Der Ling, Princess

"Princess" Der Ling (1885 - 1944) was a Manchu, the daughter of Yu Keng. Yu Keng was a member of the Manchu Plain White Banner Corps and according to his daughter was a Lord. He was known for his progressive, reformist views, as well as for his unvarying support of the Empress Dowager Cixi. Yu Keng's daughters Der Ling and Rong Ling (1882-1973, the future Madame Dan Paochao of Beijing) received a western education, having studied dance in Paris with Isadora Duncan. Upon return from France, Der Ling became the First lady-in-waiting to Empress Dowager Cixi, as well as a translator. She stayed at...