孙中山 孫中山孙中山 孫中山 孙中山 孫中山 孙中山 Sun Zhongshan 孙中山
孫中山(1866.11.12~1925.3.12),原名孫文,字德明,號逸仙。流亡日本時曾化名中山樵,故後人稱其為“中山先生”,其後此稱謂便逐漸演化為孫中山。廣東省香山縣(今中山市)人。是近代中國偉大的革命傢、政治傢、理論傢、中國國民黨總理,是中華民國第一任臨時大總統,被尊稱為國父,夫人宋慶齡女士被尊稱為國母。 曾任中華民國第一任臨時大總統、中國國民黨總理、廣州革命政府大元帥。他是中國國民黨締造者,三民主義的倡導者。首舉徹底反封建的旗幟,“起共和而終帝製”。孫中山關於國傢統一的思想,對共産黨和國民黨來說應是共識。孫中山先生對中國共産黨采取支持政策,其遺孀宋慶齡女士更是通過實際行動表達對共産黨的支持立場,一起為中華民族的崛起而努力!在中國的主流輿論中是享有崇高名望的中國國民黨革命人士之一。 幼名帝象,學名文,號日新,後改號逸仙,旅居日本時曾化名中山樵,“中山”因而得名。1866年11月12日生於廣東省香山縣(今中山市)翠亨村一個農民家庭,1892年畢業於香港西醫書院。赴檀香山成立興中會,誓推翻滿清。1905年在日本聯合華興會、光復會等革命團體成立中國同盟會,被推為總理。 1911年辛亥革命後被十七省代表推舉為中華民國臨時大總統。 1940年,國民政府通令全國,尊稱其為“中華民國國父”。孫文被中國國民黨尊為“永遠的總理”;中國國民黨和中國共産黨都稱他為“革命先行者”。他是中華民族的偉大領袖。至此,中國國民黨不再設立總理這一職務,以紀念和無限緬懷國父孫中山。 二、國父名稱的由來 孫中山於1925年3月12日因肝癌(後被確診為膽囊癌,請看十一段:孫中山先生死因)逝世,當時於北京中央公園社稷壇舉行公祭時,豫軍總司令樊鐘秀特緻送巨型素花橫額(闊丈餘,高四、五尺),當中大書“國父”二字,他的唁電輓幛,均稱“國父”,這是孫中山在公開場合被尊稱為“國父”之始。 抗日戰爭中期的1940年3月21日,國民黨中央常務委員會第143次會議决議:尊稱本黨總理為國父,以表尊崇。根據中常會的决議,國民政府以孫中山先生倡導國民革命,手創中華民國,更新政體,永奠邦基,謀世界之大同,求國際之平等,光被四表,功高萬世,於同年4月1日明令全國自是日起,尊稱總理孫中山為中華民國國父。 但是各地黨政機關、民衆團體在不同的場合無所適從,不知究竟是稱孫中山先生為總理或是國父?同年5月29日,國民政府又發佈明令,規定在政府機關、民衆團體應一律改稱國父,在國民黨黨內稱國父或總理均可,民間已印就之圖書文字,不必強令改易。自此之後,孫中山即在中國歷史上確立了其“國父”的地位。 汪精衛於南京建立的親日政權也尊崇孫中山,並作出了一係列規定。1941年5月29日,在汪政府的中央政治委員會第49次會議通過的,由陳公博提出的“手創中華民國之中國國民黨總理孫中山先生應尊稱為中華民國國父”的議案,即屬一例,同時規定有關“公牘、教科書籍、報紙、刊物及一切文字稱述總理或孫先生時,均應改稱國父”。 中華人民共和國成立後,則未以官方名義規定中華人民共和國或中國的國父為孫中山或其他任何人。中華人民共和國政府或中國共産黨在正式的場合或文書上提及孫中山時,通常使用的稱號是“革命的先行者”,從未稱孫中山為國父。不過,中國共産黨無論在推翻中華民國大陸政權前或後,都尊稱孫氏是“中共的老師”和“革命的旗幟”,民間則有人沿襲民國時代稱孫中山先生為“國父”的這一做法。另外孫中山先生之夫人宋慶齡女士,因為在中華人民共和國時期享有較中華民國時期更崇高的地位,有時也被人進而尊稱為“國母”。 中共的號文件,2002年11月修訂的《關於正確使用涉臺宣傳用語的意見》中,規定“對臺北“國立國父紀念館”不直接稱謂,可稱臺北中山紀念館。”另外臺灣的教育部也在2007年建議修改不適當用詞,如“國父孫中山”應該為“孫中山先生”。有些人認為是臺灣民進黨政府進行去中國化。 三、傢係 孫中山傢族的祖居地有“紫金說”和“東莞說”兩種說法。“紫金說”由廣東學者羅香林在1920年代提出,他認為孫中山的祖居地為廣東省東江流域的紫金縣公館地區,與翠亨的孫氏不同宗。“東莞說”為孫中山故鄉的翠亨孫氏所提出,此說認為孫氏為漢族,祖居地為廣東省東江流域的東莞市長安鎮上沙村,主要依據為孫中山傢族的族譜。羅香林的“紫金說”提出之後,一直與“東莞說”針鋒相對,故而産生了關於孫中山祖居地的爭論。“東莞說”一直是被社會主要接受的說法,現在孫氏傢族的長子嫡孫孫滿等親屬後代均亦認同。雖有“紫金說”與“東莞說”兩種學說的爭議,但孫中山的祖先從東莞遷居到珠江口西岸的香山翠亨村的情況,則是被公認的。
三傢族
祖父孫敬賢(1789年~1850年), 祖母黃氏(1792年~1869年), 父親孫達成(1812年~1888年), 母親楊氏(?年~1910年)。
三兄弟姊妹
長兄孫眉, 姊孫妙茜, 妹孫秋綺, 另有一兄一姐早殤。
三妻妾
首任妻子盧慕貞(1867年~1952年),(1884年與孫中山結婚、1915年離婚。) 妾陳粹芬。 日本妻子大月薫(1901年於橫濱結婚,1905年最後一次回去後,沒有再回來) 妻宋慶齡 (被尊稱為國母)(1893年~1981年),(1915年與孫中山結婚)
三子女
子孫科(1891年~1973年) ,長女孫娫 ,次女孫婉(又作孫琬) 。三人都是盧慕貞所生。宮川富美子,大月薫所生1906年所生(“富美”的另一個漢字寫法是“文”字) 四、名字由來 孫文使用過不少名字,多數是為了宣揚革命或擺脫通緝而取的,部分則在於表達人生期望。除了下列實際使用的名字外,孫文還用過陳文、山月、杜嘉偌、公武、帝朱、高達生、吳仲等化名,以及杞憂公子、中原逐鹿士、南洋小學生、南洋一學生等筆名。1912年民國成立之後,孫氏本人於所有公私檔案均以“孫文”署名。在西方,孫氏以“Sun Yat-Sen”(即孫逸仙的粵語的英文音譯)之名聞於世。 五、早年生涯 孫中山在清同治五年十月初六日寅時(1866年11月12日)出生於中國廣東省香山縣(今中山市)翠亨村農民之傢,為傢中季子。七歲時入私塾接受傳統教育。1879年,十四歲的孫中山受長兄孫眉接濟,隨母乘輪船赴夏威夷,始見“滄海之闊,輪舟之奇”。孫在當地英國國教會開辦的用英語授課的小學“意奧蘭尼書院”(Iolani School)修讀英語、英國歷史、數學、化學、物理、聖經等科目。1881年畢業,獲夏威夷王親頒英文文法優勝奬。之後進入當地最高學府、美國教會學校“奧阿鬍學院”(Oahu College)(相當於中學程度)繼續學業。1883年由於孫中山有信奉基督教的意嚮,被兄長送回家乡。同年鼕天到香港,與陸皓東一同於公理會受洗入基督教,並就讀於拔萃書屋(今日之拔萃男書院)。次年進入中央書院(今日之皇仁書院)。1887年進入香港西醫書院(香港大學的前身),1892年7月以首屆畢業生中第二的成績畢業,並獲當時之香港總督威廉·羅便臣親自頒奬。之後他在澳門、廣州等地行醫。 孫中山 孫中山最初未言革命,嘗於1894年《上李鴻章萬言書》中,提出多項改革建議,惟李鴻章斷拒。失望之餘,孫中山11月24日赴檀香山茂宜島募款組織興中會,提出了“驅逐韃虜,恢復中華,創立民國,平均地權”的口號,計劃以排滿思想為其革命事業鋪路。