By the early 20th century, mass civil disorder had begun, starting on 10 October 1911 with the Wuchang Uprising and followed by the Xinhai  Revolution, which eventually ended with the creation of the Republic of China.

The Empress Dowager Longyu (Xiao Ding Jing) issued an imperial edict bringing about the abdication of the child emperor Aisin Gioro Puyi (Xuantong), and on 1 January 1912 a new central government was formally established in Nanjing, led by Dr. Sun Yat-sen (fig.), thus ending over 2,000 years of imperial rule in China. These displays are found at Wu Liang Dian, the Beamless Hall, in Nanjing.