The Prince Chun Mansion (), also known as the Northern Mansion (北府, ''Běifǔ''), is a large residence in the

siheyuan A ''siheyuan'' (; IPA: ɹ̩̂.xɤ̌.ɥɛ̂n is a historical type of residence that was commonly found throughout China, most famously in Beijing and rural Shanxi. Throughout Chinese history, the siheyuan composition was the basic pattern used ...

style with lavish private garden located near the

Shichahai Shichahai () is a historic scenic area consisting of three lakes in the north of central Beijing. They are located directly northwest of the Forbidden City and north of the Beihai Lake. Shichahai consists of the following three lakes: Qianhai ( ...

neighborhood in central

Beijing } Beijing ( ; ; ), alternatively romanized as Peking ( ), is the capital of the People's Republic of China. It is the center of power and development of the country. Beijing is the world's most populous national capital city, with over 21 ...

. The grounds had been part of a villa built by

Mingju Mingju (Manchu:, Mölendroff: ''mingju''; , November 19, 1635 – June 3, 1708), of the Manchu Nara clan, was an official of the Qing Dynasty during the reign of the Kangxi Emperor. He was thrown in prison for corruption. Second cousin to the ...

, an official in the court of

Emperor Kangxi The Kangxi Emperor (4 May 1654– 20 December 1722), also known by his temple name Emperor Shengzu of Qing, born Xuanye, was the third emperor of the Qing dynasty, and the second Qing emperor to rule over China proper, reigning from 1661 to 1 ...

. It would later be seized by

Heshen Heshen (; ; 1 July 1750 – 22 February 1799) of the Manchu Niohuru clan, was an official of the Qing dynasty favored by the Qianlong Emperor and called the most corrupt official in Chinese history. After the death of Qianlong, the Jiaqing Empe ...

, a favorite of Emperor Qianlong, and following Heshen's purge and execution in 1799, it would be bestowed on Yongxing, Prince Cheng, by his brother, the Emperor Jiaqing, and the mansion was renovated. The mansion would change hands several times, eventually ending up as the residence of a minor Qing official named Yusu. In 1888, was granted to

Yixuan, Prince Chun Yixuan (16 October 1840 – 1 January 1891), formally known as Prince Chun, was an imperial prince of the House of Aisin-Gioro and a statesman of the Manchu-led Qing dynasty in China. He was the father of the Guangxu Emperor (his second son), ...

, the biological father of the

Emperor Guangxu The Guangxu Emperor (14 August 1871 – 14 November 1908), personal name Zaitian, was the tenth Emperor of the Qing dynasty, and the ninth Qing emperor to rule over China proper. His reign lasted from 1875 to 1908, but in practice he ruled, wi ...

, by his sister-in-law,

Empress Dowager Cixi Empress Dowager Cixi ( ; mnc, Tsysi taiheo; formerly Romanization of Chinese, romanised as Empress Dowager T'zu-hsi; 29 November 1835 – 15 November 1908), of the Manchu people, Manchu Nara (clan)#Yehe Nara, Yehe Nara clan, was a Chinese nob ...

. In 1891, the First Prince Chun died, and his title and the mansion was inherited by his second surviving son,

Zaifeng Zaifeng (12 February 1883 – 3 February 1951), also known as Tsai Feng, Prince of Ch'ün, formally known by his title Prince Chun, was a Manchu prince and regent of the late Qing dynasty. He was a son of Yixuan, the seventh son of the Da ...

. It was at the mansion, in 1906,

Puyi Aisin-Gioro Puyi (; 7 February 1906 – 17 October 1967), courtesy name Yaozhi (曜之), was the last emperor of China as the eleventh and final Qing dynasty monarch. He became emperor at the age of two in 1908, but was forced to abdicate on 1 ...

, the last Qing emperor, was born to Zaifeng. Prince Chun would serve as regent for Puyi, from Puyi's accession in 1908, until the overthrow of the dynasty in 1912. Despite the collapse of the Qing Dynasty, Chun would be allowed to stay in the mansion, and he died there in 1951. Its garden became the residence of

Soong Ching-ling Rosamond Soong Ch'ing-ling (27 January 189329 May 1981) was a Chinese political figure. As the third wife of Sun Yat-sen, then Premier of the Kuomintang and President of the Republic of China, she was often referred to as Madame Sun Yat-sen. ...

, the widow of

Sun Yat-sen Sun Yat-sen (; also known by several other names; 12 November 1866 – 12 March 1925)Singtao daily. Saturday edition. 23 October 2010. section A18. Sun Yat-sen Xinhai revolution 100th anniversary edition . was a Chinese politician who serve ...

, between 1963 and her death in 1981; it is now a public museum as her former residence open to visitors.

External links

The Vicissitudes of Prince Chun's Mansion
{{coord, 39.944465, 116.38475, display=title, region:CN_type:landmark Xicheng District Buildings and structures in Beijing Museums in Beijing Historic house museums in China Major National Historical and Cultural Sites in Beijing