Summary of The Ching Imperial House Descendancy 1559 AD

Life 1871 - 1908 AD

Reign 1875 - 1908 AD , Name of Reign GuangXu

Dezong (Aisin-Gioro) Tsai Tien, Name as Emperor Kuang Hsu (Guangxu)

Achievements : Dezong Tsia Tien was a good solution to Cixi- and the Dynasties' problem as he was the Son of Prince Chun, Cixi's secret love, and her only Sister.

Through her lifelong alliance with Chun Cixi would even gain in Power. Thus it was decided that Tsia Tien should be Crown Prince.

Cixi's plan to make her 4 year old Nephew Emperor had been opposed by many Officials and Ministers as this was obviously not what the country (and Dynasty!) in it's dire crisis needed. Furthermore, it was obvious Cixi was merely trying to retain Power through crowning a close family member who was as yet unable to Reign by himself. Powers would again automatically befall Hsu Tzi (Cixi) and there was no remaining Empress-Widow this time around.

As Cixi was a lethal opponent, all dissident Ministers and Officials were flogged, tortured and killed and Cixi, as usual, went ahead with her scheme. Cixi remained in Power and a period of rest settled in at the Court, extending the so called reign behind the curtain.

During a Reign behind a Curtain, normally, the Empress-Dowagers of the East and West, both together would help the Emperor Reign, therein helped by the 8 Ministers of the Cabinet. The Empress-Dowagers were thus seated on Thrones behind a Curtain, placed invisibly in earshot of the Young Emperor seated on the Throne.

In this case however Hsu Tzi (Cixi, who was already well-established as the real Power at Court, took Court matters solidly and visibly into her own hands. In these years Hsu Tzi would be seated on a higher Throne behind the Emperor and would be clearly visible through a thin curtain only.

Life 1906 - 1967 AD

Reign December 2 , 1908 - February 2 , 1912 AD

(Aisin-Gioro) Pu Yi , Name as Emperor Hsuan Tung (Xuan Tong) , later Kang Te (Manchukuo) + President and in his own view "Emperor" of Manchukuo, a Japanese Puppet State during World War II.

Legacy as a Japanese-Chinese War Criminal. Flight to Korea, final abdication as Emperor and capture by Soviet Forces in Korea in 1945 AD. Imprissoned by Russia 1945 AD - 1950 AD. Extradition by Russia to China in 1950 AD (July 31). Imprisoned in China at Fushun Prison, Shenyang, in current day Liaoning Province, as a War-Criminal. Granted a Special Pardon by Communist Party Congress 1959 AD. Pu Yi was first assigned a job at the Beijing Botanical Gardens and later joined the Historical Material Commission of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Consultative Conference as literary and historical worker.

In this considerable position he was given a chance to record and pass on his special knowledge of the later Ching Dynasty, it's Arts, literature and Cultural Achievements.

Achievements: Surviving all and living his twilight

days as a regular Citizen of China. Married for Love. Contributing his personal knowledge as

Emperor to history through the Historical Material Commission and his (ghost-written) autobiography

"From Emperor to Citizen".

Death October 16, 1967 AD in Beijing. Succession : None.

The Ching Origins and short History

The origins of the Ching House, the Dynasty , lie in the North of China in Manchuria. As such, the Qing Dynasty stems from one of China's 56 Ethnic Minority groups, as did the Earlier Yuan Dynasty. The Yuan Dynasty originated from the Nomadic Tribes of Mongolia ( united in earlier Time by the infamous Dhenghis Khan ). The Ming Dynasty that removed the Yuan was a native Han Dynasty. The Manchu Ching who dethroned the Han Ming were a Tungusic people who by their conquest of China would become assimilated into the huge country and culture.

As is common in Chinese history, rulers would first take over part of the huge country. Then, from that powerbase, they would strive to conquer and sometimes really finally conquer China. So did the Ching Princes of the North.

First capturing their Capital at the City of Shenyang in Manchuria (Manchukuo in Chinese ( now Liaoning Province ), they then went on to capture the Provinces of Shandong and Inner Mongolia. Having surrounded the North China plain and the declining Ming Dynasty, the chance for a final move came for the Ching when a Bandit uprising overwhelmed Beijing forcing the existent Last Ming Emperor Chong Zhen (Chen Chun) to kill himself at Jingshan. With the country in Chaos the Manchurians -already poised to strike- moved in, welcomed by the common people and establishing an Empire that would last for 455 Years ,

counting 11 Emperors.