1895年孫中山到香港,會見舊友陸皓東、鄭士良、陳少白、楊鶴齡等人,準備籌劃生平第一個革命組織興中會,以“驅除韃虜、恢復中華、創立合衆政府”為目標。同年2月12日,孫中山在中環士丹頓街13號正式成立了“香港興中會總會”。其時,楊衢雲、謝纘泰等人已先以“開通民智、改造中國”為宗旨創立“輔仁文社”。孫中山以志業相近,遂與輔仁會社接洽,衢雲等欣然同意舉全社並入興中會;於是租賃總會所一處,托名“幹亨行”。2月20日,孫中山在香港大學作公開演講,並提到他的革命思想源於香港。 六、革命生涯 1895年2月21日(正月二十七日),興中會總會在香港成立,與會者皆以“驅除韃虜,恢復中華,創立合衆政府”為誓,興中會選出楊衢雲為會辦(當時稱為伯理璽德天,即 President),孫為秘書。3月16日(二月二十日)首次幹部會議决定先攻取廣州為根據地,並采用陸皓東所設計之青天白日旗為起義軍旗,即分工展開各種活動,孫中山主持前方發難任務,衢雲主持後方支援工作。 孫中山進入廣州,創農學會為機關,並廣徵同志,定重陽節(10月26日)為起義之日。可是因為事先泄密,這次起義失敗作收,以陸皓東為首的多數成員被捕處刑,孫中山則被清廷通緝,遭香港當局驅逐出境,流亡海外。孫於11月避往日本,並於此時起剪掉辮子,改穿西服。1896年初與其妻兒抵達夏威夷,再轉往美國,希望在旅美華僑中發展興中會及籌款。 同年秋天,孫中山轉往英國倫敦,在當地被清廷特務緝捕入中國使館,成為國際事件。事件後來被稱為“倫敦蒙難記”(Kidnapped in London),孫並被邀出書描述其遭遇,亦因此事而名聲大噪。1897年,孫經加拿大,轉往日本。先結識宮崎寅藏、平山周,二人後來成為孫中山的長期支持者;透過宮崎及平山,孫再結識日本軍政、幫會中人,包括犬養毅、大隈重信、山田良政等人;並一度接觸梁啓超等保皇派。1900年庚子國變引來八國聯軍,孫中山藉機聯繫時任兩廣總督的李鴻章,希望能籌劃南方諸省獨立,成立類似美國的合衆國政府,李也答應與其會見。但在日本友人協助下卻發覺不過是個清廷陷阱。而後李赴北京協調條約之事,此會面也無疾而終。同年9月,孫中山與日本友人及原興中會骨幹人物先赴香港,被禁入境後轉往臺灣,得當地日本官員答允支持在廣東發動起義(稱惠州三洲田起義)。後因日本官員臨時改變態度而失敗,孫亦返回日本。 1903年夏在日本青山開辦革命軍事學校起,改革命誓詞為“驅除韃虜,恢復中華,創立民國,平均地權”。同年9月,孫中山離日再赴檀香山,希望再次在華僑中發展革命。1904年初,孫中山在檀香山加入洪門,成為緻公堂洪棍。同年赴美國,一度被美國移民局扣留在舊金山。後得舊金山緻公堂保釋及代聘律師方纔免被遣送回中國。孫中山之後到東岸尋求華僑支持革命,並於紐約首度發表對外宣言,希望博得外國人士對革命的支持與好感,但並未取得甚大成果。年底收到中國旅歐學生資助,轉往歐洲活動,在倫敦、巴黎、布魯塞爾等地中國留學生中活動宣傳革命,並從留學生中籌得款項,於1905年中再赴遠東,7月抵達日本橫濱。在宮崎寅藏介紹下與黃興見面,並開始籌劃聯合各革命組織。 1905年8月,在日本人內田良平的牽綫下,結合孫中山的興中會、黃興與宋教仁等人的華興會、蔡元培與吳敬恆等人的愛國學社、張繼的青年會等組織,中國同盟會在日本東京成立。孫中山被推為同盟會總理,確定了“驅除韃虜,恢復中華,建立民國,平均地權”的革命政綱,並以華興會機關刊物《二十世紀之支那》改組成為《民報》,在發刊詞首次提出“三民主義”學說,與梁啓超、康有為等改良派激烈論戰。繼編定“同盟會革命方略”,正式宣示所進行者為國民革命,將創立者為中華民國;並舉所誓之四綱,定“軍法之治,約法之治、憲法之治”三程序以達成之。 1907年,日本政府受清廷壓力,以一萬五千元請孫中山離開日本。孫中山收款後於3月離開日本。由於此事未經同盟會內部商議,於是引起會內分裂。孫中山赴南洋後,在鬍漢民、汪精衛等支持下,在南洋另成立同盟會總部。1907年5月命餘醜起義於潮州黃岡,歷六日而敗,是第三次起義。1907年6月孫中山命鄧子瑜起義於惠州七女湖(再今惠州市汝湖鎮),歷十餘日而敗,是第四次起義。7月6日徐錫麟起義於安慶,失敗殉難。同年7月,孫經越南赴廣西主持鎮南關起義,再告失敗。孫中山被法國當局拒絶入境,一直至辛亥革命成功以後纔再踏足中國國土。1908年3月27日黃興由安南率革命軍進攻欽州,是第七次起義。4月,黃明堂起義于云南河口,是第八次起義。1910年2月倪映典發動新軍起義於廣州,是第九次起義。1909年至1911年期間,孫中山大部份時間在旅途之上,曾環遊地球多次,在各國華僑、留學生中籌劃革命經費及外國政府支持,然而所得極為有限。 另一方面,同盟會及其周邊組織快速擴張規模,並於1910年一月成立同盟會美洲地區總會,期望能吸收更多海外華僑參與革命。此外又先後發動包括1911年4月27日(農歷三月二十九日)黃興領導的黃花崗起義在內的多次起義,直至1911年10月10日(農歷八月十九日)的武昌起義在危難中奮擊成功,武漢當日光復,各省同志,鹹起響應。據統計,自1894年到1911年之間發動的革命起義事件計有29次之多。至於1911年的武昌起義是共進會與湖北新軍革命團體文學社共同策劃的,甚至衹是一次偶然的擦槍走火事件。當時孫中山人在美國科羅拉多州的典華城(今譯丹佛),據《鳳凰周刊》說當時的孫中山還在那裏打工,因此並不知情,所以孫中山說:“武昌之功,乃成於意外”。 七、出任臨時大總統 受到清朝政府全力追緝的影響,自1907年起孫中山便長期居留歐美各國。武昌起義時,孫中山人在美國丹佛而不在中國。初聞革命成功時,孫中山還有些訝異,但隨即在海外華人與美國的同情者間籌集資金。12月20日孫中山趕赴上海,並於28日被推選為中華民國臨時大總統,於1912年1月1日(辛亥十一月十三日)在南京宣誓就任,並循革命軍與袁世凱的秘密協議,特申“顛覆滿洲專製政府,鞏固中華民國,圖謀民生幸福……至專製政府既倒,民國卓立於世界,即當解臨時大總統之職”。月底組成臨時參議院。民國元年2月12日,清帝溥儀發佈《退位詔書》,孫中山即於13日嚮參議院請辭並舉薦袁世凱以自代。茲後苦心孤詣協助袁氏依民主程序選任、就職、組職內閣,尤特重其嚮國民宣誓一事,引導袁氏步入民主程階。 孫中山就任臨時大總統 當時孫中山領導的臨時政府實力有限;雖然大部分的省份已脫離清政府的控製,可主要的軍事憑藉卻是各地的團練與新軍,或是混入部分華僑以及洪門與旗下哥老會的成員,無論在裝備與士兵素質上,皆無法與清朝主力北洋軍抗衡。此外由於孫並未實際投入革命戰事,故各省的革命勢力紛紛推出自己的領導,使革命勢力呈現多頭馬車的情形。革命軍被北洋軍接連擊敗後,孫中山决定與北洋軍的統帥袁世凱和談,希望通過給予袁臨時大總統的職位,讓袁成為清朝垮臺的最後關鍵。最後孫與袁達成協議:孫中山的臨時大總統由袁接任,袁則以實際行動迫使清朝皇帝退位。同年2月12日,清朝皇帝接受袁的條件,下旨遜位,中華民國終完全取代過去的帝國體製。隔日2月13日孫辭去臨時大總統,嚮臨時參議院推薦袁世凱接任。 八、二次、三次革命 1912年8月,經宋教仁從中斡旋,同盟會與統一共和黨、國民共進會、國民公黨合併,改組為國民黨。