February 12, 1912

Imperial Edict of the Abdication of the Qing Emperor

Empress Dowager Longyu issues Puyi's abdication edict

China's last emperor was six. His guardian gave up the throne on his behalf — and the terms let him retain his title, initially remain in the Forbidden City, and receive four million taels a year.

12 February 1912, in Beijing

Empress Dowager Longyu authorized the Qing emperor's abdication in Beijing on 12 February 1912, acting on behalf of the child Xuantong Emperor, Puyi. He was six years old and did not negotiate or meaningfully choose the settlement.

The abdication edicts transferred sovereign authority to a republican state and empowered Yuan Shikai to organize a provisional republican government and negotiate North–South unification.

The Articles of Favorable Treatment

The court accepted terms under which Puyi retained his imperial title, initially remained in the Forbidden City, and was promised protection of his property and an annual allowance of 4,000,000 taels, later to become 4,000,000 yuan.

So Qing political authority formally ceased while a nominal imperial household continued inside the palace walls.

What the edict did not do

It did not found the Republic of China. Sun Yat-sen's Nanjing provisional government had been operating since 1 January 1912; the edict ended Qing rule and enabled political unification.

Sun tendered his resignation the next day, and the provisional senate elected Yuan Shikai on 15 February. The familiar “268 years” counts Qing rule from the 1644 capture of Beijing; counting from the adoption of the dynastic name Great Qing in 1636 gives 276.

Sources

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What the sources leave uncertain

The date is secure in the Gregorian calendar; the National Museum dates the document to the 25th day of the 12th month of Xuantong year 3, equivalent to February 12, 1912.
“268 years” counts Qing rule from the 1644 capture of Beijing. Counting from adoption of the dynastic name Great Qing in 1636 gives 276 years.
Authorship of the final edict is contested. The National Museum credits Zhang Jian, while other reconstructions identify drafts or revisions by Zhang Yuanqi, Xu Shichang and Yuan Shikai.