Surveying Chinese history, in the span of a few thousand years, the only Occidental scholar who became tutor to a Chinese emperor, namely P’u-i (溥儀 1906-1967), is Reginald F. Johnston (莊士敦). Johnston was erudite on Confucianism, Taoism and Buddhism. He was also a firm advocate of Chinese traditional culture. His work Twilight in the Forbidden City brims with thoughts on loyalty and righteousness, no different to some Chinese scholars from the Confucian school. This year happens to be the 120th birth anniversary of Emperor P’u-i, we thus recount the devotions and friendships between emperor and subject, teacher and student.

Curatorial and Editorial Department