Puyi

About Puyi

Puyi (1906–1967) was the last Emperor of China, reigning as the Xuantong Emperor over the Qing dynasty. Though forced to abdicate in 1912, his life spanned one of China's most turbulent periods, including his later installation as the puppet emperor of the Japanese-controlled state of Manchukuo. His status as the final monarch of a millennia-old imperial system secures his position at #620 in MIT's Historical Popularity Index, reflecting a significant, albeit complex, political legacy.

Despite this high historical rank, Puyi's modern internet footprint suggests a degree of obscurity relative to his importance. Garnering 1.3 million Wikipedia views in 2025, he receives less attention than contemporary politicians like Dwight D. Eisenhower (#814 importance, 3.5M views) or even Benjamin Netanyahu (#744 importance, 6.7M views). In fact, his attention level is roughly 4x lower than his historical ranking would suggest, indicating an 'overattention' gap where modern digital curiosity does not fully align with his globally influential historical role.

However, interest in the last emperor is currently growing. His 2025 annualized views showed a positive year-over-year change of +12.4%, and his Q1 versus Q3 momentum was a strong +39%, suggesting a recent resurgence in online engagement that may narrow this gap.