Politics of Manchukuo
Encyclopedia
Manchukuo
Manchukuo or Manshū-koku was a puppet state in Manchuria and eastern Inner Mongolia, governed under a form of constitutional monarchy. The region was the historical homeland of the Manchus, who founded the Qing Empire in China...
was a puppet state
Puppet state
A puppet state is a nominal sovereign of a state who is de facto controlled by a foreign power. The term refers to a government controlled by the government of another country like a puppeteer controls the strings of a marionette...
set up by the Empire of Japan
Empire of Japan
The Empire of Japan is the name of the state of Japan that existed from the Meiji Restoration on 3 January 1868 to the enactment of the post-World War II Constitution of...
in Manchuria
Manchuria
Manchuria is a historical name given to a large geographic region in northeast Asia. Depending on the definition of its extent, Manchuria usually falls entirely within the People's Republic of China, or is sometimes divided between China and Russia. The region is commonly referred to as Northeast...
which existed from 1931 to 1945. The Manchukuo regime was established four months after the Japanese withdrawal from Shanghai with Puyi
Puyi
Puyi , of the Manchu Aisin Gioro clan, was the last Emperor of China, and the twelfth and final ruler of the Qing Dynasty. He ruled as the Xuantong Emperor from 1908 until his abdication on 12 February 1912. From 1 to 12 July 1917 he was briefly restored to the throne as a nominal emperor by the...
as the nominal but powerless head of state to add some semblance of legitimacy, as he was a former emperor and an ethnic Manchu
Manchu
The Manchu people or Man are an ethnic minority of China who originated in Manchuria . During their rise in the 17th century, with the help of the Ming dynasty rebels , they came to power in China and founded the Qing Dynasty, which ruled China until the Xinhai Revolution of 1911, which...
.
Government
Manchukuo was proclaimed a monarchyMonarchy
A monarchy is a form of government in which the office of head of state is usually held until death or abdication and is often hereditary and includes a royal house. In some cases, the monarch is elected...
on 1 March 1934, with former Qing dynasty
Qing Dynasty
The Qing Dynasty was the last dynasty of China, ruling from 1644 to 1912 with a brief, abortive restoration in 1917. It was preceded by the Ming Dynasty and followed by the Republic of China....
emperor Puyi
Puyi
Puyi , of the Manchu Aisin Gioro clan, was the last Emperor of China, and the twelfth and final ruler of the Qing Dynasty. He ruled as the Xuantong Emperor from 1908 until his abdication on 12 February 1912. From 1 to 12 July 1917 he was briefly restored to the throne as a nominal emperor by the...
assuming the Manchukuo throne under the reign name of Emperor Kang-de. An imperial rescript
Imperial Rescript
An Imperial Rescript is a major political edict issued from an imperial authority. In each culture where practiced there are specific traditions, normally associated with the written form the statement takes .Examples:...
issued the same day, promulgated the organic law
Organic law
An organic or fundamental law is a law or system of laws which forms the foundation of a government, corporation or other organization's body of rules. A constitution is a particular form of organic law for a sovereign state....
of the new state, establishing a Privy Council
Privy council
A privy council is a body that advises the head of state of a nation, typically, but not always, in the context of a monarchic government. The word "privy" means "private" or "secret"; thus, a privy council was originally a committee of the monarch's closest advisors to give confidential advice on...
, a Legislative Council
Legislative Council
A Legislative Council is the name given to the legislatures, or one of the chambers of the legislature of many nations and colonies.A Member of the Legislative Council is commonly referred to as an MLC.- Unicameral legislatures :...
and the General Affairs State Council
General Affairs State Council
The General Affairs State Council was the de facto executive administrative branch of the government of the Japanese-controlled Empire of Manchukuo from 1934-1945.-Background:...
to "advise and assist the emperor in the discharge of his duties". The Privy Council was an appointive body consisting of Puyi's closest friends and confidants, and the Legislative Council was largely an honorary body without authority. The State Council was therefore the center of political power in Manchukuo.