25日,孫中山在北京舉行的國民黨成立大會中被選為理事長,但孫中山以“决不願居政界,惟願作自由國民。”,即委宋教仁為代理理事長。1913年3月,宋教仁被暗殺,袁世凱嫌疑為原兇。孫中山力主南方各省起兵反袁,稱為二次革命。由於實力不足,二次革命旋即失敗。孫中山被通緝,不得不再次赴日本尋求援助。1914年,孫中山在日本建立中華革命黨,並兩次發表討袁宣言。中華革命黨要求黨員嚮孫中山個人絶對效忠,要按手模宣誓;並且將國民按入黨時間分成等級,享有不同待遇。部份同時流亡日本的國民黨員對此反對,原同盟會中重要人物如黃興、李烈鈞、柏文蔚、譚人鳳等俱未有加入。1915年10月25日孫中山與宋慶齡在日本結婚。 袁世凱稱帝失敗後,孫中山重回中國。1917年,段祺瑞在張勳復闢後“再造共和”,廢止了1913年選出的國會。身在上海的孫中山展開護法運動(亦稱三次革命),號召國會議員一起到廣州,召開國會非常會議,組織護法政府並就職為大元帥,誓師北伐。但廣州護法政府逐漸由桂、滇係軍人控製,孫中山實力有限,甚至出現“政令不出士敏土廠(大元帥府)”的情況。孫中山曾嘗試發動兵變而未果。1918年桂、滇各係控製國會改組護法政府,以七總裁取代大元帥,孫中山被架空,被迫去職。1919年10月,改中華革命黨為中國國民黨。1920年,陳炯明成功擊退盤踞廣州一帶的桂、滇係,請孫中山重回廣州。次年,廣州非常國會取消軍政府,選孫中山為大總統(習慣上稱為非常大總統),開始第二次護法運動。孫中山就職後力主軍事北伐,最終與主張暫緩軍事,聯省自治的陳炯明産生激烈衝突,於1922年6月爆發炮擊總統府事件,孫中山離粵退居上海。 1921年後,孫中山在宣講解釋三民主義時,幾度提及有人用世界主義反對其提倡民族主義。關於此事,後來的研究者從反對帝國主義的角度解釋演講的內容,指出反對世界主義是孫中山在他後期活動中為了宣傳民族主義而進行的思想批判之一。(註:張磊:《論孫中山的民族主義》,《孫中山:愈挫愈奮的偉大先行者》,廣東人民出版社1996年版,第102頁。原載《北京大學學報》1957年第4期。)不過,孫中山當時回應的直接對象,並不是帝國主義,也不是泛指一般的世界主義。近年王爾敏先生的《中山先生民族主義正解》,照孫中山的演講指其說是警戒國人不可醉心於新文化運動(註:王爾敏:《中山先生民族主義正解》,臺北,中山學術文化基金會1999年版,第186頁。關於孫中山回應世界主義的所指,海內外學人較少直接論及。 九、聯俄容共 第二次護法後,孫中山開始考慮與共産黨合作的可能。1923年1月,孫中山與蘇聯政府全權代表越飛在上海會面,正式討論與共産黨合作。孫、越會面曾後發表《孫文·越飛聯合宣言》。 1923年年初,陳炯明部被逐出廣州,孫中山得以在3月回粵。12月29日,孫中山落實接受列寧和共産國際的協助重建大元帥府,共産國際派出鮑羅廷到廣州為孫中山顧問,以蘇共為模式重組中國國民黨。1924年1月在中國國民黨第一次全國代表大會上宣佈實行聯俄聯共政策。在蘇聯援助下,於3月組建黃埔軍校,並以蔣介石為校長。11月,馮玉祥在北京發動政變推倒曹錕,邀孫中山北上共商國是,惟健康已急轉直下。中國國民黨第一次全國代表大會在廣州召開時,孫中山接受中國共産黨和蘇俄共産黨幫助,改組國民黨,實行“聯俄、聯共、扶助農工”三大政策,國民黨“一大”的成功,標志着第一次國共合作正式形成。這次合作實現後,以廣州為中心,匯集全國的革命力量,很快開創出反帝反封建的革命新局面。同年10月,具有進步思想的將領馮玉祥發動“北京政變”,推翻吳佩孚控製的北京政府,聯合奉係軍閥張作霖,推段祺瑞為臨時執政,同時電請孫中山北上共商國是。此時的孫中山已是重病纏身,為了國傢的前途他毅然北上,並提出“召開國民會議和廢除不平等條約”兩大號召,同帝國主義和北洋軍閥作鬥爭。孫中山先生1924年11月離開廣州,繞道日本,開始北上之行。12月4日到達天津,受到兩萬群衆歡迎。由於一路顛簸和北地嚴寒,先生舊病復發,邊接受治療,邊接見京津要人,準備22日入京。18日,先生得悉“臨時執政府行文各國使署,有尊重歷來條約之意”,大失所望,遂病情加劇。段祺瑞又來電相催,說:“時局未定,庶政待商,務祈速駕,以慰衆望”;先生復電:“準於十二月三十一日入京。”孫中山先生12月31日抵京,受到兩萬多群衆歡迎,隨後入住北京飯店。 十、革命尚未成功 孫中山1925年1月抵京後即開始病發,1925年1月26日,先生被確診為肝癌,在協和醫院接受手術。2月18日,先生移至行館接受中醫治療;3月11日,先生自知不起,由夫人扶腕,在《孫中山國事遺囑》、《孫中山緻蘇聯遺書》上簽字。最終於1925年3月12日因肝癌病逝於北京協和醫院,享年58歲,孫中山臨終時同意汪兆銘所代筆的《總理遺訓》及《緻蘇聯政府書》。香港《華字日報》翌日報道了 孫中山的死訊:“孫文吐嘔大作。不能進食。脈搏驟增至一百六十度。呼吸十八次。極危險。剋禮醫生在左右看護。終夜不離。戴天仇為孫草遺囑。唯孫尚未簽字……孫文病至十日晚大變。腹脹加增。剋禮為之打針放水。今日上午九點三十五分鐘逝世。當彌留時。戴天仇代草遺囑。孫科急電粵民黨要人來京。”1920年孫中山在上海 同日,鬍漢民飭令各地停止宴會:“十二日午一時鬍漢民接汪精衛來電、謂孫中山於十二日上午九時四十分病終京寓,鬍漢民即分飭各大小機關、由十二日起、下半旗七天、並令公安局分飭市內酒樓、即日起停止宴會、市民停止七天、在職人員則停止一個月、各機關用藍印一月、兵士及各機關職停員纏黑紗一月。”1925年4月2日,孫中山安厝於北京西山碧雲寺內石塔中。北伐成功後,於1929年6月1日永久遷葬於南京紫金山中山陵。 彌留之際,孫中山提到國事的遺言是:“和平……奮鬥……救中國!” 孫中山先生逝世後,在北京簽名吊唁者74萬多人,參加送殯者30餘萬人,中國共産黨創始人之一李大釗是治喪處成員並敬獻長輓聯: “廣東是現代思潮匯註之區,自明季迄於今茲,漢種孑遺、外邦通市、乃至太平崛起,類皆孕育萌興於斯鄉,先生挺生其間,砥柱於革命中流,啓後承先、滌新淘舊,揚民族大義,决將再造乾坤,四十餘年,殫心瘁力,誓以喚起自由獨立之精神,要為人間留正氣; “中華為世界列強競爭所在,由泰西以至日本,政治掠取、經濟侵凌、甚至共管陰謀,爭思奴隸牛馬爾傢國,吾黨適丁此會,喪失我建國山鬥,雲凄海咽、地暗天愁,問繼起何人,毅然重整旗鼓,億兆有衆,惟工與農,須本三民五權、群策群力,遵依犧牲奮鬥諸遺訓,成厥大業慰英靈。” 1925年3月11日,孫中山彌留之際,他在三份遺囑上簽署。今日中國人常提到的“革命尚未成功,同志仍須努力”,出自孫中山留給國人的政治遺囑。他當日托咐何香凝要“善視孫夫人(宋慶齡)”,“弗以其夫人無産而輕視”,何香凝回答:“先生,我親近先生二十多年,同受甘苦,萬一先生不測,我們當盡力保護夫人及先生遺族。我雖然知識能力都很薄弱,但是總算能夠親受總理三民主義的教誨,我有一分力量,必定盡力宣傳。”孫中山過去一再推遲為遺囑簽字,此時在宋慶齡附助下,在三個遺囑文件上簽名。 十一、遺書
1 傢事遺書
“餘國盡瘁國事,不治傢産。其所遺之書籍、衣物、住宅等,一切均付吾妻宋慶齡,以為紀念。餘之兒女,已長成,能自立、望各自愛,以繼餘志。此囑!”
