Pu Yi was three years old when he became emperor. Pu Yi's father served as his son's regent. There was great resentment in China against forreigners and Manchu government, and in 1911 rebellion swept through the country. February 12, 1912, the five-year old emperor renounced his throne. He continued to live in Forbidden City and was treated with enormous respect. (The Last Emperor of China, http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Agean/7545/Pu Yi.html)
    The Forbidden City is located on Tianenmen Square in Beijing, then called Peiking.Commoners were not allowed to enter the city, which was surrounded by 35-foot walls and a moat. The city was built between 1406 and 1420 by the Ming Emperors. It contains the palaces of 24 Ming and and Ch'ing empeors, as well as white-marble terraces, gardens, and shrines, encompassing 250 acres and over 9,000 rooms. The city's wall are red and the roof is gold, the color of the imperial court. (The Last Emperor of China, http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Agean/Pu Yi.html.)
    The Forbidden City was run by eunuchs. When he went out to play, he was followed by silent eunuchs, some armed with ancient halberds, others carring traditional Chinese medicines in case he should be hurt, or delicacies in lacquered bowls in case he should be hungry. (Backman,1975) Although Pu Yi was no longer emperor, everyone kelt and kowtowed to him, icluding his parents, whom he rarely saw. He had many mothers, but he never knew motherly love. (Pu Yi, 1965)
    In 1917, when Pu Yi was 9, a warlord named Chang Hsun decided to restore him to the throne.Chang's army surrounded Peiking, and Pu Yi released a decree stating that he was the emperor once again.6 days after Pu Yi's restration, a plane dropped three boms on the Forbidden City. Pu Yi's supporters abandoned him, and once again he lost his thrine. He remained in the Forbidden CIty.
 
 
 

	Source: Brackman 1975
	Celestial Emperor, age three. In the background of the right picture, a screen depicting cranes mean happiness