 | This articleneeds additional citations forverification. Please helpimprove this article byadding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: "Museum of the Imperial Palace of Manchukuo" – news ·newspapers ·books ·scholar ·JSTOR(July 2014) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
TheMuseum of the Imperial Palace of Manchukuo (simplified Chinese:伪满皇宫博物院;traditional Chinese:偽滿皇宮博物院;pinyin:Wěi Mǎn Huánggōng Bówùyuàn;lit. 'The Illegitimate Manchukuo Imperial Palace Museum') is a museum in the northeastern corner ofChangchun,Jilin province,northeast China. The palace was the official residence created by theImperial Japanese Army for the lastEmperor of China,Puyi, to live in as part of his role asEmperor of theJapanesepuppet state ofManchukuo. In thePeople's Republic of China the structures are generally referred to as thePuppet Emperor's Palace & Exhibition Hall.[1][unreliable source?] It is classified as aAAAAA scenic area by theChina National Tourism Administration.[2]
In 1931, the Japanese took control of the north-east of China, the area of modern-day Liaoning, Jilin and Heilongjiang provinces, which were historically known asManchuria. The Japanese created an officially independent state in Manchuria which they namedManchukuo which was, in reality, apuppet state of Japan. In an attempt to lend legitimacy to Manchukuo, the Japanese installedPuyi, the deposedlast emperor ofQing dynasty China, asEmperor of Manchukuo.[3]
Puyi's role ashead of state was largely a symbolic one. The only item of state business he was allowed to control was the construction of a new palace. Two groups within the government put forward different plans. TheMantetsu wanted a modern palace design that integrated itself into the new city of Xinjing (modern-dayChangchun). The Construction Corps Bureau favoured a south-facing palace modelled after theForbidden City inBeijing.[4] Puyi favoured the latter. The site for the new palace was chosen in the western section of the city, and a different central area was picked for the construction of a temporary palace. The western site was soon abandoned leaving the central site as the main palace. However, with the onset ofWorld War II, resources for construction were diverted. Work on the palace was halted in 1943 and, as a result, the new palace was never completed.[4]
Without a proper palace, Puyi was accommodated instead in a building outside the urban area, near the railway lines. The building had previously been the offices of the Salt Gabelle,[5] lending the building the nickname of the "salt palace".[3] The building was unsuitable for its purpose, and was too small and cramped for the palace of a head of state. Puyi was resident there from 1932 to 1945.[4]
On 8 August 1945, the Soviet Union declared war on the Empire of Japan, and the Soviet Red Armyinvaded Manchuria from the north. In 12 days, the Red Army had overrun almost all of Manchukuo. The Japanese Empire surrendered unconditionally, ending World War II, and simultaneously Manchukuo ceased to exist.[6] Puyi fled the palace, attempting to reach Japan by plane, but was captured by the Soviets. The palace and surrounding city were looted.
In 1962, the preserved structures were opened as the Museum of the Imperial Palace of Manchukuo (simplified Chinese:伪满皇宫博物院; traditional Chinese:偽滿皇宮博物院). The exhibits were expanded with that of theJilin Provincial Museum in 1982,[7] and renovated in 1984. The entire complex was further renovated in 2004. The palace was the setting ofBernardo Bertolucci's 1987biographical film about Puyi,The Last Emperor, depicting Puyi's reign asEmperor of Manchukuo.
The ManchurianImperial Palace was designed as a miniature version of theForbidden City inBeijing. It was divided into an inner court and outer court. The outer or front court was used for administrative purposes and the inner or rear court as the royal residence. The palace covers an area of 43,000 square meters.
The inner court includes the private living quarters for Puyi and his family. Its main structures include the Jixi Building on the west courtyard and the Tongde Hall on the east courtyard. The outer court contained buildings for affairs of state. Its main buildings include the Qianmin Building, the Huanyuan Building and Jiale Hall. The architecture of the buildings is in a wide range of styles: Chinese, Japanese, and European.
Within the complex were gardens, includingrockeries and a fish pond, aswimming pool,air-raid shelter, atennis court, a smallgolf course and ahorse track.
Around the courtyards were nine two-storey blockhouses for theManchukuo Imperial Guard, and the entire complex was surrounded by highconcrete walls.
The Jixi Building (缉熙楼) was the Russian-style private living quarters for the Emperor and his immediate family. It contained Puyi's bedroom, reading room, the family hall,Buddhist chapel and the separate quarters for EmpressWanrong and theconcubineTan Yuling. Originally it was the office building of the Jilin-Heilongjiang Exclusive Transportation Bureau, and was built in the early 20th century.
The Tongde Hall (同德殿) is the largest and most impressive of the buildings in the palace, and has the most luxurious interior decoration. Originally the Jilin Salt Tax Collection Office, and therefore sometimes referred to as the "Salt Palace", Japanese engineers remodeled it from 1936 to 1938. However, Puyi refused to use the building, as he believed it to bebugged. The main hall was the setting for a dance party scene inBernardo Bertolucci's filmThe Last Emperor, although it was never actually used for that purpose.[8]
The imperial concubineLi Yuqin was housed in the east part of the second floor. The building today contains the Manchukuo Throne, various pieces of furniture, some replicas of thecrown jewels, flags, some dresses and uniforms, a copy of the Manchukuo declaration of independence, and other official items. High behind the throne is thenational coat of arms, with a five-pointstar, in different colors representing the five nationalities of Manchukuo:Manchu (red),Chinese (yellow),Mongol (blue),Japanese (white) andKoreans (black).
The Qinmin Building (勤民楼) was Puyi's office building. In its southeast corner is a large room where Puyi received foreign ambassadors and consuls, and issued certificates of appointment and conferred medals to his government officials. The Qinmin Building housed the Manchukuo throne, which has now been moved to the Tongde Hall for its museum display.
Historical artifacts on display in the Qinmin Building include documents and photographs from Puyi's childhood to adulthood andwax figures of Puyi with one of his wives.[9][unreliable source?] Additional exhibitions highlightwar crime atrocities fromWorld War II such as incidents related toUnit 731.[10][unreliable source?]
Zhixiu House (植秀轩) was a detached structure built in the early 1930s. It was used as an informal dining hall by Emperor Puyi. A portion of Puyi's cash and jewels were kept in the two safes in the back apartment. After Puyi's second younger sister marriedZheng Guangyuan, they lived here for a time. When the Tongde Building was completed, this structure was transformed into a school for the children of the palace employees.
Changchun House (畅春轩) was another detached structure designed as a mirror image of Zhixue House to maintain symmetry in the palace layout. At first the fourth and the fifth younger sisters of Puyi lived here. In July 1937 it was the residence for Puyi's father,Prince Chun, when he visited briefly to congratulate Puyi on becoming Emperor. Afterwards, the residence was used by the imperialconcubineTan Yuling.
The Huaiyuan Building (怀远楼) was built in the autumn of 1934 as an office for the Manchukou Imperial Household Agency, housing the Imperial Secretariat and various inner palace departments. It also contained the Fengxian Chapel where Puyi worshipped his ancestral portraits andmemorial tablets.
TheSiheyuan was another structure of the Inner Palace. Dating from the early 20th century, it was originally the mansion of Wei Zonglian, the head of Jilin-Heilongjiang Exclusive Transportation Bureau. After the creation of the palace, it was used as an office for the executive department, housing the offices of the Japanese vice-minister and related officials.
Palace of the Manchukuo.
43°54′14″N125°20′34″E / 43.90389°N 125.34278°E /43.90389; 125.34278