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Sun Yat-sen and the Struggle for Modern China

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The Unfinished Revolution: Sun Yat-Sen and the Struggle for Modern China

by Tjio Kayloe

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Sun Yat-sen was a Chinese revolutionary, physician, and political theorist who is considered the "Father of Modern China." His contributions to China's political development were significant, and his ideas continue to influence Chinese politics today.

Early Life and Education

Sun Yat-sen was born on November 12, 1866, in Cuiheng Village, Xiangshan County, Guangdong Province, China. His father was a peasant farmer, and his mother was a devout Buddhist. Sun was a bright and inquisitive child, and he excelled in his studies. He attended a local Christian school and then went on to study medicine at the Hong Kong College of Medicine for Chinese.

While in Hong Kong, Sun was exposed to Western ideas and began to develop his own political philosophy. He was particularly influenced by the writings of John Locke and Jean-Jacques Rousseau. Sun believed that all people were created equal and that they had the right to life, liberty, and property. He also believed that the government should be based on the consent of the governed.

The Chinese Revolution

In 1894, the First Sino-Japanese War broke out. Sun Yat-sen was deeply concerned about the weakness of the Qing government and the threat that Japan posed to China. He organized a group of Chinese students in Hong Kong and founded the Revive China Society. The society's goal was to overthrow the Qing government and establish a republic in China.

In 1905, Sun Yat-sen founded the Chinese Nationalist Party, also known as the Kuomintang (KMT). The KMT was a revolutionary organization that sought to overthrow the Qing government and establish a democratic republic in China. Sun Yat-sen developed a political philosophy known as the Three Principles of the People, which included nationalism, democracy, and socialism.

The Chinese Revolution began in 1911 with the Wuchang Uprising. Sun Yat-sen was elected president of the provisional government of the Republic of China, but he soon resigned in favor of Yuan Shikai, who was the commander of the Beiyang Army. Yuan Shikai betrayed the revolution and established a dictatorship.

Exile and Return

Sun Yat-sen was forced to flee China after Yuan Shikai's betrayal. He spent the next several years in exile, traveling to Europe, the United States, and Japan. During this time, he continued to work for the revolution and to develop his political philosophy.

In 1917, Sun Yat-sen returned to China and resumed his leadership of the KMT. He reorganized the party and launched a new campaign to overthrow the Beiyang government. In 1925, the KMT allied with the Chinese Communist Party and launched the Northern Expedition. The Northern Expedition was successful, and the KMT established a new government in Nanjing.

Death and Legacy

Sun Yat-sen died on March 12, 1925, in Beijing. He was 58 years old. His death was a major blow to the Chinese Revolution, but his legacy continued to inspire Chinese people. The KMT went on to defeat the Beiyang government and establish a new government in Nanjing. The Chinese Communist Party also continued to grow in strength, and eventually led the Chinese Revolution to victory in 1949.

Sun Yat-sen is considered one of the most important figures in Chinese history. He was a visionary leader who dedicated his life to the struggle for a modern, democratic China. His ideas continue to influence Chinese politics today.