The Ching Dynasty ended with the 1911/1912 Revolution and

the establishment of the first Republic of China under

Dr. Sun-Yat-Sen, leaving Last Ching Emperor Pu Yi with a

contract ( the 5 edicts of preferential treatment ) that

guaranteed he could remain seated and housed at The

Imperial Palace ( Gugong) , to live out his remaining days in

Imperial dignity. Republic of China officials would occupy the

front Half of the Imperial Palace ( Harmony Square,

Zhonghedian, Baohedian) for official Governement purposes.

The rest of the Palace remained home to the Emperor Pu Yi' ,

the Empress-Dowagers, the Imperial Advisors and a large group

of Imperial Eunuchs. Emperor Pu Yi' and staff would remain in the Palace untill the Year 1926, in the faint hope of one day reviving and restoring the Ching Dynasty to it's former Glory. Living under considerable stress and constant fear of ejection or worse: assasination by one of the Civil War's many generals and players, Pu Yi' finally left the Palace in 1924 AD (According to "From Emperor to Citizen" it was 1926). As described in his autobiography , circumstance left Pu Yi' (Hsuan Tung ) with no other option to Flee to the Japanese Embassy located in the infamous Foreign Legation Quarter (near Qianmen, directly south-east of Tian An Men Square) as no other Foreign Legation would grant him asylum at that Time.

From then-on Emperor Hsuan Tung / Pu Yi' would effectively be a Japanese prisoner, much against his own will. Having been led to believe that he would be crowned Emperor once more in the North, China's last Emperor was whisked away by Japanese Agents onboard a train to Tianjin and from there to the Northern Province of Manchukuo (then occupied by Japanese Forces), obviously for safe-keeping. In Manchukuo, Pu Yi' was not crowned Emperor at all, much to his disappointment and anger, but forced to become President of the Republic of Manchukuo, leaving him as a Powerless ruler once more. The real power would reside in the Hands of Japanese Generals, directly appointed by the Japanese Emperor. Pu Yi' would remain a Japanese stooge president untill the end of World War 2. After the defeat of Japan and at the end of World War II, Pu Yi' was captured in Mukden (Shenyang) on his escape to Korea by Russian Forces entering China and Manchukuo from the North and East. Much later, after some years imprisonment in Russia, Pu Yi was extradited to China in 1950 where he was to face punishment for being a notorious and high ranking Japanese-Chinese War Criminal. After his " reformation" and confessions to all War Crimes while imprisoned , Pu Yi' was finally pardonned by the ruling Communist Party Congress in 1965 AD, finally giving him the chance to live a normal life as a Chinese Citizen.

Having left no sons, but having remarried ( this time for love ) , the Death of Pu Yi' ended all ( theoretical ) possibilities of a return of the Ching Dynasty.

Life 1654 - 1722 AD

Reign 1661 - 1722 AD Reign Period Name KangXi

Shengzu (Aisin-Gioro) Hsuan Yeh, Name as Emperor Kang Hsi

Kang Hsi ascended the Dragon Throne on January 7Th 1661 AD, the day his Father Died.

His early Reign was influenced by 4 Regent-Generals of whom one, General Aobai, attempted

to concentrate all decision power in himself.

At Age 14 Kang Hsi decided to take reign and power himself, tricked Aobai into believing his young imperial incompetence and had the General arrested. There is no further mention of General Aobai.

Achievements : Longest reigning Emperor in the History of China with 61 years. Proud of Manchu ancestry and tradition. Greatest Miltairy Leader, taking on the "Three Feudatories" (1673 AD - 1681 AD)(a chinese Civil War caused by misjudgement of the situation by the Emperor himself according to Kangxi) , re-conquering Taiwan (1683 AD) from Warlord Zheng Keshuang (Son of Original conquering Ching General) and unifying China once more. Defeat of Russians at the Kerulan River (1685 AD) now still the border of HeilongJiang Province , fixing the part of eurasia south of the river Kerulan for China. Inclusion of Mongolia as a chinese protectorate, a very diplomatic and strategic manouver by Kang Hsi making possible further expansions of Chinese Empire towards the West and North-West defeating Mongol and Turkish Tribes (1890's)(now minorities of China). Most influencial statesman-Emperor of the later Feudal-Chinese History.

