The movie The Last Emperor begins with an almost three year old Puyi taking the throne after the death of Empress Dowager. Puyi is a young child who really could not rule the country by himself, as is evident in the opening scenes where the young child interrupts a ceremony. A few of the items in the movie that show Confucian tradition really stand out. For one, when Puyi’s brother was visiting the Forbidden City, Puyi got upset that his brother was wearing the traditional imperial yellow which only the emperor was allowed to wear. Another tradition which was evident was the fact that Puyi had an arranged marriage to a woman from a well off family.
The revolutionary tradition of China is accurately portrayed in the film. During one scene, when Reginald is coming to the Forbidden City, their car is surrounded by revolutionaries gathering outside the walls of the Forbidden City. Another good example of the revolutionary tradition is the fact that shortly after Puyi became emperor, the government was changed to a Republic. The government in China changed many times over the course of Puyi’s life, including the eventually takeover by the Communists. The film seems to accurately portray the Confucian and revolutionary traditions in China.
The film portrays Puyi in many different ways, although the most evident way is that of a fool. Puyi began his life as emperor believing that he was in complete control of all of China. This was not the case several years into Puyi’s term as emperor. Despite the fact that he was a young child, Puyi thought he ruled over all of China even though he really didn’t make any decisions. Later in the movie, Puyi discovers that he is in fact only emperor within the walls of the Forbidden City. China at the time was being ruled by President Yuan Shih-kai, as they had become a republic. This is not the only way, however, that Puyi could be seen as a fool. While Puyi was no longer in any power, he spent his time at the Forbidden City until eventually being chased out by warlord Feng Yuxiang and being stripped of his imperial title.
Puyi was chased out of the Forbidden City and eventually fled to Japan. When Japan took over Manchuria and renamed it Manchukuo, Puyi was their choice for new emperor. This is where it can be argued that Puyi was more than just a fool. A very strong argument can be made that Puyi was nothing more than a puppet to the Japanese. The Japanese made many attempts originally to offer to Puyi help in regaining his throne in China, which he always refused. It was evident from the beginning of his relationship with the Japanese that he would have very little say in controlling Manchukuo.
Puyi never seemed satisfied with his role as emperor of Manchukuo. He wanted to be the emperor of all of China once again. Japan watched over Puyi closely the entire time he was ruler of the nation. They often made suggestions to him that were more like orders. Puyi, in fact, did not have all that much power in Manchukuo. His existence was basically to sign laws that the Japanese created and to serve as the figure head for Japanese propaganda. The most glaring example of the control the Japanese had over Puyi was towards the end of the movie, when a newsreel showed the war crimes that were occurring in Manchukuo that Puyi had no idea about. The Japanese had been doing horrible things to the people of Manchukuo, without even consulting or informing the emperor Puyi that they were doing so.
Puyi was not just a puppet of the Japanese; however, he was a puppet of the Chinese originally. When he came into power, he was only two years old, not nearly capable enough to be the emperor of an entire country. Puyi was used to show that they imperial throne was being passed on to the next kin of the dead emperor. This in a way displayed the traditions of the Chinese, passing the rule down to the next male of the family. Puyi was allowed to live in the Forbidden City while Yuan Shih-kai ended up ruling the country. Puyi was completely used by the Chinese imperial government and was definitely their puppet. At one point in the movie, Puyi even acknowledges his lack of power by saying, “I am not a gentleman, I am not allowed to say what I mean. They are always telling me what to say.”
While emperor Puyi never really had any power in his entire life as a leader, he still managed to have an impact on China. The film seemed to accurately portray the life of Puyi, and in doing so showed the Confucian and revolutionary traditions that China held so dear. Even though Puyi was his entire life both a fool and a puppet, he still was an emperor and a leader for China and Manchukuo. Puyi will always be remembered through this film and through his distinction as the last emperor of China.
