Jin Youzhi 1918 – 2015

Biography

Jin Youzhi was born on August 17, 1918, in Beijing during a transformative period in Chinese history. As the younger brother of Puyi, China’s last emperor of the Qing Dynasty, Jin Youzhi lived through extraordinary times that witnessed the end of imperial rule and the dramatic reshaping of Chinese society. His life spanned nearly a century, allowing him to witness the sweeping changes that defined modern China from the waning days of the empire through the establishment of the People’s Republic.

Living in the shadow of his famous brother’s unprecedented journey—from child emperor to prisoner to reformed citizen—Jin Youzhi navigated his own path through China’s turbulent twentieth century. Though less documented in historical records than his renowned sibling, his existence connected him to one of history’s most remarkable transformations, as the Qing Dynasty gave way to new political orders.

Jin Youzhi passed away on April 10, 2015, in Beijing at the age of ninety-six. He was laid to rest at Babaoshan Revolutionary Cemetery in the Laoshan Subdistrict, a place of honor reflecting respect for his life and family legacy. His long life served as a bridge across generations, connecting the imperial past with modern China’s present.