Manchukuo

State of Manchuria (1932–1934) 滿洲國 Empire of (Great) Manchuria (1934–1945) 大滿洲帝國
1932–1945
Flag Emblem
Motto: "Five Races Under One Union"
Anthem: National Anthem of Manchukuo (used 1933–1942) (used 1942–1945)
Imperial seal 滿洲帝國之寶
The Empire of Manchuria   The Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere at its furthest extent
Status	Puppet state of the Empire of Japan
Capital	Xinjing (Changchun) (until 9 August 1945) Tonghua (from 9 August 1945)
Largest city	Harbin
Official languages	Japanese Manchurian[note 1]
Recognised regional languages	Manchu Mongolian (Khorchin and Kharchin) Korean Russian Kyowa-go
Religion	State Shinto Manchu folk religion Buddhism (Chinese Buddhism, Korean Buddhism, Japanese Buddhism and Tibetan Buddhism) Northeast China folk religion Taoism Confucianism Shanrendao Mongolian shamanism Korean folk religion Russian Orthodoxy
Demonym(s)	Manchurian[note 2], Manchu[note 3], Manchukuoan[note 4]
Government	Unitary one-party provisional republic under a military dictatorship (1932–1934) Unitary one-party provisional monarchy under a totalitarian military dictatorship (1934–1945)
Head of state
• 1932–1934 (as Chief Executive) 1934–1945 (as Emperor)	Puyi
Prime Minister
• 1932–1935	Zheng Xiaoxu
• 1935–1945	Zhang Jinghui
Legislature	Legislative Council
Historical era	Interwar period and World War II
• Japanese invasion	18 September 1931
• Northeast Supreme Administrative Council	16 February 1932
• Established	1 March 1932
• Rehe annexed	4 March 1933
• Empire proclaimed	1 March 1934
• Member of GEACPS	30 November 1940
• Soviet invasion	9 August 1945
• Dissolution	18 August 1945
Area
• Total	984,195 km2 (380,000 sq mi)
Currency	Chinese customs gold unit Manchukuo yuan
Preceded by Succeeded by Republic of China Northeast Supreme Administrative Council National People's Prefecture Soviet occupation of Manchuria
Today part of	China

Part of a series on the
History of Manchuria
Prehistoric period Liao civilization
Ancient to Classical period Gojoseon Sushen Donghu Yemaek Takri Kingdom Yan (Warring States) Xiongnu Han dynasty Wuhuan Xianbei state Yan (Three Kingdoms) Cao Wei Buyeo Goguryeo Sima Jin dynasty Yuwen Former Yan Former Qin Later Yan Northern Yan Kumo Xi Khitan Mohe Shiwei Göktürk Khaganate
Medieval to Early Modern period Eastern Turkic Khaganate Tang dynasty (Andong Protectorate) Balhae Little Goguryeo Dongdan Kingdom Later Balhae Jeongan Liao dynasty Xingliao Jurchen Jin dynasty Yuan rule Northern Yuan Ming rule (Nurgan) Later Jin Sino-Russian border conflicts (Jaxa) Qing rule
Modern period Amur Annexation Chuang Guandong Korean and Russian invasions Russian Dalian Beiyang government (Fengtian Clique) Far Eastern Republic Green Ukraine Kwantung Leased Territory Nationalist government Korean People's Association in Manchuria Japanese invasion Manchukuo Liaoshen Campaign (Chinese Civil War) Manchuria/Northeast China Outer Manchuria (in Russian Far East)
v t e

Manchukuo^{[note 5]} was a puppet state of the Empire of Japan in Northeast China that existed from 1932 until its dissolution in 1945. It was ostensibly founded as a republic, its territory consisting of the lands seized in the Japanese invasion of Manchuria; it was later declared to be a constitutional monarchy in 1934, though very little changed in the actual functioning of government. Manchukuo received limited diplomatic recognition, mostly from states aligned with the Axis powers, with its existence widely seen as illegitimate.

The region now known as Manchuria had historically been the homeland of the Manchu people, though by the 20th century they had long since become a minority in the region, with Han Chinese constituting by far the largest ethnic group. The Manchu-led Qing dynasty, which had governed China since 17th century, was overthrown with the permanent abolition of the dynastic system in the 1911 Xinhai Revolution, with Puyi, the final emperor of China, forced to abdicate at the age of six. In 1931, Manchuria was invaded and occupied by the Empire of Japan following the Mukden incident. A puppet government was set up the following year, with Puyi brought in by the Japanese to serve as its nominal regent, though he himself had no actual political power. Japanese officials ultimately made all pertinent decisions, and exercised total control over Puyi's court and personal safety. Upon the nominal transition from republic to empire, Puyi was proclaimed as the emperor of Manchukuo.^[2]

The Japanese population of Manchuria increased dramatically during this period, largely due to Japan's efforts to resettle young, land-poor farmers from the inner islands. By 1945, more than a million Japanese people had settled within Manchukuo. The region's Korean population also increased during this period. Regions in the western part of the country with large Mongolian populations were ruled under a slightly different system, reflecting the distinct traditions extant there. The southern tip of the Liaodong Peninsula, now the city of Dalian, continued to be ruled directly by Japan as the Kwantung Leased Territory until the end of the war.

The state was ultimately toppled at the end of World War II with the Soviet invasion of Manchuria in August 1945; its government was formally dissolved following the Japanese surrender in September.^[3] The territory was transferred to Chinese administration the following year.^{[note 6]}

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