Deng Jia Shi

Zai Feng, Aisin Gioro clan, was born on February 12, 1883, at the Prince Chun's Mansion in Taiping Lake, Beijing. His father was Yixuan, who was granted the title of Prince Chun, and his mother was the official wife (Zheng Fu Jin) born to Empress Dowager Cixi. Additionally, his biological mother was of the Yehenara clan, and his side concubine was of the Liu family. His marriage was arranged by Empress Dowager Cixi; he married Youlan, the adopted daughter of Guwalja Ronglu, and after marriage, they had a son, Puyi.

During his youth, Zai Feng was granted the title of Marquis of the Eight Banners (Buliang fuguo gong) at age two and elevated to Duke of the Zhen Kingdom (Zhenguo gong) at age seven. In 1890, Yixuan passed away. Due to the early deaths of his older brothers (the third and fourth brothers), his second brother, Zaotan, ascended the throne, and Zai Feng inherited his father’s title, becoming Prince Chun. Around the time of the Boxer Protocol in 1901, Zai Feng served as a first-class special envoy to Germany, where he was well received and gained insights into statecraft from Prince Wilhelm of Prussia. Upon returning to China, he was appointed as an escort minister (1903), managed the security affairs of Beijing in the spring, and subsequently held positions such as the commander of the Manchu banner units of the Red Flag, and became a grand councilor of military affairs, studying practical leadership. From 1908, he served as a grand councilor again.

Starting in the 34th year of Emperor Guangxu’s reign (1908), Zai Feng participated in discussions within the Qing court on the succession after Guangxu’s death. Ultimately, Empress Dowager Cixi decided to establish Puyi as heir, and Zai Feng served as regent; however, disputes within the royal family soon emerged over power. In 1909, Zai Feng declared, in the name of Regent Prince, the unification of military and political authority, appointing figures such as Zai Ze and Yulang to oversee finances and military affairs. That same year, he ordered the establishment of the Imperial Guards (Jing Wei Army) and placed the provinces' new armies under direct central control. From the first year of the Qing Dynasty's final reign (1909), he also held the position of Commander-in-Chief of all land and sea forces nationwide. The following year, he continued promoting constitutional reform and broadened fiscal and tax reforms under the guise of "preparing for constitutional government."

In April of the third year of the Xuantong Emperor’s reign (1911), Zai Feng, as Regent and Regent Prince, dissolved the Grand Council and the old Cabinet, forming the first Cabinet with Prince Yan, the Prince of Qing, as Premier, establishing a responsible cabinet. However, the situation rapidly deteriorated after the Wuchang Uprising that same year. In December of the same year, Zai Feng was forced to disband the royal internal cabinet and abdicate from his regent position, reverting to the title of Prince Chun. The following year, with the emperor's abdication, Zai Feng gradually withdrew from politics following the Xinhai Revolution.

During the Republican era, Zai Feng retained certain protections for his livelihood and private property. He participated in the revival of the Zhang Xun Restoration and the Beijing Coup but did not play a decisive role. In 1947, he and his descendants established a private competitive elementary school within the Prince Chun’s Mansion, with his offspring serving as school officials. In 1950, he sold the Prince Chun's Mansion to the National Advanced Industrial School, using part of the proceeds to settle his family’s residence and affairs. On February 3, 1951, Zai Feng died of chronic illness and was buried at Futiansi Cemetery in the western suburbs of Beijing.

Regarding his family, Zai Feng had multiple children. His eldest son was Puyi, the last Emperor of China; his second son was Pujie. He also had three other sons: Puxi, Puren, and seven daughters — Yunying, Yunhe, Yunying (another), Yunan, Yunxin, Yunyu, and Yunhuan — all bearing the Aisin Gioro surname and becoming members of the princely family at various stages. In his later years, Zai Feng was regarded as one of the representatives of political authority within the Qing imperial family's final era. His political career and family influence hold considerable significance for the study of modern Chinese history.