. on the orders of the Grand Empress Dowager by being thrown down a well behind the Ning-Shiu Palace, Forbidden City, Peking, 14th August 1900, bur. Ch'ung-ling Mausoleum, Hebei, 1913), granted the titles of Chen Fei at her marriage in 1889, prom. to Chen Hsien Fei in 1894, and posthumously raised to K'o-shun Huang Kuei Fei in 1901, sister of Chin Fei, and daughter of H.E. Chang-Tsu, of the Tatala clan, sometime Vice-Minister. He d.s.p. at the Yü-lan T'ang, the Garden of Harmonious Delight, in the grounds of the Summer Palace, Peking, 14th November 1908 (bur. Ch'ung-ling Mausoleum, Hebei).