Imperial Court of Pu Yi, in Peking:

Boxer rebellion ongoing, Sun Yat Sen

Leading rebels to Forbidden City gates,

Intent on removing Manchu dynasty

From power.  Authoritarian civil service

Imposing utilitarian society, religion/art

Replaced by strict codes of conduct;

Industrialisation, agrarian reforms,

Military modernisation.  Unrest in Tibet,

Other far-flung reaches of collapsing

Empire, dissenters hung or shot dead.

Philosophers, scientists, intellectuals,

Writers, craftsmen, artisans,

All put to flight as ‘Last Emperor’

Arrested, old culture in turmoil.