Sun Yat-sen was a prominent Chinese political leader and thinker who was instrumental in the overthrow of the Qing Dynasty, leading to the establishment of the Republic of China. He was an influential figure in the formation of the Chinese nation and has been referred to as the “Father of the Nation” in China. Sun Yat-sen is considered a major figure in not only Chinese history but also world history, and his legacy remains a source of pride and celebration for many people.
Yat-sen was born in 1866 in the village of Cuiheng, located in the region of Guangdong. He came from a poor but industrious Hakka peasant family. His father, Sun Dacheng, worked as a farmer and small business owner throughout his life. Sun Yat-sen studied in local schools as a child and excelled in his studies. He was awarded a scholarship to attend Xing Hua Academy by the provincial government and attended college in Canton. After completing his studies at the academy in 1882 at the age of 16, he went to Hong Kong for two years and received further education at the Hong Kong College of Medicine for Chinese.
In 1883, Sun Yat-sen traveled to Hawaii with his brother and attended Iolani School, one of the first educational institutions established in the Hawaiian archipelago. It was in Hawaii that Yat-sen was exposed to a number of western concepts, including democracy and nationalism. At Iolani School, he organized a political club called the Reading Society, and gathered knowledge on international affairs. In 1884, Sun Yat-sen returned to Hong Kong and furthered his education at the College of Medicine.
Sun Yat-sen held a very critical view of the ruling Qing dynasty, particularly because of its oppression of the Chinese people. He began plotting to overthrow the dynasty and sought support from powerful overseas Chinese communities, beginning in Singapore and then progressing to the United States and Japan. He launched the Revive China Society in 1894, and it became a major political organization devoted to overthrowing the Qing dynasty.
In 1895, Sun Yat-sen led a failed coup d’état in Guangzhou, which aimed to overthrow the royal family. This was followed by his arrest and imprisonment. He escaped from prison in 1896 and fled to Japan, where he established the National Alliance of Overseas Chinese. Sun Yat-sen and his supporters then launched the Xinhai Revolution in 1911, bringing about the downfall of the Qing dynasty and end of imperial rule in China.
In 1912, the Republic of China was established with Sun Yat-sen as its provisional president. He passed away in 1925, leaving behind a legacy that continues to resonate with Chinese people today. Sun Yat-sen is remembered as an iconic leader and visionary who helped to catalyze major reforms in Chinese society. He was an advocate of democracy and introduced various ideas and ideologies such as the Three Principles of the People, which served as a basis for the nation-building efforts of the early Republic of China period. He is a widely respected and highly admired figure, and his name is often invoked in the context of Chinese nationalism and patriotism.
To sum up, Sun Yat-sen was a major political leader and thinker who was instrumental in the overthrow of the Qing dynasty and establishment of the Republic of China. He was an influential figure in the formation of the Chinese nation and is fondly remembered as the “Father of the Nation” in China. His vision and commitment to democracy enabled the transformation of a traditional society into a modern nation. He advocated for the Three Principles of the People and is regarded by many as a source of national pride, revered for his leadership and achievements.