Political parties and movements
During his administration, the Kangde Emperor, in an interview with foreign journalists, mentioned his interest in forming a political party with Confucian doctrines. The Japanese "native" establishment, however, organized some right-wing and nationalist parties, in the Militarism-Socialism mould. Such movements, which had official status, were:- Concordia AssociationConcordia AssociationThe was a political party in Manchukuo. Established to promote the ideals of Pan-Asianism and the creation of a multi-ethnic nation-state and to create a structure which would gradually replace military rule over Manchukuo with a civilian control, the party was unable to fulfill its early...
(State-sponsored political party) - Northeast Administrative Committee (Manchukuo nationalist local party)
- Russian Fascist OrganizationRussian Fascist OrganizationRussian Fascist Organization was the name adopted by a Russian émigré group active in Manchuria before World War II.The original RFO was formed in 1925 by members of the Law Faculty at Harbin Normal University. Under the leadership of Prof. N.I. Nikiforov, it looked to Italian fascism for...
(the White Russian fascist association in Manchukuo) - White Russian Fascist Party (later the Russian Fascist Party; White RussianWhite movementThe White movement and its military arm the White Army - known as the White Guard or the Whites - was a loose confederation of Anti-Communist forces.The movement comprised one of the politico-military Russian forces who fought...
anticommunist party in Manchukuo, used the swastikaSwastikaThe swastika is an equilateral cross with its arms bent at right angles, in either right-facing form in counter clock motion or its mirrored left-facing form in clock motion. Earliest archaeological evidence of swastika-shaped ornaments dates back to the Indus Valley Civilization of Ancient...
as symbol, guided by a Russian fascist "DuceDuceDuce is an Italian title, derived from the Latin word dux, and cognate with duke. National Fascist Party leader Benito Mussolini was identified by Fascists as Il Duce of the movement and became a reference to the dictator position of Head of Government and Duce of Fascism of Italy was established...
") - Bureau for Russian Emigrants in Manchuria (BREM) led by General Vladimir KislitsinVladimir KislitsinVladimir Alexandrovich Kislitsin was an officer in the Imperial Russian army and later commanding officer of the pro-monarchist White Army in the later stages of the Russian Civil War....
- Monarquic Party (White Russian Tzarist Monarchic party with Japanese approval)
- Betarim Jew Zionist Movement (Jewish rights movement in Manchukuo)
- Far Eastern Jewish Council (Jewish Zionist council in Harbin, Manchukuo led by Dr. Abraham KaufmanAbraham KaufmanDr. Abraham Josevich Kaufman was a Russian-born medical doctor, community organizer and Zionist who helped protect some tens of thousands of Jews seeking safe-haven in East Asia from Nazi atrocities during World War II.As a consequence of his contacts with Japanese authorities during World War II...
, with Japanese Army support)
The Imperial Manchu Court
- Aisin Gioro Henry PuyiPuyiPuyi , of the Manchu Aisin Gioro clan, was the last Emperor of China, and the twelfth and final ruler of the Qing Dynasty. He ruled as the Xuantong Emperor from 1908 until his abdication on 12 February 1912. From 1 to 12 July 1917 he was briefly restored to the throne as a nominal emperor by the...
(Kangde Emperor and head of state) - Elizabeth Wanrong (Empress and first wife of the Kangde Emperor)
- Prince Aisin Gioro PujiePujie-External links:**...
(brother of Puyi, possible heir of Manchukuo Throne) - Prince Aisin Gioro PurenJin YouzhiJīn Yǒuzhī , born Pǔrèn , is the fourth and youngest son of Zaifeng, 2nd Prince Chun, and is, at age , the only surviving brother of Puyi, the last Emperor of China and of Manchukuo....
