Chapter 1: The Last Manchu Prince
* Presents Puyi, the last emperor of the Qing dynasty and a symbol of Chinese imperial history.
* Explores his early life in the Forbidden City and his role as a child ruler influenced by powerful eunuchs and regents.
* Real example: Puyi's coronation ceremony at the age of three, attended by thousands of officials and foreign dignitaries.
Chapter 2: The Man Who Stole a Nation
* Introduces Yuan Shikai, a charismatic warlord who seized power during China's Republican era.
* Describes his rise to presidency and his efforts to establish a new, Western-style government in China.
* Real example: Yuan Shikai's declaration of himself as emperor in 1915, which was met with widespread resistance and protests.
Chapter 3: The Lost Emperor
* Chronicles Puyi's abdication and subsequent expulsion from the Forbidden City in 1924.
* Explores the challenges he faced as he adjusted to a new life outside the palace walls.
* Real example: Puyi's failed attempt to establish a puppet state in Manchuria, supported by Japan.
Chapter 4: The Japanese Puppet
* Examines the Japanese invasion of Manchuria in 1931 and their installation of Puyi as a puppet emperor.
* Depicts the complex and contradictory nature of Puyi's role during the Japanese occupation.
* Real example: Puyi's willingness to collaborate with the Japanese, despite his own reservations and the resentment of his people.
Chapter 5: The Prisoner of the Soviets
* Follows Puyi's capture by the Soviets in 1945 and his imprisonment in Siberia.
* Documents his political re-education and his gradual transformation from an emperor to a common man.
* Real example: Puyi's writing of his memoirs and his eventual release from prison in 1959.
Chapter 6: The Man from the Last Dynasty
* Describes Puyi's return to China and his adjustment to life in the People's Republic under the Communist regime.
* Explores his role as a gardener and historian and his efforts to reconcile his past with his present.
* Real example: Puyi's work as a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference.
Chapter 7: The Last Witness
* Concludes with Puyi's death in 1967 and his legacy as a symbol of both the end of Chinese imperial rule and the tumultuous events of the 20th century.
* Reflects on the complexities of Puyi's life and the lessons to be learned from his experiences.
* Real example: Puyi's grave site in Babaoshan Revolutionary Cemetery, where he is buried alongside other prominent Chinese figures.
