Romania #1854 (1966) – Sun Yat-Sen (1866-1925) Founder of the Chinese Republic

Sun Yat-sen (also known as Sun Zhongshan) was a Chinese revolutionary and political leader who played a crucial role in the overthrow of the Qing Dynasty and the establishment of the Republic of China. He was born on November 12, 1866, in Cuiheng, Guangdong, China, and died on March 12, 1925, in Beijing.

Key points about Sun Yat-sen’s life and contributions include:

1. Early Life and Education:
   • Sun Yat-sen came from a farming family and received a traditional Chinese education.
   • He later moved to Hawaii, where he attended a missionary school and was exposed to Western ideas and political thought.
2. Revolutionary Ideas:
   • Influenced by Western democratic ideals and the desire to modernize China, Sun became a strong advocate for reform and revolution.
   • He founded the Revive China Society in 1894, aiming to overthrow the Qing Dynasty and establish a republic.
3. Xinhai Revolution:
   • The Xinhai Revolution, also known as the 1911 Revolution, led to the overthrow of the Qing Dynasty in 1911.
   • Sun Yat-sen was in exile during much of the revolution, but he was elected as the provisional president of the new Republic of China in December 1911.
4. Founding of the Republic of China:
   • Sun Yat-sen’s vision for the new China was based on the Three Principles of the People: nationalism, democracy, and people’s livelihood.
   • However, his presidency was short-lived, and he resigned in 1912 in favor of Yuan Shikai.
5. Challenges and Later Years:
   • The early years of the Republic were marked by political instability, with different factions vying for power.
   • Sun Yat-sen continued to be involved in Chinese politics, and he worked to reunify China and counter warlordism.
6. Legacy:
   • Sun Yat-sen is often referred to as the “Father of the Nation” in the Republic of China and the “Forerunner of the Revolution” in the People’s Republic of China.
   • His political philosophy, the Three Principles of the People, continued to influence Chinese politics and served as the foundation for the Nationalist Party (Kuomintang or KMT).
7. Death:
   • Sun Yat-sen passed away in Beijing on March 12, 1925, at the age of 58.
   • His body was later interred in a grand mausoleum on the outskirts of Nanjing, known as the Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum.

Sun Yat-sen’s legacy extends beyond his role in the revolution, as his ideas and political philosophy have continued to shape the course of Chinese history.