(brother of Puyi) - Prince Aisin Gioro YuyanYuyanYuyan , style name Yanrui , nickname Xiaoruizi , was a Chinese calligrapher and a member of the Manchu Aisin Gioro clan, the imperial clan of the Qing Dynasty. He claimed that he was appointed heir by Puyi, the Last Emperor of China...
(nephew of Puyi) - Hiro SagaHiro Saga- External links :*...
(Japanese sister-in-law of the Kangde Emperor) - Wenxiu (first concubine of the Emperor)
- Tan YulingTan Yuling-External links:*...
(2nd Wife of the Kangde Emperor) - Li YuqinLi YuqinLi Yuqin , also known as the "Last Imperial Concubine" , was the fourth wife and last Imperial Concubine of Puyi, the last Emperor of China's Qing Dynasty....
(4th Wife of the Kangde Emperor) - Princess Aisin Gioro HuishengHuishengAisin-Gioro Huisheng was a Princess of the Manchu ruling family. She was the elder daughter of Pujie and his Japanese wife, the noblewoman Hiro Saga. Her uncle, Puyi, was the last Emperor of the Qing Dynasty....
(daughter of Pu-Chieh and Hiro Saga) - Princess Aisin Gioro Xianyu (distant relative)
Others (local)
- Zheng XiaoxuZheng XiaoxuZhèng Xiàoxū . Chinese statesman, diplomat and calligrapher.-Early life and diplomatic career:Although Zheng traced his ancestral roots to Minhou, a small town near Fuzhou, he was born in Suzhou, Jiangsu...
(Prime Minister of Manchukuo) - Zhang JinghuiZhang JinghuiZhāng Jǐnghuì ; 1871 – 1 November 1959) was a Chinese general and politician during the Warlord era. He is noted for his role in the Japanese puppet regime of Manchukuo in which he served as its second and final Prime Minister.-Biography:...
, next Prime Minister until 1945 - Xi Xia (Xi QiaXi QiaXi Qia , also Xi Xia , was a general in command of the Kirin Provincial Army of the Republic of China, who defected to the Japanese during the Invasion of Manchuria in 1931, and who subsequently served as a cabinet minister in Manchukuo....
), cabinet minister in Manchukuo government - Ma ZhanshanMa ZhanshanMa Zhanshan or Ma Chan-san , was a Chinese Muslim general who initially opposed the Imperial Japanese Army in the invasion of Manchuria, briefly defected to Manchukuo, and then rebelled, and fought against the Japanese in Manchuria and in other parts of China.-Early life:Ma was born...
, former warlord, and cabinet minister - Xie JishiXie JishiXie Jishi was a cabinet minister in the Japanese-dominated Empire of Manchukuo, who served as Minister of Foreign Affairs.-Biography:Xie Jishi was born in Hsinchu city, Taiwan in 1878, and attended the Japanese-run Shinchiku Kokugo Denshujo, where he studied the Japanese language...
, cabinet minister in the Manchukuo government - Zang ShiyiZang ShiyiZang Shiyi , was Chinese general and Governor of Liaoning Province at the time of the invasion of Manchuria in 1932.-Biography:Zang was born in Shenyang county of Liaoning Province in 1884. He traveled to Japan on a scholarship, and graduated from the cavalry school of the Imperial Japanese Army...
, cabinet minister in the Manchukuo government - Zhang YangqingZhang Yanqing (Manchukuo)Zhang Yanqing , was a politician in the early Republic of China who subsequently served as Foreign Minister in the Cabinet of the Empire of Manchukuo...
, cabinet minister in the manchukuo government - Yu ZhishanYu ZhishanYu Zhishan , was a military officer under the Beiyang Government and the Fengtian clique, subsequently becoming a cabinet minister in the Empire of Manchukuo.-Biography:...
, cabinet minister in Manchukuo government - Yuan JinkaiYuan JinkaiYuan Jinkai , was a politician in the late Qing Empire, serving subsequently under the Beiyang Government and the Fengtian clique, subsequently becoming a cabinet minister in the Empire of Manchukuo.-Biography:...