2 政治遺書
“餘致力國民革命,凡四十年,其目的在求中國之自由平等。積四十年之經驗,深知欲達到此目的,必須喚起民衆,及聯合世界上以平等待我之民族,共同奮鬥。現在革命尚未成功。凡我同志,務須依照餘所著《建國方略》、《建國大綱》、《三民主義》及《第一次全國代表大會宣言》,繼續努力,以求貫徹。最近主張召開國民會議及廢除不平等條約,尤須於最短期間,促其實現。是所至囑!”
3 緻蘇聯遺書
“蘇维埃社會主義共和國大聯合中央執行委員會親愛的同志: 我在此身患不治之癥。我的心念,此時轉嚮於你們,轉嚮於我黨及我國的將來。你們是自由的共和國大聯合之首領,此自由的共和國大聯合,是不朽的列寧遺産與被壓迫民族的世界之真遺産。帝國主義下的難民,將藉此以保衛其自由,從以古代奴役戰爭偏私為基礎之國際制度中謀解放。我遺下的是國民黨,我希望國民黨在完成其由帝國主義制度解放中國及其他被侵略國之歷史的工作中,與你們合力共作。命運使我必須放下我未竟之業,移交於彼謹守國民黨主義與教訓而組織我真正同志之人。故我已囑咐國民黨進行民族革命運動之工作,中國可免帝國主義加諸中國的半殖民地狀況之羈縛。為達到此項目的起見,我已命國民黨長此繼續與你們提攜。我深信你們政府亦必繼續前此予我國之援助。親愛的同志!當此與你們訣別之際,我願表示我熱烈的希望,希望不久即將破曉,斯時蘇聯以良友及盟國而歡迎強盛獨立之中國,兩國在爭為世界被壓迫民族自由之大戰中,攜手並進以取得勝利。謹以兄弟之誼祝你們平安!”
孫中山先生死因
1925年1月26日,孫中山入住協和醫院,此時他已經不能進食,當日下午外科專傢兼協和醫院代理院長劉瑞恆主刀為其進行剖腹探查術,確診為癌癥晚期。於2月17日發出病危通知書,最終於3月12日魂歸天國。現在的協和醫院還保留着一份13頁的報告,英文,編號為9954,上面的名字是“孫逸仙”,其中有幾張器官標本的照片。長久以來外界都一直以為孫中山死於肝癌,孫中山先生並非因肝癌去世,而是原發膽管腺癌轉移到肝部。北京協和醫院病案室原主任馬傢潤找到1925年1月26日孫先生的病案證明原發病確是膽管腺癌。直至1999年海峽兩岸學者交流孫中山事跡時,協和醫院醫生展示了這份報告,纔揭示了孫中山死於膽囊癌的真相。 至於為什麽診斷會有差別。醫學界給出的答案是。活體人類是一種很復雜的生物,現代醫學設備並不能完全的檢查出病因及所屬部位,衹有解剖後才能完全確診。
事跡:建設南方大港口 孫中山夙願未竟
偉大的革命先行者孫中山,畢生致力於中國革命。他建立中華民國政府後,對國傢建設有偉大的設想。他在《建國方略》“實業計劃”一書中,描繪了宏偉的建設藍圖。具體闡述了關於交通、商港、都市、水力、工業等方面的建設構思。為擺脫外國勢力羈絆,他提出建設獨立自主的鐵路和港口部署,親自繪製了有關建造鐵路和設置港口的地圖十多幅,之中就有在湛江興建南方大港和修築連貫西南鐵路的設想,但孫中山為革命操勞過度,過早地與世長辭,建設南方大港口成為他未竟的夙願。 1945年抗戰勝利後,廣州灣(湛江舊稱)結束了法國47年和日本2年半的殖民統治,回歸祖國,闢建為省轄湛江市。建市之初,國民黨當局也曾雄心勃勃,試圖建設深水良港和修築鐵路。並計劃求助美國建設湛江大港和興建由湛江為起點,經柳州、重慶、蘭州、伊犁到歐洲馬歇爾大道的鐵路綫。1946年5月,行政院還派出中國工程人員組成計劃團,陪同美國顧問專傢到湛江勘察港灣海岸,成立《湘桂黔鐵路來(賓)湛(江)段粵境工程處》負責建港築路工程,編製了《湛江建港計劃》。但是,當時政局動蕩、統治腐敗、社會黑暗、國民黨政府又忙於打內戰,經濟陷入全面崩潰,編好的計劃被束之高閣。直至1949年12月19日湛江解放,湛江市重獲新生,孫中山建設南方大港的夙願纔有真正的起點。 十二、思想精神 孫文的思想大部分是他將西洋歐美各傢學說綜合整理而來,但是也有少部分見解是“兄弟(我)所獨創”(孫文語)。 民族、民權、民生的“三民主義”。 “人民有權,政府有能”的“權能區分”;廣興福利,大有為式的“萬能政府”。 人民之權又稱為政權,有選舉、罷免、創製、復决四種。 政府之能又稱為治權,立法、行政、司法、考試、監察五權分立,是為“五權憲法”。 人民行使政權的基本訓練與條件:民權初步,即議事規則。 中央與地方的“均權制度”,以縣為單位的“地方自治”。 在經濟思想方面,提倡社會互助理論,曾說“人類進化之原則與物種進化之原則不同,物種以競爭為原則,人類則以互助為原則。”似是受到達爾文進化論與俄國剋魯泡特金的無政府主義思想的影響。 政治現代化建設方面,主張漸進主義的軍政、訓政、憲政三階段說。軍政時期優先消滅軍閥土匪,應實行軍管。訓政時期優先基礎建設與民權初步訓練,應實行一黨執政。憲政實行之條件是全國半數以上縣市具有選舉罷免地方首長之條件,公民具有發動創製復决之條件,則選舉召開國民大會製訂憲法,還政於民,實行多黨競爭的現代政治制度。 以王道為基礎的區域合作和政治架構:大亞洲主義,以及嚮國際投資開放的實業計劃。 人生哲學:“不做大官,要做大事。” 哲學主張:“知難行易”。
稅收思想
平均地權是孫中山提出的經濟綱領之一。他提出的具體措施是在革命政權建立後,令地主自報地價,國傢嚮其抽1%的地價稅,“並於必要時報價收買之”,以後土地增值部分則全部收歸國有。他認為,徵收地價稅還可減輕人民的賦稅負擔,“私人永遠不納稅,但收租一項,已成為地球最富之國”,“把幾千年捐輸的弊政永遠斷絶”。在中國共産黨的幫助下,他對農民在民主革命中的地位有了新的認識,於晚年提出了“耕者有其四”的口號。孫中山主張通過徵收直接稅節制私人資本,同時大力發展國傢資本,建立一種“國傢社會主義”。徵收直接稅,就是采用纍進稅率,多徵資本傢的所得稅和遺産稅,改變國傢財源主要取之於農民和商人的舊稅法。孫中山還主張輕稅促商,促進貨暢其流。他對清末釐金稅的弊政深惡痛絶從為釐金“處處斂徵,節節阻滯,商賈為之裹足,負販從而怨嗟。如此而欲百貨暢其流,豈不難乎?”他指出“衹有輕稅保商,財源自足”。
天下為公
孫中山先生贊揚霍元甲“欲使國強,非人人習武不可”之信念和將霍傢拳公諸於世的高風亮節,親筆寫下了“尚武精神”四個大字,惠贈精武體育會。
先生名言
君志所嚮,一往無前,愈挫愈勇,再接再厲。 物色有志學生,結為團體,以任國事。 凡百事業,收效愈速,利益愈小;收效愈遲,利益愈大。 疾風然後知勁草,盤根錯節然後辨利器。 革命尚未成功,同志仍須努力 要立志做大事,不要立志當大官 人類要在競爭中生存,便要奮鬥。 我一生的嗜好,除了革命外,衹有好讀書,我一天不讀書,便不能生活。 事功者一時之榮,志節者萬世之業。 惟願諸君將振興中華之責任,置之於自身之肩上。 治國經邦,人才為急。 政治兩字的意思,淺而言之。政就是衆人的事,治就是管理,管理衆人的事便是政治。 學者貴知其當然與所以然,若偶能然,不得謂為學。 自己應為之事,勿求他人;今日應為之事,勿待明日。 古人進步最大的理由,是在能實行。能實行便能知,到了能知,便能進步。 做人最大的事情是什麽呢?就是要知道怎樣愛國。 天下大勢,浩浩蕩蕩,順之者昌,逆之者亡 十三、功過評價 歷史人物的出現使我們能從中學到經驗,知識,小之而言,可為我們分辨是非,大之而言,可為國傢的發展指明出路,所以對歷史人物我們不能用片面的方法去分辨,不能用簡單的對或錯,就直接肯定或否定,而是要全面的,如對中國民主革命的先行者孫中山評價。 孫中山首舉徹底反封建的旗幟,“起共和而終帝製”,組織革命政黨,發動武裝起義,領導了震驚中外的辛亥革命,推翻了中國歷史上延續幾千年的封建王朝專製統治,開創了中國民主革命風起雲涌的歷史新篇章,功載千秋,萬古流芳。 在涉及整個中國資産階級民主革命失敗的具體史實時,由於人們所持的視角和論旨的不盡相同,卻出現了種種歧義。例如,小而化之,有人將孫中山讓位於袁世凱說成是導致革命失敗的重大失誤和主要原因;大而化之,有人將孫中山缺乏依靠工農大衆作為革命主力軍的指導思想、缺乏先進的建黨理論、缺乏正確的建軍路綫認作革命失敗的根本原因;等等。但我們應該認識到:由於客觀上受到帝國主義、封建主義的強大壓力與革命黨本身的渙散無力,孫中山經過鬥爭後被迫接受與袁世凱妥協的條件,在清帝退位後,於1912年2月13日嚮臨時參議院辭去臨時大總統職,讓位於袁世凱。這是中國當時的階級力量對比和外國干涉的結果(這是由於中國若實行資本主義民主制度將嚴重損害列強在中國的侵略權益,從這個角度看,孫中山所領導的資産階級民主革命運動具有反對封建主義和反對帝國主義這兩大重要意義和貢獻。) 如若從孤立的視角單純地看待這一史實事件,確實,孫中山之讓位於袁世凱,是導致袁世凱竊國、革命政權旁落、共和制度倒退的起始成因,有些史論、史說由此引申出“孫中山一大失誤”的評價,似乎順理成章。然而,從客觀現實來看,把此事件放在當時清末民初的歷史大範圍和社會大環境中考察,卻自然而然地得出截然相反的評價——孫中山之讓位於袁,不僅不是失誤或局限性,相反,是促成清帝退位和推翻封建專製制度,促使民主共和旗幟飄揚和革命思潮深入民心的一大歷史功績。 1905年8月,孫中山與黃興、劉覺民等人,以興中會、華興會等革命團體為基礎,在日本東京創建全國性的資産階級革命黨同盟會,孫中山被推舉為總理,他所提出的“驅除韃虜,恢復中華,創立民國,平均地權”的革命宗旨被采納為同盟會綱領。在同盟會機關報《民報》發刊詞中,孫中山首次提出民族、民權、民生三大主義。同盟會的成立,有力地促進了全國革命運動的發展。 