Why is it that only Puyi is a group photo of the Twelve Emperors of Manchu Dynasty, and there should be a photo of Emperor Guangxu of Tongzhi according to the time calculation?

To correct a wrong idea, the portrait of the Qing emperor should be hung in Fengxian Hall to worship the ancestors. The portrait of the emperor used for ancestor worship is very large, usually more than one meter long. At that time, the size of the photo was also black and white. Can it be hung for ancestor worship?

(Portraits of Qing emperors and empresses in Fengxian Hall)

At present, the most common portrait of the Qing emperor on the Internet is the most serious portrait of the imperial court. Portraits of royal dresses are not for viewing, but for posing. Puyi didn't wear a portrait of a royal costume because he was only six years old when he abdicated, and he was not yet an adult.

This photo of Puyi was taken on July 19 17 when Puyi was restored. At that time, he was only 12 years old, and he was not an adult. Minor emperors don't paint court clothes.

Therefore, Puyi used photos instead of portraits, not because of the appearance of cameras. But because Puyi was too young, he never painted a portrait of himself in court clothes.

Then some people may ask, why didn't Puyi make up a portrait for himself when he became an adult?

Because in 19 19, Johnston, a scot, became a teacher of Puyi, and 14 years old, his outlook on life changed greatly. 1922, 16-year-old Puyi cut her pigtails. Puyi was not interested in Manchu traditional costumes, so she changed into a suit.

Painting the emperor's robes usually took several months, which was too complicated for Puyi at that time and was simply omitted.

So, the Puyi we are seeing now is like this. Or western-style uniform photos.

Besides, the portraits of the emperor, empress and empress dowager are all outside the robes. There are many portraits of life. As long as it is not used for formal ancestor worship, photos can be substituted.

(Portrait and private photo of Empress Dowager Cixi)

For example, Cixi has both portraits and photos. However, only in the above picture can the statue of the royal family dress on the left be hung in Fengxian Hall. The private photo on the right is no good, it can only be used for private comparison.

Another example is the photo of the Bodhisattva of Cixi, and Yong Zhengdi has a similar portrait. If there had been a camera, Yongzheng would have used photos instead of portraits.

(Contrast Cixi's clothing)

(Private portrait of Yong Zhengdi)

Finally, make a summary. If Puyi abdicates as an adult, there will definitely be a formal portrait of the court clothes. But Puyi abdicated at the age of six and had no time to paint for herself.

During the Tongzhi and Guangxu periods, cameras were still very resistant. Emperor Tongzhi, in particular, was kept in the deep palace and died of smallpox at the age of 19. It's normal to have no photos.

There are photos of Guangxu years, but only photos of ordinary life, no photos of wearing royal clothes. Because the clothes of the court are worn in the court, it is impossible for the photographer to go to the palace to take pictures of Guangxu in the court.

Therefore, Tongzhi didn't have any photos because there was no camera in the palace at that time. There are no photos of Guangxu, and there are no photos of court clothes. However, whether Tongzhi and Guangxu have photos or not. Photos can't be placed in Fengxian Hall, but there must be portraits of imperial clothes.

Puyi has no portrait because of abdication. Later, he was kicked out of the palace. He doesn't like wearing a dragon robe himself, and naturally he won't have a chance to draw a portrait of himself wearing an imperial robe.