In the thirties of the last century, a large house with a mix of Chinese and Western styles was built on a private island near Edinburgh, England. The most incredible thing is that there is a flag hanging on the roof of this large house, but it is not a British flag, nor a family coat of arms that symbolizes the owner's family, but a flag with blue dragon and red beads on a yellow background, that is, the Yellow Dragon Banner of the Qing Dynasty in China. Why does the Yellow Dragon Flag fly in the English sky, thousands of miles away from China?This brings us to the owner of this house and the island, who is Johnston, the last emperor of the Qing Dynasty.
Johnston was born in Scotland, England. He completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Edinburgh and later a Master of Arts degree from the University of Oxford. In 1898, Johnston was sent to Hong Kong as a Xi in the British Colonial Office. As a result of his outstanding performance, Johnston was soon promoted to the posts of Assistant to the Auxiliary Secretary and then Private Secretary to the Governor. In 1904, on the recommendation of Lockhart, Vice-Chancellor, Johnston was sent to work in Weihaiwei, a British leased land.
During his time at Weihaiwei, Johnston became obsessed with traditional Chinese culture. As his understanding of China grew, Johnston gradually became resentful of the West's attempts to impose its own civilization on China, arguing that "both the East and the West are in the experimental stage of their respective social developments, and therefore it is unwise for each hemisphere to impose its will and ideals on the other." ”
In 1918, Johnston received a special job offer. He worked in the Forbidden City of Beijing, and his job was to teach Pu Yi, the last emperor of the Qing Dynasty. Although Pu Yi had abdicated the throne at that time, it was still a supreme honor to become an emperor, not to mention that Johnston was still a foreigner. So he was flattered by the special job offer and quickly agreed. In February 1919, after obtaining permission from the British, the 45-year-old Johnston came to Beijing and began his career as an emperor. Johnston teaches Puyi English, but also mathematics, geography, and Western history and culture.
Johnston's appearance opened the door to a new world for Pu Yi. Under his guidance, Pu Yi put on glasses, used **, and even cut off the braids that were regarded as the last dignity by the Manchu elders. Pu Yi had several emperors, among whom Chen Baochen had the greatest influence on him. The arrival of Johnston also had a great impact on Pu Yi's world view and outlook on life. Later, Pu Yi wrote in his autobiography "The First Half of My Life": "Chen Baochen was my only soul, and after Johnston came, I had another soul. ”
In November 1924, Pu Yi was driven out of the Forbidden City by warlords. Johnston used his connections to help Pu Yi escape to the Japanese consulate. After this incident, Johnston's position as emperor also came to an end. He returned to Weihaiwei and became the last governor of Weihaiwei.
Although he left the post of imperial teacher, Johnston and Pu Yi's teacher-student friendship did not end, they still maintained correspondence, and even on some major decisions, Johnston would still make his own suggestions to Pu Yi. In 1930, at the age of 56, Johnston returned to his native England. In 1934, Johnston wrote a memoir about his experiences as an emperor in China, entitled Twilight in the Forbidden City. Because the British were very interested in Johnston's experience, "Twilight in the Forbidden City" was a big sale, and Johnston received a handsome remuneration, and he used the money to buy a small island near Edinburgh, and built a large house on the island in a combination of Chinese and Western styles, which displayed antiques, calligraphy and paintings, court clothes, headwear and other items that Pu Yi gave him. On major festivals, Johnston would invite friends and family to the island, and he himself would wear a top and Qing Dynasty court dress to welcome the guests.
Johnston died in his hometown of Edinburgh on March 6, 1938, at the age of 63.
Johnston's life and his role as mentor to Pu Yi, the last emperor of the Qing Dynasty, form a life journey full of legends and transcendental cultures. This unique history is a testament to how a Briton became deeply embedded in traditional Chinese culture and left a deep mark on an era that was mired in turmoil.
First, Johnston's academic background laid a solid foundation for him to serve as an imperial advisor beside the last emperor of the Qing Dynasty. His academic achievements at the Universities of Edinburgh and Oxford demonstrate his intellectual excellence and learning. This has given depth and breadth to his work in China, not only in language teaching, but also in mathematics, geography, and Western history and culture. This holistic approach not only exposed Pu Yi to a wider range of knowledge, but also left a deep mark on Johnston in the hearts of the last emperors of the Qing Dynasty.
Second, Johnston's experience in China reflects his deep understanding of the cultural dialogue between East and West. He was not only a representative of Westerners spreading civilization to the East, but also a pioneer who was deeply aware of cultural diversity and mutual respect. In his opinion, it would be unwise to try to impose his own civilization on the other side. This open-mindedness and recognition of cultural diversity make his work in China not only a duty, but also a cross-cultural life experience.
Johnston's teacher-student relationship with Pu Yi is also a touching friendship in this history. His arrival brought a new world to Pu Yi and allowed him to better integrate into modern society. Johnston even advised Pu Yi on some major decisions, showing his deep concern for the last emperor who had been expelled from the Forbidden City. This special teacher-student friendship transcends national borders and cultural differences, and becomes an indelible part of both people's lives.
Johnston's experience in China did not end with the fall of the Qing Dynasty. When he returned to England, he wrote his experiences as Twilight in the Forbidden City, which became a bestseller. This not only proves that his work in China is in the spotlight, but also demonstrates his deep understanding of Chinese culture. He used the remuneration he received to buy a small island near Edinburgh and build a large house in a Chinese and Western style, which displayed precious items such as antiques, calligraphy and paintings, and court clothes rewarded by Puyi. The island became a testament to his close ties with China and a part of his later life.
Finally, Johnston died in Edinburgh in 1938, ending his rich and unique life. His life not only witnessed the historical changes in China, but also demonstrated his respect and understanding of cultural diversity. Johnston's story teaches us that respecting different cultures, understanding and embracing each other's differences is the key to true civilizational exchange.
Disclaimer: The above content information is ** on the Internet, and the author of this article does not intend to target or insinuate any real country, political system, organization, race, or individual. The above content does not mean that the author of this article agrees with the laws, rules, opinions, behaviors in the article and is responsible for the authenticity of the relevant information. The author of this article is not responsible for any issues arising from the above or related issues, and does not assume any direct or indirect legal liability.
If the content of the article involves the content of the work, copyright**, infringement, rumors or other issues, please contact us to delete it. Finally, if you have any different thoughts about this event, please leave a message in the comment area to discuss!