Li Shuxian

Li Shuxian (Chinese: 李淑賢; pinyin: Lǐ Shūxían; Wade–Giles: Li3 Shu1-hsien2) was born on September 4, 1924, and died on June 9, 1997. She was of Han Chinese ethnicity. Li became notable for her marriage to Puyi, the last emperor of the Qing dynasty in China. She was the fifth and final wife of Puyi.

Li was orphaned at the age of 14. Following her loss of parents, she spent three years in foster care. During her time in foster care, her foster mother attempted to arrange her into concubinage with a wealthy man. Li refused this proposal and subsequently ran away to Beijing. In Beijing, she found employment as a hospital worker.

In 1959, Puyi was released from prison after serving ten years. He was subsequently pardoned by the Chinese government. In 1962, Li and Puyi were introduced to each other through a mutual acquaintance, and they married that same year. Their marriage received approval from Premier Zhou Enlai. This union represented Li’s third marriage and Puyi’s fifth. The couple did not have any children.

Li remained with Puyi until his death. After Puyi's passing, Li withdrew from public activities. She was not employed as a regular hospital worker at this stage but supplemented her income with a government stipend, ensuring her financial stability.

In the early 1980s, Li sought and obtained legal ownership rights to royalties from Puyi's autobiography. This was granted by the Chinese government. Following this, she moved Puyi’s ashes closer to his ancestral remains at the Western Qing Tombs (Qingxuling), relocating them from the Babaoshan Revolutionary Cemetery. This move allowed Puyi to be buried alongside his ancestors. Puyi had expressed a wish to be interred next to Li and his first concubine, Tan Yuling (潭玉齡). Li opposed this arrangement, asserting that she had provided sufficient time and energy during their life together.

Li Shuxian passed away at the age of 72 due to lung cancer. Her death occurred in 1997. She maintained her stance against her husband’s wish to be buried with both Li and Tan Yuling.

Posthumously, Li’s memoirs were published under the title *Modai Huangdi Puyi yu wo* (末代皇帝溥仪与我; "Last Emperor Puyi and I"). The memoir was compiled by Wang Qingxiang (王慶祥), who conducted oral interviews with Li and others close to Puyi, recounting their marriage and family life. Li is sometimes recognized as a coauthor of this book.