Evaluate the role of Dr. Sun Yat Sen in the Revolution of 1911.
Briefly describe the career of Dr. Sun Yat Sen as a nation
builder.
Critically examine Dr. Sun Yat Sen’s ‘San Min Chui’.
Comment: Dr. Sun Yat Sen
SUN YAT SEN – EARLY LIFE
Dr. Sun Yat Sen, the father of the Chinese Revolution was
born on 12th November, 1899, in Hsiang-Shan, near Canton. After his
early schooling at China, he went to Honolulu where he received knowledge of
English and Maths. He converted to Christianity. Having seen China’s plight, he
began to thing about overthrowing the Manchu dynasty. Sun joined the College of
Medicine for Chinese in Hongkong because of its better curriculum and the
freedom that Hongkong afforded for revolutionary activity. At Hongkong he received
a sound training in science and medicine from the strict English dean, Dr.
James Cantlie, and he also used the school as the headquarters for his
revolutionary activities. He graduated first in his class and began practice in
Macao. He then moved to Canton, freely donating his services and medical
supplies to the needy in order to win friends and make new contacts.
At Canton, Sun met an old Taoist priest, who advised his
that for the revolution to succeed he must seek the help of secret societies. From
him, Sun learned of the organization and the locations of these secret bodies.
Sun’s ambition – Sun considered reform as a possible means
of saving China before panning to over throw the Manchus which was his
ambition.
Sun’s oath – Sun believed that overthrowing the Manchus was
the only way out and so he took an oath: Manchus have to be overthrown. After
succeeding set up a democracy.
Sun’s aim – The society was founded for the regeneration of
China to do away with corrupt people, rejuvenate new ideas and spread awareness
among the masses.
Sun’s concern for his people was so great that he gave up
his medical career in 1883 and took to revolutionary activities in China.
Revive China Society – Sun sought the help of the Chinese
overseas, the secret societies and the Chinese converts and the missionaries.
He organized the Revive China Society in Honolulu with the help of his brother
and an initial membership of 112 members. He established the headquarters of
the Revive China Society at Hongkong with its branches in Chinese provinces.
Members of the society took an oath to ‘expel the Manchus, restore the Chinese
rule and establish a federal republic’. It was the first revolutionary body.
Revive China Society raised 3000 men with a view to capture
Caton for establishing it as their revolutionary base. However, the plot was
discovered resulting in the loss of forty-eight lives. Sun Yat Sen then fled
first to Hongkong and then to Japan. He set up a branch of the Revive China
Society at Yokahoma and began to develop connections with Japanese
sympathizers. The Japanese had described the Canton uprising as a ‘revolution’
rather than a revolt. Sun Yat Sen ordered that henceforth all uprisings should
be called ‘revolutions’ because he felt flattered by the description. While in
Japan, he also took up Western attire.
The London Kidnap – Sun went to Honolulu to promote
revolution and then to the United States to seek support from Chinese
communities there. He was kidnapped and detained on the third floor. The
embassy had made arrangements for him to be sent to China secretly, but the
attempt failed and the British foreign office secured his release. The kidnap
was a blessing in disguise since it made him world famous overnight.
Sun Yat Sen remained in Europe for about two years to study
political and social developments. He developed the idea of a social revolution
to complement his earlier nationalistic and democratic revolution. This was the
basis of his famous Three Peoples Principles (San Min Chui). The Three Peoples Principles
subsequently became the revolutionary philosophy for Sun and his followers.
Sun abroad – While in Japan he set up a branch of his party
in Yokahama. Then he toured America to arouse the Chinese communities and
spread awareness regarding national movement. He travelled to South East Asia,
Hawaii and the US to gain support from overseas Chinese.
Boxer Rebellion – The failure of the Boxer Revolution fully
exposed the inefficiency and corruption of the Manchu Rulers and consequently
many looked upon him with favor. He was no longer regarded as a rebel or an
outlaw, but rather as a patriotic, devoted revolutionary working for the
betterment of his country and his people. Students in China and Japan began to
support him.
The Tung Meng Hui (1905) – Sun Yat Sen travelled widely to
seek support for his cause. Encouraged by the enthusiastic response of Chinese
students in Japan, he began to consider the idea of forming a revolutionary
party. Many of the students were secretly trained in the methods of weapon making,
military tactics and guerilla warfare. They took an oath before Sun to
‘establish a republic and equalize the land’.
On 20th August 1905, the United Chinese League
or Tung Meng Hui was set up with Sun Yat Sen as its chairman. 70 persons joined
the Tung Meng Hui and for Sun, it marked the downfall of the Manchus. The three
principles were accepted as the revolutionary philosophy.
The founding of the Tung Meng Hui constituted a milestone
in the Chinese Revolution because it materially changed the character and style
of the revolution. No longer did Sun operate on the periphery of the society.