Life 1678 - 1735 AD

Reign 1723 - 1735 AD

Shizong (Aisin-Gioro) Yin Chen , Name as Emperor Yung Cheng (YongZheng)

Yong Zheng descended the Throne on the day his Father Kang Hsi died in 1722 AD. An intelligent Man and shrewd political strategist and plotter, in the aftermath of the fight for the Succession, Yong Zheng had his 35 brothers killed, jailed, expelled or otherwise eliminated, thus solidifying his Rule over The Ching Empire. General Longkeduo was placed under House Arrest to keep him from "spilling the beans" on the conspiracy. Yong Zheng was an extra-ordinarily cruel Person and is said to have devised a sadistic execution instrument himself. But not only to his brothers was Emperor Yong Zheng a vicious adversary. In order to further strengthen his dictatorship he established his own Secret Police Force, with powers overriding those of Cabinet members, to keep an eye on his Ministers. The Secret Police also continuously kept watch over the Leaders of the 8 Manchu Banners, the Dynasties' Military Apparatus, weakening their positions. The many searches of Officials' Estates and confiscations of properties of those that had fallen into

disgrace, earned Emperor Yong Zheng the nickname of "House-searching Emperor".

Achievements : In spite, or better - probably because- of his vicious personal nature and manners Yong Zheng was a succesful Emperor. Continuing to strenghten the Ching Empire enlarged under Kang Hsi, Yong Zheng put down several revolting border regions, subduing them to Chinese Dynastic will once more. Due to a Empire wide-tax reform relating the levying of taxes to the amount of land owned, the burden on the majority of the population of small farmers was greatly reduced. The economy of the Chinese Empire grew rapidly during Yong Zheng's reign.

Death & Succession: Having ingnored his own father's wishes and worst fears on his succession, Yong Zheng tried to avoid an unwelcome Power Struggle and bloodshed after his own Death. He therefor chose a successor from his sons without consulting them or his ministers-of-the-cabinet, thereby avoiding the clique politics,plots, intrigue and paranoia that occured under Emperor Kang Xi. After his choice he wrote the name on the successor on not one, but on two papers, hiding one and keeping the other. After Yong Zheng's death the Chief Eunuch was to collect the hidden paper and compare it to the note to be found on the dead Emperors' body. This strategy was Effective and so introduced a system of secretely naming

( chosing ) the Crown Prince.

Life 1707 - 1799 AD

Reign 1735 - 1796 AD , Name of Reign Period : QianLong

GaoZhong (Aisin-Gioro) Hung Li, Name as Emperor Chien Lung (Qianlong)

After Emperor Yong Zheng died the Chief Eunuch collected the two notes with the name of the successor and it was announced that the 4Th Son, Hung Li would rise to the Throne to become Emperor. Hung Li was crowned Emperor QianLong within a month of his Fathers death, reflecting the utter stability at the top of the Ching Dynasty, a legacy of his Fathers' that Qianlong would honor.

Achievements : Largest size of Chinese Empire. Building on the Harsh traditions of his Ancestors and pre-decessors Qianlong continued a strong reign cracking down on border rebellions, expanding the Empire and strengthening its unity. After his Grandfather the Great Kang Xi had added the Northern Regions of Jilin and Heilonjiang beyond Manchuria, defeating the Russians, it would be untill the Reign of Qianlong that the West and Far West saw large Campaigns from the Ching Imperial Armies.

First up were the remaining Mongol Tribes of current day Mongolia, who were quickly subdued adding Inner-Mongolia and the current day Socialist Republic of Mongolia to the List of Chinese Tributary States.

Then came to planned conquest of the remaining Territories of todays Xinjiang-Uygur Autonomous Region in the West, adding them as the Western "Protectorate" under the Ching Dynasty Rule. This completed a strategic Plan to regain the Empire roughly along the Lines of the ancient Han and Tang Dynasty conquest (although both of the Ancient Dynasties invaded far into Central Asia as far as the Aral Sea, the Great Wall of the Tang Dynasty extended only to near Kashgar in Xinjiang Province protecting the Silk Road.).

