醇亲王奕譞是晚清史上一重要政治人物,思想敏锐,品行廉洁,曾对中国早期近代化事业作出过很大的贡献,特别是在兴建铁路方面的业绩尤为突出。但以往人们多对其持消极评价,主要因为他曾帮助慈禧太后修建颐和园,这件事被认定与甲午战争的失败有关,笔者以为此种观点是不正确的。

Prince Chun Y i- xuan was an important figure in government circles in the late Qing Dynasty He had a sharp mind and was honest in performing his official duties. Prince Chun made a great contribution in early stage of the Chinese modernization .Especially outstanding were his achievements in launching the construction of railways. However the public was criticized him because he helped the Empress Dowager Cixi build the Summer Palace T he diversion of resources to the construction of the Summer Palace has long been considered a contributing fact or to the Qing 's defeat in the Sino - Japanese War ( 1894- 1895) , bu t the author thinks such view s are incorrect.