He had moved into the main stream of Chinese nationalism, receiving support
from students, writers and progressive army officers. The social base and
potential areas of operates had been substantially enlarged, because the Tung
Meng Hui was a multiprovincial and multiclass organization. It also provided a
unified central organization that resembled a modern political party, which
served as a rallying point for all revolutionary and progressive forces in
China. It has been rightly described as the ‘mother of the Chinese Revolution’.
Role in the 1911 Revolution
In 1906, 1907 and 1910, Dr. Sun Yat Sen and his followers
launched a number of futile revolutions in attempt to overturn / topple the
corrupt Manchu government. By 1911, the Tung Meng Hui was completely
officialized to from the Kuo Min Tung (Nationalist Party).
On October 10, 1911, an explosion at a bomb factory
operated by his followers (Tung Meng Hui Society) in Hankow, sparked a military
revolt. Even though he was out of the country, the success of the revolt marked
a turning point in his struggle against the Manchus and nearly 15 provinces
joined him.
When the 1911 Revolution broke out, Sun Yat Sen was in the
United States from where he returned to assume its leadership. On 29th
December 2011, Sun was elected the provisional president of the Republic of
China. After 27 years of struggle, Sun’s lifelong dream became a reality.
However, Sun’s triumph was short lived. Very soon he was made to give up the
provisional presidency to make way for Yuan Shik Kai who was made the president
of the Republic of China. As an idealist he cared little whether he or Yuan was
the president as long as the Manchy dynasty was overthrown and the principle of
a republic was firmly established. He was also disappointed with his followers
who ignored his 3 stage revolutionary procedure and his principles of
democratic reconstruction and peoples livelihood, they emphasized only
nationalism to overthrow the Manchus.
Second Revolution, its failure and Sun Yat Sen – On 12 July
1913, the military governor of Kiangsi declared independence. Very soon he was
followed by six other provinces. This was the famous second revolution. Yuan
had little double in crushing it and soon their provinces came under his firm
military control. The first phase of the Chinese revolution overthrew the
Manchu dynasty but did not establish a parliamentary republic. With the failure
of the second revolution, the first phase was over. Although the parliamentary
republic was revived after the death of Yuan Shik Kai, it could not maintain
itself against various warlords. All attempts to revive it in the face of determined
opposition to the warlords failed. Consequently, the revolution lost its
political character for some time.
The Kuo Min Tang – 1912-1924
Tung Meng Hui, the secret revolutionary organization, which
had brought about the 1911 revolution, lost much of its revolutionary force
with the overthrow of the Manchus. It was then reorganized as a non-secret
political party including other groups than the Tung Meng Hui. In 1913, after
the failure of the second revolution, it was again turned into a secret revolutionary
party with all its members required to take an oath to Sun Yat Sen. Since many
members refused to take this oath, its membership was restricted to very few.
Thereafter, the revolutionaries were kept together solely by the personality of
Sun Yat Sen. Party membership became a matter of tradition – it merely meant
that one had personal contact with Sun Yat Sen. The party was again reorganized
after the capture of Kwantung. The new National People’s Party of China
remained a secret society, but the personal oath was abolished along with some
other restrictions. However, since no proper organization of the party machine
was taken up, the party remained the instrument of the leader. In September
1923, Sun undertook another reorganization of the party along radically
different lines. Under the guidance of Michael Borodin, the party was
transformed into a highly organized party of disciplined individuals, united by
the acceptance of common program of action instead of by only the personal tie
and loyalty to Sun. The model for the reorganization was the Russian Communist
Party. Sun Yat Sen was to be the party president for life.
Three Peoples Principles (San Min Chui)
Dr. Sun Yat Sen’s greatest contribution to Chinese national
ideas were Sam Min Chui or the Three Peoples Principles. Even though these
gained concrete shape in 1924 at Canton, they had been developing in his mind
since 1905. The three principles were:
1. Nationalism
– Min Tsu
2. Democracy
– Min Chuan
3. Peoples
Livelihood – Min Shung
Nationalism – Min Tsu – According to Clyde and Beers,
‘Nationalism was a term suggesting people and race. To Sun it was a call to end
the alien Manchu rule. China’s semi-colonial status under unequal treaties and
foreign naval leaseholds’.
Sun felt that the Chinese lacked the idea of a nation
state. They had cultural unity but lacked political unity. To him, China was
like a rope of sand, where all the particles were alike but not bound together.
The bond had to be done through the cement of nationalism which would lead to
the formation of a strong political society.
Nationalism meant development of a nationwide patriotism, a
loyalty to China, a transfer from traditional loyalties of family and clan and village
to the state. The easiest way to develop patriotism was on the basis of
hostility to those who threaten the integrity of the state, it was therefore
necessary to present a united national front against imperialism. Imperialism
had reduced China to a ‘hypocolony’. Her position was worse than a colony for
many powers were trying to rule China.
