questions about LAST EMPORER (1987)?

Question

anybody know these?

why did the 3-year old emporer have to leave his real mother?

in the film, he cut off his pigtail (queue)----does anyone know what cultural signifigance the pigtail has? Why do men let it grow in Old China?

Answer 1

Pu Yi's mother does not rank high enough to live in the forbidden city. The late emperor died without heir and Pu Yi became emperor by default.

Pigtails are considered as sacred to the Manchurian. Cutting it off is to renounce one's roots and customs.