The Strategic Conquest however, was not entirely completed. The Chinese flanks in Xinjiang were dangerously exposed to arriving and invading Russians in the North and the British Colonial Indians to the South. Furthermore, the Himalayan Mountain Kingdom of Tibet had important and longstanding Trading and Cultural Ties withe Han Chinese Culture, the Tribes of Mongolia and even Manchuria. The 5Th Dalai Lama had payed a court visit to Beijing under the 1st True Ching Emperor Shunzi (1652 AD). The Tibetan Lamaist Faith was shared among the Peoples of Tibet, the Qinghai Plateau, Mongolia and Inner-Mongolia and even Manchuria.

Tibetan-Lamaism was the State Religion of the Manchu Ching. Tibetans were among the Five Major Ethnic Groups of the Ching Empire and Tibet too was threatened by the Russian & Indian Armies. It chose for a compromise.

In 1751 AD the Lamaist Kingdom of Tibet relinquished ultimate Sovreignty to the Manchu Ching Empire, in favor of encroaching others. Although Kings withing their own Territory, the Lama's would henceforth receive their Recognition of their Titles as Religious Kings from the Chinese Emperor.

His cruel punishments to traitors, critics and unlucky officials kept opposition to his Policy at an absolute minimum.

In 1757 AD Qianlong ordered all Foreign Trade (with the encroaching Europeans) to move exclusively through designated parts of Canton (now GuangZhou in Guangdong Province) in South China (Macao was earlier seized by the Portugese) while banning permanent foreign residency. Thus all possibilities of free foreign trade with the Chinese Market were eliminated for the time being , a fact much to the dislike of the arriving European nations. Near the end of his reign in 1793 AD, Qianlong was once more confronted with a British Emmissary (the Earl Macartney) , one who came to ask favors but refused to Kowtow to the Emperor. This incident would prove a strong forebode of what was to come for China.

Qianlong was a talented man of many literary accomplishments, a talented Caligrapher, devout Buddhist and Poet.

Many or his works can be found decorating stele's at Yong An Temple at Beihai Park, the Ming Tombs, the Imperial Palace and other Ching Dynasty Monuments.

Death & Succession : Qianlong was the only Chinese Emperor to abdicate his throne while still alive. After reigning for 60 years, only one year less than his Grandfather Kang Hsi and out of respect for this great ancestor, he named his Son Yung Yen Emperor, and retired officially from active service. In reality however, he would still be the Power behind the Throne untill his death in 1796 AD. Now former Emperor Qianlong would spend his remaining days living at the especially decorated "1000 Autumns Pavilion" within The Palace of Peaceful Old Age and Gardens in the North-Eastern Section of the Imperial Palace. The 1000 Autumns Pavilion at the Palace of Peaceful Old Age is one of the Palaces Foremost Treasures with its art and artifacts untill very recently still in stage of discovery (August 2005).

Life 1760 - 1820 AD

Reign 1796 - 1820 AD, Name of Reign Period : ChiaChing

Renzong (Aisin-Gioro) Yung Yen, Name as Emperor Chia Ching (Jia Jing)

Ascending the Throne in 1796 AD, but only really coming to Power at Age 39, Chia Ching was eager to take action. Immediatly after the Death of his Father Qianlong, He Shen, Qianlong's Favorite Minister, was arrested on orders of the new Emperor. Subsequently the search of He Shen's large estate and propreties by Imperial Troops turned up a staggering one billion taels of Silver in items. He Shen proved to be the greatest and worst embezzler in Imperial History, taking an equivalent of 20 years of national income of the Ching Dynasty. All of He Shen's property was confiscated and transferred to the Emperor. He Shen was executed two weeks after his initial arrest. His Court Associates and Power-Clique were utterly eliminated and replaced by worthy Officials who had been blocked by He Shen and his Clique.

Achievements : Due to reasons partially outside his influence and bad corruption the Ching Dynasty started its decline during the reign of Chia Ching. Heavy corruption, natural disasters and Revolts increasingly plagued the country side. Since 1780 AD european traders had been ferrying opium into China increasingly undermining society and economy. A system with bankrupt chinese peasants losing their land in a bad economy, accumulating land in hands of corrupt money-lenders and land-owners worked against him. Thus, peasant uprisings became increasingly frequent in China. One day, February 20Th 1803, the peasant Chen De slipped in through The Forbidden Cities' Shunzen Gate (Shunzhen Gate is located immediatly inside ShenWumen the North Gate of Divine Militairy Prowess the gate nearest the Imperial Quarters, there are 4 gates xihuamen=west, donghuamen=east, shenwumen=north and wumen=south See Map.) and attempted to Assassinate the Emperor. The attempt, however, failed.