孫中山與歷代反抗封建王朝的農民起義英雄和同代資産階級改良派代表人物之顯著不同之處在於:一是通過他方式獨到的認真學習和深入思考,將歐美資本主義制度之精華與中國落後封建專製制度之國情相結合,從“以民為本” 的宗旨出發,不僅提出了“三民主義”基礎學說,同時還就改造落後舊中國的偉大目標,從國體、政治、經濟、文化、軍事、外交諸方面作出了資産階級民主革命的綱領、設想和規劃,形成了係統化的革命理論;二是他自發動和組織革命伊始,終其一生,在領導整個資産階級民主革命的歷程中,始終不渝地堅持徹底的反封建立場和堅定的革命方向,面對滿清朝庭的通揖、反動軍閥的圍攻、帝國列強的威逼、維新保皇派的論戰、陣營內部的叛亂、同黨戰友的分歧,在極其艱難充滿風險的環境中,幾番組織和改造革命政黨,多次發動武裝起義,“愈挫愈奮,再接再厲”,不屈不撓,戰鬥不息;三是他始終堅守“一心為公” 的崇高精神境界,從建立興中會、同盟會,發動廣州、惠州、黃花崗等十次武裝起義,到領導辛亥革命、建立臨時政府、舉行二次革命,到組織和改造國民黨、組建黃埔軍校、實施國共合作,直至積勞成疾英年早逝,拋卻個人名利,彰顯博大胸懷,大公無私,一生操勞,鞠躬盡瘁,死而後已。孫中山的理論學說、立場信念和品德情操,可說是獨秀一枝前無古人 ,也正是由於孫中山的堅持不懈的努力與革命理論的宣揚,纔使得廣大中國民衆擺脫封建思想的束縛,走出對民主共和的“反動”政治思想認識誤區,有力的促進了中國民主革命運動的發展,擴大了民主革命運動的影響,使得民主共和深入人心。即便是後來的“新民主主義革命運動”也是在孫中山工作的基礎上纔得以發展。 在豐富多彩的孫中山歷史研究的文章作品中間,有一種史說或史論,在評說中國舊民主主義革命失敗的命題時,將主要原因歸結為孫中山及革命黨領導人物“缺乏階級分析的理論基礎,沒有依靠工農大衆作為革命主力軍;缺乏先進的建黨路綫,沒有用遠大理想武裝革命黨人的頭腦;缺乏正確的建軍路綫,沒有建立起一支統一指揮的革命軍隊”之歷史局限性。是的,如若撇開孫中山所處時代的歷史大範圍和社會大環境,用後代人的視角去俯視前代人的史實,此類評說似乎理正言順無可挑剔;然而,須知,時處清末民初,馬列主義未入國門,孫中山遠渡重洋遊歷英、美、日本諸國,接受的是西方資本主義制度思想的教化,他所從事和領導的革命事業衹能歸屬於資産階級民主革命的範疇,後人所持有的馬列主義、毛澤東思想的理論與孫中山的資産階級民主主義學說自然會有不同之處,孫中山領導的“起共和而終帝製”與共産黨領導的“推翻三座大山”的新民主主義革命的成功經驗的民主主義革命實踐的結果也存在差距。於是乎,這種以後人的成功去衡量前人的失敗、以今人的覺悟去審視古人的意識所得出的所謂“孫中山的歷史局限性”,成了空中樓閣式的高談闊論,失去了歷史的客觀性和公正性;何況,偉哉孫中山,到了晚年,從軍閥割據殘民誤國、帝國主義侵略有進無退、武裝起義屢遭失利、共和大業日暮途窮的逆境中反思自省脫身而出,慷慨接受馬列主義與無産階級運動新潮思想的洗滌,重新解釋舊三民主義,改組國民黨,主張國共合作,實行“聯俄、聯共、扶助農工”三大政策,建立黃埔軍校,重新培育革命隊伍,在思想上完成了從舊民主主義革命者嚮新民主主義革命者的轉變,如果不是英年早逝,他未必不能成為毛澤東式的無産階級革命領袖,這便是“歷史局限性”一說並不恰當的歷史明證。 誠然,實事求是地分析,金無足赤,人無完人,孫中山是人不是神,他的理論學說並非十全十美,他的行為實踐也非完美無缺。譬如,他對當時舊中國資本主義的萌芽狀態和民族資産階級的軟弱特點尚缺乏深入的研究,他對袁世凱、段琪瑞、陳炯明、一類新舊軍閥的兩面派面目有失洞察,他對革命黨內部嚴重的矛盾分歧團结乏力,他對建立革命軍事力量的認識姍姍來遲等等,都是他個人思想行為的局限性。但是,與當時舊中國的歷史大範圍和社會大環境的客觀現實相比照,他個人的這些局限性皆屬局部性的和微不足道的失誤,無礙於整個舊民主主義革命的方向大局和歷史軌跡,更無損於他創立革命學說、領導革命運動和開創歷史新篇的光輝形象。 所以,孫中山領導的中國資産階級民主革命未能徹底實現革命目標,是時代的局限和國情的製約,决非孫中山個人的思想行動所能左右;同理,中國近代史上這場舊民主主義革命雖然失敗了,但正是這場轟轟烈烈和正義悲壯的革命,為其後的新民主主義革命取得勝利作出了演示、提供了經驗、準備了條件。故而,中國之所以能夠打倒帝國主義,推翻封建專製統治,孫中山不僅是革命的先行者,而且是創造歷史的第一功臣,這也是歷史的不爭事實。 孫文被中國國民黨尊為“永遠的總理”;中國共産黨以及中國大陸歷史課本則稱他為“偉大的革命先行者”。孫中山先生對中國共産黨采取支持政策,其遺孀宋慶齡女士更是透過實際行動表達對共産黨的支持立場,一起為中華民族的崛起而努力!在中國的主流輿論中是享有崇高名望的中國國民黨革命人士之一。在中國大陸也有人稱他為“現代中國之父”。 值得一提的是,每逢重大節日(如國慶節)天安門廣場上都會懸挂一幅巨大的孫中山先生畫像,可見中山先生在中國人心中的地位。 十四、趣聞軼事 據唐德剛表示:武昌起義成功後,當時接到電報的孫中山正在科羅拉多州典華城(今譯丹佛)友人盧瑞連開的餐館中當“企臺”,端盤子。(《晚清七十年(5)袁世凱、孫文與辛亥革命》) 馮自由《革命逸史》記載孫文喜歡下象棋,但棋藝不精:“中山畢生不嗜煙酒,讀書之餘,間與人下象棋,然習之不精,好取攻勢而懈於防守,故易為敵所乘,餘與鬍漢民何香凝等皆嘗勝之。外國紙牌尤非其所好,然頗精於三十年前盛行之廣東天九牌,乙巳以前居橫濱時,每與陳四姑(名香菱)、張能之夫婦玩之。” 過去國民黨宣傳孫中山畢業於香港西醫書院(College of Medicine for Chinese),並且在學成績滿分,第一名畢業,由教務長康德黎博士(Dr. James Cantlie)頒發畢業證書。但事實上當年的畢業生衹有二位,孫氏及江英華。香港西醫書院在當時是一個未獲立案的學校,未能獲得香港當局的承認,必然無法取得香港的行醫執照。 十六、孫中山年表
1866年 11月12日,生於廣東省香山縣(今中山市)翠亨村 幼名帝象。取名文,號日新,字德明 父孫達成,母楊氏,兄孫眉 1877年 兄孫眉回鄉完婚,9月,再返夏威夷創業 1884年 與盧慕貞夫人結婚 1888年 父孫達成逝世 1891年 初識陳粹芬夫人 子孫科生於翠亨村 1894年 長女孫娫(瑗)出生 1896年 次女孫婉(琬)出生 1902年 與大月薫結婚(存疑) 1906年 宮川富美子出生(存疑) 1910年 母親楊氏逝世 1912年 陳粹芬夫人離開 1913年 長女孫娫(瑗)病逝於澳門 1914年 陳粹芬收養孫容 1915年 兄孫眉逝世 與盧慕貞夫人協議離婚 與宋慶齡夫人結婚 1925年 中山先生逝世 1952年 盧慕貞夫人逝世 1958年 孫容病逝 1960年 陳粹芬夫人逝世 1973年 子孫科逝世 1979年 次女孫婉逝世 1981年 宋慶齡夫人逝世
革命
1883年 與陸皓東搗毀神像 1884年 “始有志於革命” 鼓動“勿敬朝廷”,被視為“大逆不道”,與陳少白、尢列、楊鶴齡為“四大寇” 《緻鄭藻如書》 1894年 《上李鴻章書》 興中會成立 1895年 香港密謀起義失敗,陸皓東等就義 1896年 倫敦蒙難 1898年 拜會康、梁 1899年 兩黨合作失敗 1900年 惠州起義失敗 1904年 加入緻公會 1905年 同盟會成立 《民報》創刊,提出民族、民權、民生的三民主義 1906年 提出“五權憲法” 1907年 潮州黃岡起義 惠州七女湖起義 欽州、廉州、防城起義 鎮南關起義 1908年 欽州、廉州起義 雲南河口起義 1910年 廣州新軍起義 1911年 武昌起義 1912年 1月1日中華民國臨時政府在南京成立,孫中山被推舉為臨時大總統 發表《孫大總統對外宣言》 頒布《中華民國臨時約法》 辭臨時大總統職 受任全國鐵路督辦 1913年 宋教仁被刺 發動二次革命 1914年 成立中華革命黨,任總理 1915年 發表《討袁聲明》,發動“護國運動” 1916年 發動護法運動 非常會議選舉孫中山為中華民國陸海軍大元帥 1917年 被迫辭去大元帥職, 致電列寧和蘇维埃政府 列寧復函孫中山,嚮“中國革命的領袖”致敬,“共同進行鬥爭” 1918年 《建國方略 心理建設》付梓 發表《護法宣言》 改組中華革命黨為中國國民黨 1921年 就任非常大總統,再次在廣州建立政權 《建國方略 物質建設》付梓 會見李大釗 1922年 以大元帥名義發動員令,命令各軍分路出師北伐 與陳炯明失和,北伐失敗 李大釗由京到滬會見交談,並介紹李大釗加入國民黨 1923年 發表《中國國民黨宣言》,公佈《中國國民黨黨綱》,《中國國民黨總章》 發表《孫文—越飛宣言》,復命廖仲愷與越飛商談中蘇聯合細節 再建大元帥府,就任陸海軍大元帥 發表《中國國民黨改組宣言》、《中國國民黨黨綱草案》 發表《關於粵海關關餘問題宣言》,抗議美、英干涉中國內政 李大釗抵廣州,協助完成國民黨改組和召開第一次全國代表大會的準備工作 1924年 中國國民黨召開第一次全國代表大會 籌辦黃埔軍校 發佈《國民政府建國大綱》 通過《國共合作草案》、《國民黨與世界革命運動草案》 發佈《北伐宣言》,舉行北伐誓師典禮 應馮玉祥之邀,同意北上 發表《北上宣言》,重申反帝和反對軍閥,廢除不平等條約,召開國民會議 發表《入京宣言》 1925年 病危,口授遺囑、《緻蘇聯遺書》 在《遺囑》及《遺書》上簽字 病逝,遺言“和平、奮鬥、救中國” 十七、孫中山的書法藝術 孫中山並不以書法知名,但從他的書法作品中可以看出他對顔真卿、蘇東坡及北碑方面的研究是頗具造詣的。