Sun Yat-sen (1866-1925) is widely recognized as the father of 20th century China. He led the Chinese Revolution of 1911 that eventually established the Republic of China and overthrew the last imperial dynasty—the Qing Dynasty. In the early years of his career, Sun was widely read in the West and was seen as a daring reformer and modernizer. His legacy remains strong, especially among the people of Taiwan, who continue to revere him as a great leader and role model for China’s modernization.
In the wake of its defeat in the Sino-Japanese War of 1895, the Qing Dynasty was forced to cede Taiwan to Japan. This made Sun a vocal critic of the dynasty and of its reluctance to introduce reforms. He was a major proponent of the “Three Principles of the People”: nationalism, democracy and the people’s livelihood. These values remain central to the Chinese Communist Party’s nationalism today.
Sun founded the Revive China Society in 1894 and worked to develop a revolutionary movement across China. He spent much of the next decade in exile in the United States, Europe and Japan, where he organized and received funding from overseas Chinese who supported the cause of revolution. Sun was keenly aware of the power of modern technology and believed that China’s future lay in embracing industrialization and global engagement.
Sun returned to China in 1910 and formed an alliance with several other revolutionary groups who sought to overthrow the Qing Dynasty. His forces staged an uprising in October of 1911 and quickly seized power in Southern China. Sun was declared the president of the new Republic of China on January 1, 1912, although he shared power with Yuan Shikai, who served as the country’s first premier.
Sun’s vision for China was ambitious and transformative. He believed that China should embrace the principles of democracy, national self-determination and modern science. He also emphasized the need for social and economic reform, including land reform and the establishment of a public education system.
In addition to his vision for China’s future, Sun is remembered for introducing important political reforms. Under Sun, women were given the right to vote in 1913 and new restrictions on the press were lifted. He also introduced measures to try to eliminate corruption in government and improve the civil service system.
Unfortunately, Sun was unable to complete his reforms and the Republic of China fell into chaos after his death in 1925. He was succeeded by Chiang Kai-shek, who oversaw the implementation of the Kuomintang’s nationalist agenda. Sun’s legacy remained strong, however, and during the Second Sino-Japanese War, he became an important rallying point for Chinese resistance. His memory also endured after the victory of Mao Zedong’s communist forces in 1949 and the establishment of the People’s Republic of China.
Sun Yat-sen was a towering figure in modern Chinese history. His vision of democracy, modernization and economic reform helped to shape the ideas behind the Chinese Revolution of 1911. Under his leadership, important reforms were introduced that continue to resonate in China today. His legacy remains strong, especially among the Taiwanese, who continue to view him as an inspiring leader and a role model for China’s modernization.