As his greatest success Chia Ching banned the use and import of Opium, believing it to be a mental and social poison of the worst kind. Opium smokers were persucuted and trade was severely diminished.

Death & Succession : While out hunting on the high grounds near Chengde Imperial Summer Mountain Retreat, Chia Ching suddenly fell ill. He never recovered from his sickbed. Summoning all the cabinets Ministers he instructed them that he had chosen his 4Th Son, Min Ning, who was present, to be Crown Prince and become the next Emperor. Chai Ching died on July 25Th 1820 AD at the Chengde Palace Resort.

Life 1782 - 1850 AD

Reign 1820 - 1850 AD , Name of Reign Period : Dao Guang

XuanZhong (Aisin-Gioro) Min Ning, Name as Emperor Dao Guang (Tao Kuang)

Achievements : During the reign of Dao Guang European and other Foreign Powers increasingly pressured the Chinese Governement. The Ching Dynasty generally ignored the Foreigners demand for trade and rights, viewing their Culture as inferior to their own. The Trade in Opium particularly was unwanted and an eye-sore to the Emperor.

Meanwhile the Chinese Economy was prospering in a lively internal as well as external market doing especially good business with Russia on the Tea Road, opened by the 1727 Cakurtu Treaty. As one result the Year 1828 saw the invention and opening of the First Draft Bank in China, the RiShengChang of Pingyao, giving a new boost to the chinese economy by greatly facilitating business and the circulation of money in the feudal chinese society. China had a large imbalance of Trade with Foreign Nations and saw a large increase in revenue's from Trade. The main problem of Feudal Society was however the lack of mechanisms to distribute the newfound wealth among its citizens, leaving money and capital mainly in the hands of officials, and in the Ching Dynasty increasingly in the hands of but a few wealthy merchant families. The ordinary citizen therefor, although the Nation was prospering, would still remain likely poor.

The Ching Dynasty failed to understand both the Threat posed by- and opportunities offered by- the Foreigners. Things started warming up when China launched a severe anti-opium program against foreign traders in Canton, seizing and destroying 20.000 chests of Opium. After the chinese let the traders go they sent a letter to Queen Victoria questioning the morality of the British and their Opium Trade. Queen Victoria, always an Iron Lady, responded unsubtly with force and sent British Gunboats to China. By 1840 AD the First "Opium War" between China and the British was a fact. The Chinese, loosing the conflict in 1842 AD, outgunned by superior industrial age weaponry, were forced to sign the humiliating Nanking Treaty which stated that 5 "treaty ports " Canton, Amoy, Foochow, Ningpo and Shanghai were to be opened by the chinese for trade, effecting a de facto opening of the Chinese Economy under special rights. Thus, under the right afforded by the Gun Hong Kong was also ceded by China and developped as a (British) colony.

Not even 20 years later, in 1860 AD the British forced a final way into Chinese Territory, trade and economy, defeating obsolete Imperial Ching Troups with superior western weapons in the 2nd Opium Wars. Rendered utterly powerless, China was forced to cede Territory, offer "extra-territorial rights" to Foreigners and pay indemnities. Shanghai was declared an International City and became Britain's largest settlement in China, after which it was free for all for French, British, Germans, Americans, Dutch and soon the Japanese, alike to exploit the Chinese Nation. China was deminished to a semi-Colony, losing sovereignty over large area's of territory and in the following years, most of its own economy. The Emperor (by then Hsien Feng) was left a toothless Dragon that fled Beijing in Panic and Defeat.

The second Opium War (or Arrow War) helped establish firm ground for western Companies in the new market of China and allowed for the efficient and legal exportation of Capital and Goods from the West into Asia and China. Although extorted, China finally allowed the legal doing of business in China, which ensured westerner financiers of a lions share in the wealth resulting from future developments of the continent as well as a large new market for western industrial products. The extortion consisted of indemnity payments for war and protest, manipulation of contracts and the further embezzlment and pillaging of raw materials from China for use in western factories.