他的書法作品有着不同尋常的韻味——不僅僅有博大豪邁、氣勢恢宏的榜書作品,也有儒雅、輕鬆、格調清新、韻味綿長的行書作品。從字法字構看,顔字的寬博與厚重仍依稀可見,但已作為一種風格轉換在作品中被“神化”,融化成一種精神或者說是境界。而魏碑的雄強也在作品中被淡化,潛移默化中服從於行書作品的整體風格。從作品的風格看,儒雅風流,清新自然,更透出了“文化”意義上的審美意藴。這是中國近現代知識分子書法藝術的共通之處。比如周恩來、蔡元培、梁啓超、郭沫若、王國維、魯迅等名傢的作品,都在一個“文化”層面上,傳遞着各自不同的書法藝術風采和人生大觀。 十八,孫中山的羅曼史 1885年 19歲 與盧慕貞(18歲)結婚,後育有三子 1891年 24歲 認識陳粹芬(18歲),後成為側室 1894年 28歲 初次見到宋慶齡(1歲歲女嬰)開始光源氏計劃 1897年 31歲 流亡日本,認識淺田春(15歲女僕) 1898年 32歲 認識大月熏(10歲羅莉) 1900年 34歲 9月20日上午在神戶市相生町加藤旅館跟淺田春(18歲) 1901年 35歲 嚮盧慕貞(34歲)提出離婚(當時似乎還沒正式離婚,不過民國的民法頒布於孫某死後,故忽略) 1902年 36歲 嚮大月熏(14歲)父親提親被拒絶 1903年 37歲 8月與大月熏(15歲)訂婚 1904年 38歲 7月19日與大月熏(16歲)正式成親 1915年 49歲 與盧慕貞(48歲)正式離婚 與宋慶齡(22歲)結婚
Sun Yat-sen (12 November 1866 – 12 March 1925) was a Chinese revolutionary and first president and founding father of the Republic of China ("Nationalist China"). As the foremost pioneer of Republic of China, Sun is referred to as the "Father of the Nation" in the Republic of China (ROC), and the "forerunner of democratic revolution" in the People's Republic of China. Sun played an instrumental role in the overthrow of the Qing dynasty during the Xinhai Revolution. Sun was the first provisional president when the Republic of China was founded in 1912 and later co-founded the Kuomintang (KMT), serving as its first leader. Sun was a uniting figure in post-Imperial China, and remains unique among 20th-century Chinese politicians for being widely revered amongst the people from both sides of the Taiwan Strait. Although Sun is considered[by whom?] one of the greatest leaders of modern China, his political life was one of constant struggle and frequent exile. After the success of the revolution, he quickly fell out of power in the newly founded Republic of China, and led successive revolutionary governments as a challenge to the warlords who controlled much of the nation. Sun did not live to see his party consolidate its power over the country during the Northern Expedition. His party, which formed a fragile alliance with the Communists, split into two factions after his death. Sun's chief legacy resides in his developing of the political philosophy known as the Three Principles of the People: nationalism, democracy, and the people's livelihood. The original name of Sun Yat-sen was Sun Wen (孫文) and his genealogical name was Sun Deming (孫德明). As a child, his "milk name" was Dixiang (帝象). The courtesy name of Sun Yat-sen was Zaizhi (載之), and his baptized name was Rixin (日新). While at school in Hong Kong he got the name Yat Sen (逸仙; Hanyu pinyin: Yìxiān). Sun Zhongshan (孫中山), the most popular of his Chinese names, came from the "Nakayama" (中山) of Nakayama Shō (中山樵), the Japanese name given to him by Miyazaki Touten.
Early years Sun Yat-sen (back row, fifth from left) and his family.
Farm lifeSun Yat-sen was born on 12 November 1866 to a Cantonese Hakka family.His birthplace was the village of Cuiheng, Xiangshan (later Zhongshan county), Guangzhou prefecture, Guangdong Province. He was the third son born in a family of farmers, and herded cows along with other farming duties at age 6.
Education years Statue of Sun Yat-sen as a school boy in Honolulu, Hawaii, age 13At age 10, Sun Yat-sen began seeking schooling. It is also at this point where he met childhood friend Lu Hao-tung. By age 13 in 1878 after receiving a few years of local schooling, Sun went to live with his elder brother, Sun Mei (孫眉) in Honolulu. Sun Yat-sen then studied at ʻIolani School where he learned English, British history, mathematics, science, and Christianity. Originally unable to speak the English language, Sun Yat-sen picked up the language so quickly that he received a prize for outstanding achievement from King David Kalākaua. Sun graduated from Iolani in 1882. Then attended Oahu College (now known as Punahou School), for one semester. In 1883 he was soon sent home to China as his brother was becoming afraid that Sun Yat-sen would embrace Christianity. When he returned home in 1883 at age 17, Sun met up with his childhood