, cabinet minister in Manchukuo government - Lü RonghuanLü RonghuanLu Ronghuan , was a politician in the early Republic of China who subsequently served in a number of Cabinet posts of the Empire of Manchukuo.-Biography:...
, cabinet minister in Manchukuo government - Ding JianxiuDing JianxiuDing Jianxiu , was a politician in the early Republic of China who subsequently served in a number of Cabinet-level ministries of the Empire of Manchukuo.-Biography:...
, cabinet minister in Manchukuo government - Li ShaogengLi ShaogengLi Shaogeng , was a politician in the early Republic of China who subsequently served in a number of Cabinet posts of the Empire of Manchukuo.-Biography:...
, cabinet minister in Manchukuo government - Ruan ZhenduoRuan ZhenduoRuan Zhenduo , was a politician in the early Republic of China who subsequently served in a number of Cabinet-level positions in the Empire of Manchukuo.-Biography:...
, cabinet minister in Manchukuo government - Ling Sheng, cabinet minister in Manchukuo government
- Sun QichangSun QichangSun Qichang , was a politician in the early Republic of China who subsequently served as a cabinet minister in the Empire of Manchukuo.-Biography:A native of Liaoyang Liaoning Province, Sun studied at the Tokyo University of Education in Tokyo, Japan...
, cabinet minister in Manchukuo government - Bao GuanchengBao GuanchengBao Guancheng was a Manchukuo politician, who served as mayor of Harbin and ambassador to Japan.-Career:Bao was born in Zhenjiang, Jiangsu. In his youth, he studied law at Beiyang University, then worked as a secretary at the National Bureau of Alcohol and Tobacco...
, Manchukuo's first ambassador in Tokyo - Yuan Cheng-Tse, Manchukuo ambassador in Tokyo
- Li Shao-Keng, Manchukuo ambassador in Tokyo
- Gen. Tinge, Manchukuo diplomat in Tokyo
Kwantung Army
(Commanders)- Shigeru HonjōShigeru Honjo-Notes:...
(1 August 1931 – 8 August 1932) - Nobuyoshi MutōNobuyoshi Muto-External links:*- Notes :...
(8 August 1932 – 27 July 1933) - Takashi HishikariTakashi Hishikari- Notes :...
(29 July 1933 – 10 December 1934) - Jirō MinamiJiro Minami- Notes :...
(10 December 1934 – 6 March 1936) - Kenkichi UedaKenkichi Ueda-External links:*- Notes :...
(6 March 1936 – 7 September 1939) - Yoshijirō Umezu (7 September 1939 – 18 July 1944)
- Otozō Yamada (18 July 1944 – 11 August 1945)
(Chief of Staff)
- Koji Miyake (10 August 1928 – 8 August 1932)
- Kuniaki KoisoKuniaki Koiso- Notes :...
(8 August 1932 – 5 March 1934) - Juzo Nishio (5 March 1934 – 23 March 1936)
- Seishirō Itagaki (23 March 1936 – 1 March 1937)
- Hideki TōjōHideki TōjōHideki Tōjō was a general of the Imperial Japanese Army , the leader of the Taisei Yokusankai, and the 40th Prime Minister of Japan during most of World War II, from 17 October 1941 to 22 July 1944...
(1 March 1937 – 30 May 1938) - Rensuke IsogaiRensuke Isogai-External links:...
(18 June 1938 – 7 September 1939) - Jo IimuraJo Iimura- Notes :...
(7 September 1939 – 22 October 1940) - Heitarō Kimura (22 October 1940 – 10 April 1941)
- Teiichi Yoshimoto (10 April 1941 – 1 August 1942)
- Yukio KasaharaYukio Kasahara- Notes :...