The Traditional Chinese Economy, prospering through 300 years of successes, was in for a hard landing.

Death & Succession : According to Chinese History DaoGuang had difficulty chosing between his 4th Son Yi Zhu and his 6th Son Yi Xin, as his successor. It is said that Yi Tzú's Tutor and Mentor, Dou Shoutian, gave him instructions. On their hunting trip he was not to participate actively in any way. Yi Tzu obeyed this advice. Subsequently confronted by The Emperor on his seemingly anti-social behavior in not participating in the group hunt, Yi Tzu proclaimed he could not possibly shoot and kill the pregnant animals of the spring Forrest. Besides, he added, he did not want to compete with his brothers. Thus showing himself a kind Buddhist, the delighted Emperor Dao Guang recognized in his 4th Son a kind benevolent and generous heart. In the end Yi Zhu, the 4th Son, was named Crown Prince on the "secret" note to be opened after the Emperor's death. Emperor Dao Guang died in the first Lunar Month of 1850 AD (February/March).

Life 1856 - 1874 AD

Reign 1862 - 1874 AD , Name of Reign Period QiXiang , later renamed TongZhi

Muzong (Aisin-Gioro) Tsai Chun, Name as Emperor Tung Chi (Tong Zhi)

The four year old Crown Prince Tsai Chun was the first son of Emperor Hsien-Feng and Hsu-Tzi (Yehonella/Yehenara), the later Empress Dowager "Cixi The Dragon Lady". Hsien Feng's faithful death-bed decision to appoint a son of Hsu-Tzi Crown Prince, and thus Emperor would prove to have dire far-reaching consequences for China. Tsai Chun was crowned Emperor QiXiang shortly after his father's death in July 1861 AD.

Achievements : None. First of All the Reign of Tai Chun as Emperor was only nominal with the Empress-Dowager Hsu-Tzi holding the Reigns of Power. Secondly, the Young Tongzhi Emperor would go down in history as "The Playboy Emperor", a title aquired throughhis lifelong pursuit of pleasure and women. Tai Chun was a weakling even as a "Fake Emperor" and had no ambitions that would benifit the Nation.

The First Opium War and a fresh Rebellion, the TaiPing Rebellion had cut communications across the Empire and had left the economy in tatters. Shortages abounded in the country-side reinforcing the TaiPing Rebellion and a general mood of political upheaval and awareness.

In the last years of Hsien Feng's reign a mystical sect-like movement seeking the land of "TaiPing = God's Kingdom", on earth, was spreading fast throughout the land. Just before the death of Hsien Feng the "Taiping Revolution" broke out, taking vast pieces of Ching Territory and undermining Emperor Hsien Feng's already deteriorating health. Since the "Taiping" revolt was

After the Ching House made Beijing its Capital City and

a Dynasty was Established ( 1644 AD )

Life 1638 - 1661 AD

Reign 1643 - 1661 AD , Reign Period Name Shunzhi

Shi Tzu (Aisin-Gioro) Fu Lin , Name as Emperor Shun Tzi

9 Th Son of Emperor/Prince Tsung Teh = Huang TaiChi. Fu Lin

ascended The Throne at Age 6 years , in August 1643 AD, on the Day

his father Huang TaiChi died. The First Ching Emperor to be seated on

The Dragon Throne at the Hall of Supreme Harmony, Forbidden City

(Palace) in Beijing. Uncle General Dorgon, the main force in the

Manchu breakthrough to Beijing establishing the Manchu Capital

there in 1644 AD, remains Prince Regent untill his death in 1661.

Fu Lin , Emperor Shun Tzi, becomes Head of Governement

in 1661 AD. Later Fu Lin Emperor Shun Tzi learned of his Prince Regents'

attempts to concentrate all Powers in himself, with ambition to be Emperor Dorgon.

Dorgon's remains were exhumed and publicly flogged, Dorgons family was disowned and

punished, leaving the Young Ching Emperor determined to keep firm control of Power.

Achievements: The Reign of Shun Tzi was a prosperous one. The Emperor lowered taxes and stimulated agriculture. Shi Tzu's ardent battle with corrupt Dynastic Oficials (one main reason for his ancestors Revolt against the Ming Dynasty) left many of them Dead and production levels restored. The Ching Dynasty was stabilized.