friend Lu Hao-tung at Beijidian (北極殿), a temple in Cuiheng Village. They saw many villagers worshipping the Beiji (literally North Pole) Emperor-God in the temple, and were dissatisfied with their ancient healing methods. They broke the statue, incurring the wrath of fellow villagers, and escaped to Hong Kong. While in Hong Kong in 1883 he studied at the Diocesan Boys' School and from 1884 to 1886 he was at the government Central school. In 1886 Sun studied medicine at the Guangzhou Boji Hospital under the Christian missionary John G. Kerr. Ultimately, he earned the license of Christian practice as a medical doctor from the Hong Kong College of Medicine for Chinese (the forerunner of The University of Hong Kong) in 1892. Notably, of his class of 12 students, Sun was one of only two who graduated.
Christian baptismSun was later baptized in Hong Kong by an American missionary of the Congregational Church of the United States to his brother's disdain. The minister would also develop a friendship with Sun. Sun attended To Tsai Church (道濟會堂, founded by the London Missionary Society in 1888) while he studied Western Medicine in Hong Kong College of Medicine for Chinese (香港華人西醫書院). Sun pictured a revolution as similar to the salvation mission of the Christian church. His conversion to Christianity was related to his revolutionary ideals and push for advancement. Sun later became the godfather of Paul Linebarger, a science-fiction writer.
Transformation into a revolutionary Photograph of Sun Yat-sen (seated, second from left) and his revolutionary friends, the Four Bandits, including Yeung Hok-ling (left), Chan Siu-bak (seated, second from right), Yau Lit (right), and Guan Jingliang (關景良) (standing) at the Hong Kong College of Medicine for Chinese.
Four BanditsDuring the Qing Dynasty rebellion around 1888 Sun was in Hong Kong with a group of revolutionary thinkers that were nicknamed the Four Bandits at the Hong Kong College of Medicine for Chinese. Sun, who had grown increasingly frustrated by the conservative Qing government and its refusal to adopt knowledge from the more technologically advanced Western nations, quit his medical practice in order to devote his time to transforming China.
Furen and Revive China SocietyIn 1891 Sun met revolutionary friends in Hong Kong including Yeung Kui-wan who was the leader and founder of the Furen Literary Society. The group was spreading the idea of overthrowing the Qing. In 1894, Sun wrote an 8,000 character petition to Qing Viceroy Li Hongzhang presenting his ideas for modernizing China. He traveled to Tianjin to personally present the petition to Li but was not granted an audience. After this experience, Sun turned irrevocably toward revolution. He left China for Hawaii and founded the Revive China Society, which was committed to revolutionize China’s prosperity. Members were drawn mainly from Chinese expatriates, especially the lower social classes. The same month in 1894 the Furen Literary Society was merged with the Hong Kong chapter of the Revive China Society. Sun became the secretary of the newly merged Revive China society, which Yeung Kui-wan headed as president. They disguised their activities in Hong Kong under the running of a "Qianheng Company" (乾亨行).
First Sino-Japanese WarIn 1895 China suffered a serious defeat during the First Sino-Japanese War. There were two types of response. One group of intellectuals contended that the Manchu Qing government could restore its legitimacy by successfully modernizing. Stressing that overthrowing the Manchu would result in chaos and would lead to China being carved up by imperialists, intellectuals like Kang Youwei and Liang Qichao supported responding with initiatives like the Hundred Days' Reform. In another faction, Sun Yat-sen and others like Zou Rong wanted a revolution to replace the dynastic system with a modern nation-state in the form of a republic. The Hundred Day's reform turned out to be a failure by 1898.
