Zailan

Zai Lan (Manchu: ᡯᠠᡳ ᠯᠠᠨ; Transliteration: Dzai Lan; 1856–1916), courtesy name Dingfu, was a member of the Aisin Gioro clan, the third son of Dunjunwang Yiyu. He was the cousin of Emperor Guangxu, attained the rank of Fu Guo Jiangjun (Assistant State General), and was later posthumously promoted to Duke of the State of Support.

Biographical Overview

After the Wuxu Reform Coup, Empress Dowager Cixi sought to depose Emperor Guangxu and install a new ruler. Zai Lan and his brother Zai Yi encouraged Cixi to summon Zai Yi’s son, Pujun. Although the plan to establish a successor in the Genghai year was halted, the two men used the opportunity to promote Cixi’s campaign against foreign powers with the Boxers. In April 1900, the Qing court dispatched Zai Xun and Gang Yi to lead the Beijing-Tianjin Boxer forces; Zai Lan served as the right-wing general and coordinated operations with them. Records mention that he used force against individuals such as Yuxian during these actions. In July, the Eight-Nation Alliance captured Beijing. Cixi, along with Emperor Guangxu and officials including Zai Lan, fled westward. The Qing court negotiated peace, and Zai Lan was singled out as one of the “chief culprits,” leading to his demotion and house arrest; later he was sent into exile in Xinjiang.

In the 27th year of Emperor Guangxu’s reign, Zai Lan was exiled to Xinjiang, residing in Dihua (present-day Urumqi) and Sui Lai. Because of his imperial kinship, Xinjiang Governor Rao Yingqi favored him, and Zai Lan led a lavish life and held considerable influence for some time. After the Xinhai Revolution, Zai Lan traveled back to his ancestral northeast homeland via Siberia. He died in Shenyang in 1916.

Family

His primary wife was the Uya clan, daughter of Yishou, granddaughter of the Jinshi Qingchen during Jiaqing year (Gengchen), who died in the fifth year of the Xuantong Emperor’s reign (1911). He had secondary wives: Zhang, Lu, and Li.

Children

The first son, Puzhuo (1882–1932), held the rank of Deputy Commander with the second-grade cap. His primary wife was Namu Dulu, daughter of a county magistrate; he was awarded the second-rank cap in April of the 15th year of Guangxu, received a ribbon in November of the 17th year, participated in official ceremonies in Ganchingmen in January of the 26th year, dispatched as an envoy in April of the 29th year, appointed as an acting envoy in February of the 30th year, awarded as a dissipated official in October, and promoted to Vice-Commander of the Banner of White Mongols in November. He died on the second day of the sixth month of the Ren-shen year (1916), aged 51. His secondary wife was the Namu Dulu clan, daughter of a county magistrate; he also had a consort named Wang. His second and third sons died young. The fourth son, Puhan (1892—?), left no heirs. The fifth son, Puxin (1900–1918), had no heirs. The sixth son, Pujian (1913–1991). Two other sons are noted but not detailed due to limited historical records.

Portrayal in Film and Television

In the 2005 TV drama *Great Prince Pujun*, Zai Lan was portrayed by Wang Jianguo.