Page 108 - A Re-examination of Late Qing Dynasty Porcelain, 1850-1920 THESIS

by Western-educated individuals like Sun Yat-sen 孫逸仙, who served as the first

provisional president. 120

After being forced from power, Yuan was invited back to help restore order to the

revolutionary chaos. Yuan pushed for the abdication of Puyi, who signed paperwork

agreeing to terms in 1912, establishing the Republic of China. Yuan was made the

second provisional president of the new republic and moved into the former imperial

palaces of the Forbidden City. 121 At the time, Yuan was thought to appeal to both

traditional individuals and those with revolutionary ideas. Ultimately, Yuan was not able

to maintain a high level of support and lost the election in 1913. It is at this point that

Yuan harnessed the power of his army to force his opposition, Sun Yat-sen, out of China

and through serious manipulation tactics forced the Chinese Congress to establish him as

president of China for life beginning in 1914. 122 Despite the progressive nature that

established the republic, Yuan reverted back to the monarchic-style ruling traditions of

China and declared himself emperor on December 12, 1915. 123 The announcement was

made in Yuan’s hall Jurentang (Hall of Dwelling in Benevolence), which became the

inspiration behind one of his porcelain reign marks. 124 The choice to become emperor of

China indicates the traditionalist values that Yuan held. Despite being a part of the ideals

120 Howard Boorman, Joseph K. H. Cheng, and Richard Howard, eds., Biographical Dictionary of
Republican China, 170-189.
121 MacKinnon, Power and Politics in Late Imperial China: Yuan Shi-Kai in Beijing and Tianjin,
1901-1908, 211.
122 Van Oort, The Porcelain of Hung-Hsien: A Study of the Socio-Cultural Background and Some
Characteristics of the Porcelain Produced at Chingtechen During the Imperial Reign of Yüan
Shih-Kʻai, 48-49. Yuan Shikai was suspected of acquiring loans from foreign powers and
participating in political murders. He also utilized the military to his advantage, occupying
Nanking.
123 Van Oort, 51.
124 Wilson, Rare Marks on Chinese Ceramics, 44.

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