In 1636 AD an early British expedition (John Weddell) was dispatched to China to investigate possibilities of trade with China and reached Canton in spite of Portugese resistance. Dutch V.O.C. trading ships also appeared in the South China Sea.

In 1652 AD, the 5Th Dalai Lama Religious King of the Lamaist-Buddhist Kingdom of Tibet visited the Shunzi Emperor at his Court in Beijing after multiple earlier invitations (it was quite the journey back then). The 5Th Dalai Lama stayed at Court in Beijing for two Months, teaching in Lamaist-Buddhism and Establishing close and warm Relations with the Manchu Ching, who were themselves followers of Tibetan Lamaist-Buddhism. The Tibetans were among the Five Main Ethnic Minorties of the Ching Empire and their country was a vital trading partner as well as a strategic region in the the Western Territories of China and Borders. To illustrate the great importance of the visit of the Tibetan Lama King over for instance the European visits, in advance of the arrival of the Dalai Lama in Beijing, a gigantic White Marble Dagoba was constructed within the Imperial Pleasure Park of Beihai, in clear sight of the Entire City and Imperial Palace Grounds. It still stands Today as a lasting Monument to the eventful visit.

Death & Succession : There is a persistent Rumor about the End of Shun Tzi's Reign. Officially he died on January 7, 1661 AD. However, court documents in the Imperial Library report Shun Tzi attended Court on January 6Th , 1661 as usual and healthy. The rumor holds that Shun Tzi, after the 1661 AD Death of his Favorite Concubine Dong Eshi (by the way his sister-in-law), was so beset with grief that he renounced his Imperial Throne, moved to the Sacred Area of Mount Wutai (In North Shanxi Province), and became a Buddhist Monk. Rumor holds that his Son and Successor Kang Hsi even visited Shun Tzi (now Monk XingChi) at the Mountain. However, experts do not accept this as fact.

Death & Succession : Emperor Hsien Feng was married to Empress Niuhulu, with the two having 1 young son.

After the death of Hsien Feng at age 31 , leaving his chosen son and Crown Prince WenZhong (Tai Chun) too young as a

heir, Empress Niuhulu became the Eastern Dowager Tsu An by Imperial Decree (issued shortly before death). Hsien

Feng's "Secondary Consort" Tzu Hsi (also known as Cixi the Dragon lady) became Western Empress Dowager. Both

Dowagers were supposed to be supported by an 8 member Imperial Staff of Advisors, all with the aim of raising the Young

Son of Hsien Feng and Tsu Ann to be the Mature Emperor of China.

As Tzu Hsi was a vicious Lady who carried a strong hatred against the Empress for having been preferred by

Hsien Feng over her and as Hsu Tsi was much more interested in power & politics soon there was trouble.

Cixi went to work on overthrowing the Empress' and Imperial Advisor power. First joining hands with

Yi Xin, a man grown powerful by selling out his own country, and later Sheng Bao the army chief,

she then had Empress Niuhulu abducted and cruely dismembered ( After which she was moulded alive into a Ceramic Jar and kept as an ornament in the Summer Palace ). Cleverly using her Imperial Degree to

dismiss and punish the Imperial Advisors for daring to stand up to her Cixi completed her Coup. Many, if

not all advisors, were tortured and killed. With this Hsu Tsi gained dominance over the Chinese Imperial

Hierarchy and Court, leaving her to instruct Young Emperor Tsai Chun, dominate the matters of the

declining Ching Court for Years with disastrous results, and later arrange a number of stooge successions

( Reign behind the Curtain ). Hsu Tsi ( Cixi ) finally died in 1908 AD, appointing Pu Yi' as Emperor shortly

before her death. Dead at The Hall of Mental Cultivation, Cixi would receive a Lavish State Funeral.

For her handling of affairs, her temper, cunning selfish intrique, vicious cruelty, extravagance and a strong personal responsibility in the dooming of China as a nation she would be remembered as Cixi The Dragon

Lady, China's most hated and notorious Feudal Lady.

Tsu An (Niuhulu) had died 1881 AD much before Tzu Hsi, succumbing to the savage cruelties of power-

craving Cixi.