The 1961 group photo of Lu Zhonglin, Puyi, and Xiong Bingkun is an exceptionally precious and intriguing historical document. It was taken during the 50th Anniversary of the 1911 (Xinhai) Revolution.
The three individuals in the photo, from left to right, are:
- Lu Zhonglin: In 1924, under the orders of Feng Yuxiang, he was the officer who expelled Puyi from the Forbidden City. He was also a prominent figure who advocated for Sun Yat-sen to be honored as the Father of the Nation.
- Puyi: The Last Emperor of the Qing Dynasty.
- Xiong Bingkun: The man credited with firing the first shot of the Wuchang Uprising. His actions ignited the Xinhai Revolution, leading to the collapse of the Qing government and Puyi’s eventual abdication.
🤝 Brothers Remaining After the Turmoil
Having lived through the most turbulent period in modern history, these three former adversaries were finally able to warmly embrace and take a photograph together in 1961 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the revolution.
The distinguished figures of a tragic era each had their own glory. As the saying goes, “Brothers remain even after surviving a thousand calamities; meeting again with a smile, all old enmities are forgotten.”