The Manchus were aliens who did not think of the
development of China. Greater China consisted of not only one people but of 5
peoples. Nationalism meant incorporating all these peoples. It was a new
patriotism to the state, transcending all racial inequalities. It required a
united passion of the Chinese against oppressions of the Manchu rulers and
imperialists. More importance was given to merit rather than class differences.
Democracy – Min Chuan – To Sun Yan Sen, the Chinese in
achieving democracy must acquire a new concept of ‘liberty’ through the
individual curbing his own freedom in order to ensure the welfare of the state.
On equality, the companion principle in a democratic
society, Sun held that, since men are not naturally free neither did nature
create them equal.
His ideas were derived from four principle sources:
a. Western
Republicanism
b. Swiss
Doctrine of Election – Recall, Initiative, Referendum
c. Soviet
Democratic Centralism
d. Chinese
ideas of Examination and Control.
The exercise of these mechanisms was intended to make
possible the replacement of the authoritarian structure by a democratic
structure of elected representatives.
Constitutionally the elected government would rest on 5
powers:
1. Legislative
2. Executive
3. Judicial
4. Examination
5. Control
Sun envisaged 3 stages of progress towards Democracy
a. Military
government
b. A
period of political tautology (training)
c. Completion
of Chinese reconstruction and inauguration of a constitutional government –
democratic constitutional government
Peoples livelihood – Min Shieng – According to Clyde and
Beers, ‘Min Shieng was a term used to embrace a number of social and economic
theories which had attracted Sun’s attention’.
The principle of livelihood was that the state should
direct or control peoples affairs so that the needs of all should be supplied
as far as possible by all.
Sun favored nationalizing of systems of transportation and
communication, the improvement of working conditions, fuller education for
workers, children and development of consumer cooperatives.
Sun wanted livelihood for all to find remedies for
unemployment, improve living conditions for laborers and to provide care toe
the poor who are sick, aged and disabled.
He wanted industrialization by the use of foreign capital.
He also believed in equalization of land to prevent
inequlatiy between rich and poor and thereby avert ‘social revolution’.
Sun also gave 6 objectives to his followers
1. To
overthrow the Manchu dynasty
2. To
nationalize land
3. To
establish a republic
4. To
promote world peace
5. To
establish good and friendly relations between China and Japan
6. To
secure support of various European powers
Chinese republic – On 2 April 1921, Sun Yat Sen formally
established the republican government at Canton. Sun Yat Sen himself was the
head of this government. Sun Yat Sen himself was the head of this government.
Sun Yat Sen went to Peking in 1925, 12 March, where he died an untimely death,
calling upon his followers to carry on the revolution.
Sun Yat Sen’s death had two important but contradictory
consequences.
He was transformed overnight into the legendary hero and
patron saint of the Kuo Min Tang and Nationalist China. All doubts about his
wisdom were laid at rest. His past mistakes were forgotten and he came to be
regarded as the fountain of all wisdom. This together with Russian influence
and direction, transformed the Kuo Min Tang into a vital force in Chinese
politics. Sun Yat Senism is a much more vital force than Sun Yat Sen had ever
been. His three peoples principles became the nationalist bible.
His death opened the way for a conflict for leadership of
the party and made it possible for the leaders, as part of this conflict, to
split on doctrinal grounds. This was so because his views were so general and
vague that they could be interpreted in many ways.
Conclusion – Sun Yat Sen became the embodiment of all the
idealism within the nationalist movement.
The passing of Sun Yat Sen had pronounced conflicting
effects upon the nationalist movement.
‘So long as Sun lived, his short comings, his mistakes and
his lack of practical, political acumen had been obvious not only to his
immediate followers but, also to his enemies. Now that he was gone all this was
changed. The failures of the man whom many had regarded as visionary were
forgotten’ – Clyde and Beers
As Confucious had become the sage of ancient China, so
would Sun Yat Sen inherit the role of twentieth century China. Confucianism
would give place to Sun Yat Senism.
Sun Yat Sen dreamt of a strong, modern Chinese Republic and
fairly deserves the title of Father of Modern China.
Criticism – Many people criticize Sun’s ideology and
misinterpret them finding them too ideological. On his death warlordism became
prominent once again. At the Peking Conference they had asked for Suns help but
on his death they approached Chiang Kai Shek and offered him financial help.
Today Kuo Min Tang is no longer in force, CCP rules.
Effects
1. Overnight
Sun Yat Sen became the father of Modern China
2. People
no longer criticized him. Moreover his principles became the Bible of Chinese
democracy
3. In
1940 he was declared the founder of Chinese Democracy
‘Sun Yat Sen left behind a rich legacy of patriotism,
revolutionary will and indomitable spirit’ – Jiang Zemin
‘Inspite of all political disagreements all China agree on
one thing Sun Yat Sen was the founding father of Modern China’ – F. Schumann
and Osschellin.
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