(1 August 1942 – 7 April 1945) - Hikosaburo Hata (7 April 1945 – 11 August 1945)
Others (Japanese)
- Chu KudoChu Kudo, real name , was a Japanese adventurer, Manchukuo politician and Lieutenant General in the Manchukuo Imperial Army.-Background:Kudō was born in Itayanagi, Kitatsugaru, Aomori as the third son of the wealthy farmer Bun'emon Obata. He had an interest in continental issues, and after graduating from...
, Chamberlain, aide-de-camp to Emperor Puyi - Chiune SugiharaChiune Sugiharawas a Japanese diplomat who served as Vice-Consul for the Japanese Empire in Lithuania. During World War II, he helped several thousand Jews leave the country by issuing transit visas to Jewish refugees so that they could travel to Japan. Most of the Jews who escaped were refugees from...
, Vice Foreign Minister - Hoshino Naoki, Vice Minister of Finance
- Kenji DoiharaKenji Doiharawas a general in the Imperial Japanese Army in World War II. He was instrumental in the Japanese invasion of Manchuria for which he earned fame taking the nickname 'Lawrence of Manchuria', a reference to the Lawrence of Arabia....
, Japanese spymaster and military commander - Norihiro YasueNorihiro YasueColonel Norihiro Yasue was an Imperial Japanese Army officer who played a crucial role in the so-called Fugu Plan, in which Jews were rescued from Europe and brought to Japanese-occupied territories during World War II. Believing strongly in the Protocols of the Elders of Zion, he was known as one...
, Army officer, author of the Fugu PlanFugu PlanThe Jewish settlement in Imperial Japan involved the movement of Jews to and through Japan to its occupied areas of China shortly prior to and during World War II, coinciding with the Second Sino-Japanese War... - Koreshige InuzukaKoreshige InuzukaCaptain was the head of the Japanese Imperial Navy's Advisory Bureau on Jewish Affairs from March 1939 until April 1942. Like his Imperial Japanese Army counterpart, Col...
, Navy officer, co-author of the Fugu Plan - Masahiko Amakasu, Vice Minister of Civil Affairs and head of Manchukuo Film AssociationManchukuo Film Association, also known as the "Manchuria Film Production", was a Japanese film production company in Manchukuo in the 1930s and 40s.-Early history:...
- Yoshisuke AikawaYoshisuke Aikawa-External links:*...
, prominent industrialist - Tatsunosuke TakasakiTatsunosuke TakasakiTatsunosuke Takasaki was a Japanese businessman-politician, born on Feburuary 7, 1885, in Takatsuki, Osaka and died on February 24, 1964, in Tokyo....
, prominent businessman - Toranosuke Hashimoto, State Shinto head priest
Others
- Genrikh LyushkovGenrikh LyushkovGenrikh Samoilovich Lyushkov was an officer in the Soviet secret police and its highest-ranking defector....
, ex-Soviet Far East NKVD defector, adviser to Kwantung Army - Konstantin Vladimirovich Rodzaevsky, White Russian anticommunist leader
- General Kislistin, another White Russian anticommunist chief
- Abraham KaufmanAbraham KaufmanDr. Abraham Josevich Kaufman was a Russian-born medical doctor, community organizer and Zionist who helped protect some tens of thousands of Jews seeking safe-haven in East Asia from Nazi atrocities during World War II.As a consequence of his contacts with Japanese authorities during World War II...
, founder of Far Eastern Jewish Council and Betarim Jew Zionists Movement - Trebitsch LincolnTrebitsch LincolnIgnatius Timothy Trebitsch-Lincoln a Hungarian Jewish adventurer who spent parts of his life as a Protestant missionary, Anglican priest, British Member of Parliament for Darlington, German right-wing politician and spy, and Buddhist abbot in China....
, Hungarian pro-Japanese collaborator - August Ponschab, German consul in Harbin, Manchuria
- Auguste Ernest Pierre Gaspais, Vatican representative in Harbin, Manchuria
- Charles Lemaire, Vatican diplomatic officer in Harbin, Manchuria