A Gift From the Emperor

A while back, through some research for one of my grad classes, I came across and got in touch with the Imperial Qing Restoration Organization, a monarchist organization with the lofty and rather unlikely aim of restoring the Chinese imperial throne.

The group is led by His Imperial Highness Lee Chee Chuan, a descendant of an ancient Tang Dynasty emperor who now lives in exile in Malaysia. HIH is also descended from one of the only Han Chinese to hold a ministerial position in the ethnically Manchu Qing Imperial Court.

The purpose of the organization is to restore the Qing Dynasty, re-establish the "Mandate of Heaven" which grants legitimacy to the ruling dynasty, then have the Qing Emperor abdicate in favor of an ethnic Han Chinese successor. I came across this group whilst doing research for one of my classes, and in return HIH sent me a gift as thanks for my interest: a Qing Dynasty flag.

The Qing Dynasty did have one of my favorite flags - it's got a dragon on it! - and it looks nice up on my wall.