Empire of China (1915–1916)


The Empire of China was a short-lived attempt by statesman and general Yuan Shikai from late 1915 to early 1916 to reinstate monarchy in China, with himself as the Hongxian Emperor. The attempt was unsuccessful; it set back the Chinese republican cause by many years and fractured China into a period of conflict between various local warlords.

Preparations for formation

After Yuan Shikai was installed as the second Provisional Great President of the Republic of China, he took various steps to consolidate his power and remove opposition leaders from office. To secure his own power he collaborated with various European powers as well as Japan. Around August 1915, he instructed Yang Du et al. to canvass support for a return of a monarchy. On 11 December 1915, an assembly unanimously elected him as Emperor. Yuan ceremonially declined, but "relented" and immediately agreed when the National Assembly petitioned again that day. On 12 December, Yuan, supported by his son Yuan Keding, declared the Empire of China with himself as the "Great Emperor of the Chinese Empire", taking the era name Hongxian. However, Yuan, now known as the Hongxian Emperor, delayed the accession rites until 1 January 1916. He had Manchurian clothes removed from culture and had Han Chinese clothes revived but had put some changes to it. He wore new Han clothes to attend a dress rehearsal. A dress rehearsal was sabotaged by his Korean concubine. Soon after, the Hongxian Emperor started handing out titles of peerage to his closest relatives and friends, as well as those whom he thought he could buy with titles.
The Aisin Gioro family of the Qing dynasty, then living in the Forbidden City, "approved" of Yuan's accession as emperor, and even proposed a "royal marriage" of Yuan's daughter to Puyi, the last Qing monarch.

Backlash

The year 1916 was to be "Hongxian Year 1" rather than "Republic Year 5", but the Hongxian Emperor was opposed by not only the revolutionaries, but far more importantly by his subordinate military commanders, who believed that Yuan's assumption of the monarchy would allow him to rule without depending on the support of the military.
Province after province rebelled after his inauguration, starting with Yunnan, led by the emperor's governor Cai E and general Tang Jiyao and Jiangxi, led by governor Li Liejun. The revolters formed the National Protection Army and thus began the National Protection War. This was followed by other provinces declaring independence from the Empire. The emperor's Beiyang generals, whose soldiers had not received pay once from the imperial government, did not put up an aggressive campaign against the National Protection Army and the Beiyang Army suffered numerous defeats despite being better trained and equipped than the National Protection Army.
Seeing the Hongxian Emperor's weakness and unpopularity, foreign powers withdrew their support. The Empire of Japan first threatened to invade, then committed to overthrowing the Hongxian Emperor and recognised both sides of the conflict to be "in a state of war" and allowed Japanese citizens to help the Republicans. Faced with universal opposition, the emperor repeatedly delayed the accession rites to appease his foes. Funding for the ceremony was cut on 1 March. Yuan deliberated abandoning the monarchy with Liang Shiyi on 17 March and abandoned it on 22 March. The "Hongxian" year was abolished on 23 March and the Republic was restored. Yuan reigned a total of 83 days.
After Yuan's death on 6 June Vice President Li Yuanhong assumed the presidency, and appointed Beiyang general Duan Qirui as his Premier and restored the National Assembly and the provisional Constitution. However, the central authority of the Beijing government was significantly weakened and the demise of Yuan's Empire plunged China into a period of warlordism.

National symbols

Although the name of the country in Chinese was changed to the "Empire of China", the Hongxian Emperor continued to use "Republic of China" as the English name.
The Hongxian Emperor set up the Ritual Regulations Office, which issued the new official anthem for the Republic of China "China heroically stands in the Universe" in June 1915. Its lyrics were written by Yin Chang and music by Wang Lu. The lyrics were slightly modified in December 1915, with 共和五族 replaced by 勳華揖讓 to be used during the Hongxian Emperor's reign.
Chinese lyricsEnglish translation

中華雄立宇宙間，

廓八埏，

華冑來從崑崙巔，

江河浩盪山綿連，

勳華揖讓開堯天，

億萬年。
China heroically stands in the Universe,

Extends to the Eight Corners,

The glorious descendants from Kunlun Peak.

The rivers turn greatly, the mountains continuous.

Shanrang open up the era of Yao,

For millions of myriads of years.

Yao was a legendary Chinese ruler. The era of Yao and Shun is a Four-character idiom which means times of peace and prosperity.
The national flag was changed from the original :Image:Flag of the Republic of China 1912-1928.svg|5-stripe flag to one where the red stripe is a centered cross; however, a flag with the former red stripe as a saltire was the version commonly used.
The national emblem remained as the national emblem of the Republic of China, National emblem of Twelve Symbols of Sovereignty.

List of people given peerage by the Hongxian Emperor

Crown Prince (皇太子)