From uprising to exile Plaque in London marking the site of a house where Sun Yat-sen lived while in exile Letter from Sun Yat-sen to James Cantlie announcing to him that he has assumed the Presidency of the Provisional Republican Government of China. Dated 21 January 1912.
First Guangzhou uprisingIn the second year of the establishment of the Revive China society on 26 October 1895, the group planned and launched the First Guangzhou uprising against the Qing in Guangzhou. Yeung Kui-wan directed the uprising starting from Hong Kong. However, plans were leaked out and more than 70 members, including Lu Hao-tung, were captured by the Qing government. The uprising was a failure.
Exile in JapanSun Yat-sen spent time living in Japan while in exile. He befriended and was financially aided by a democratic revolutionary named Miyazaki Toten. Most Japanese who actively worked with Sun were motivated by a pan-Asian fear of encroaching Western imperialism. While in Japan, Sun also met and befriended Mariano Ponce, then a diplomat of the First Philippine Republic.
Huizhou uprisingOn 22 October 1900 Sun launched the Huizhou uprising to attack Huizhou and provincial authorities in Guangdong. This came five years after the failed Guangzhou uprising. This time Sun appealed to the triads for help. This uprising was also a failure. Miyazaki who participated in the revolt with Sun wrote an account of this revolutionary effort under the title "33-year dream" (三十三年之夢) in 1902.
Further exileSun was in exile not only in Japan, but also in Europe, the United States, and Canada. He raised money for his revolutionary party and to support uprisings in China. In 1896 he was detained at the Chinese Legation in London, where the Chinese Imperial secret service planned to kill him. He was released after 12 days through the efforts of James Cantlie, The Times, and the Foreign Office, leaving Sun a hero in Britain. James Cantlie, Sun's former teacher at the Hong Kong College of Medicine for Chinese, maintained a lifelong friendship with Sun and would later write an early biography of Sun.
Heaven and earth society, overseas travelA "Heaven and Earth Society" sect known as Tiandihui has been around for a long time. The group has also been referred to as the "three cooperating organizations" as well as the triads. Sun Yat-sen mainly used this group to leverage his overseas travels to gain further financial and resource support for his revolution. According to Lee Yun-ping, chairman of the Chinese historical society, Sun needed a certificate to enter the United States at a time when the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 would have otherwise blocked him. But on Sun's first attempt to enter the US, he was still arrested. He was later bailed out after 17 days. In March 1904, Sun Yat-sen obtained a Certificate of Hawaiian Birth, issued by the Territory of Hawaii, stating he was born on 24 November 1870 in Kula, Maui. Official files of the United States show that Sun had United States nationality, moved to China with his family at age 4, and returned to Hawaii 10 years later.
Revolution A letter with Sun's seal commencing the Tongmenghui in HK
TongmenghuiMain article: Tongmenghui In 1904 Sun Yat-sen came about with the goal "to expel the Tatar barbarians, to revive Zhonghua, to establish a Republic, and to distribute land equally among the people." (驅除韃虜, 恢復中華, 創立民國, 平均地權). One of Sun's major legacies was the creation of his political philosophy of the Three Principles of the People. These Principles included the principle of nationalism (minzu, 民族), of democracy (minquan, 民權), and of welfare (minsheng, 民生). On 20 August 1905 Sun joined forces with revolutionary Chinese students studying in Tokyo, Japan to form the unified group Tongmenghui (United League), which sponsored uprisings in China. By 1906 the number of Tongmenghui members reached 963 people. Interior of the Wan Qing Yuan featuring Sun's items and photo
Malaya supportMain article: Chinese revolutionary activities in Malaya Sun's notability and popularity extends beyond the Greater China region, particularly to Nanyang (Southeast Asia) where a large concentration of overseas Chinese reside in Malaya (Malaysia and Singapore). While in Singapore he met local Chinese merchants Teo Eng Hock, Tan Chor Nam and Lim Nee Soon, which mark the commencement of direct support from the Nanyang Chinese. The Singapore chapter of the Tongmenghui was established on 6 April 1906. Though some records claim the founding date to be end of 1905. The villa used by Sun was known as Wan Qing Yuan. At this point Singapore was the headquarter of the Tongmenghui.
Zhennanguan uprisingOn 1 December 1907 Sun led the Zhennanguan uprising against the Qing at Friendship Pass, which is the border between Guangxi and Vietnam. The uprising failed after seven days of fighting. In 1907 there were a total of four uprisings that failed including Huanggang uprising, Huizhou seven women lake uprising and Qinzhou uprising. In 1908 two more uprisings failed one after another including Qin-lian uprising and Hekou uprising.
Anti-Sun movementsBecause of these failures Sun's leadership was beginning to be challenged by elements from within the Tongmenghui who wished to remove him as leader. In Tokyo 1907–1908 members from the recently merged Restoration society raised doubts about Sun's credentials. Tao Chengzhang (陶成章) and Zhang Binglin publicly denounced Sun with an open leaflet called "A declaration of Sun Yat-sen's criminal acts by the revolutionaries in Southeast Asia". This was printed and distributed in reformist newspapers like Nanyang Zonghui Bao. Their goal was to target Sun as a leader leading a revolt for profiteering gains. The revolutionaries were polarized and split between pro-Sun and anti-Sun camps. Sun publicly fought off comments about how he had something to gain financially from the revolution. In 1910 Sun took the time to establish the United Chinese Library in Singapore. But by 19 July 1910 the Tongmenghui headquarter had to relocate from Singapore to Penang to reduce the anti-Sun activities. It is also in Penang that Sun and his supporters would launch the first Chinese "daily" newspaper, the Kwong Wah Yit Poh on December 1910. Soldiers of the Wuchang uprising
1911 revolutionMain articles: Wuchang Uprising and Xinhai Revolution To sponsor more uprisings, Sun made a personal plea for financial aid at the Penang conference held on 13 November 1910 in Malaya. The leaders launched a major drive for donations across the Malay Peninsula. They raised HK$187,000. On 27 April 1911 revolutionary Huang Xing led a second Guangzhou uprising known as the Yellow Flower Mound revolt against the Qing. The revolt failed and ended in disaster; only the bodies of 72 revolutionaries were found. The revolutionaries are remembered as martyrs. On 10 October 1911 a military uprising at Wuchang took place led again by Huang Xing. At the time Sun had no direct involvement as he was still in exile. Huang was in charge of the revolution that ended over 2000 years of imperial rule in China. When Sun learned of the successful rebellion against the Qing emperor from press reports, he immediately returned to China from the United States accompanied by General Homer Lea on 21 December 1911. The uprising expanded to the Xinhai Revolution also known as the "Chinese Revolution" to overthrow the last Emperor Puyi. After this event 10 October became known as the commemoration of Double Ten Day.
Republic of China with many government
Provisional governmentMain article: Provisional Government of the Republic of China (1912) On 29 December 1911 a meeting of representatives from provinces in Nanking elected Sun Yat-sen as the "provisional president" (臨時大總統). 1 January 1912 was set as the first day of the First Year of the Republic. Li Yuanhong was made provisional vice-president and Huang Xing became the minister of the army. The new Provisional Government of the Republic of China was created along with the Provisional Constitution of the Republic of China. Sun is credited for the funding of the revolutions and for keeping the spirit of revolution alive, even after a series of failed uprisings. His successful merger of minor revolutionary groups to a single larger party provided a better base for all those who shared the same ideals. A number of things were introduced such as the republic calendar system and new fashion like Zhongshan suits.
Beiyang governmentMain article: Beiyang government Yuan Shikai was in charge of the Beiyang Army, the military of northern China. He was promised the position of President of the Republic of China if he could get the Qing court to abdicate. On 12 February 1912 Emperor Puyi did abdicate the throne. Sun Yat-sen stepped down as President, and Yuan became the new provisional president in Beijing on 10 March 1912. The provisional government did not have any military forces of its own, its control over elements of the New Army that had mutinied was limited and there were still significant forces which still had not declared against the Qing. Sun Yat-sen sent telegrams to the leaders of all provinces, requesting them to elect and to establish the National Assembly of the Republic of China in 1912. In May 1912 the legislative assembly moved from Nanjing to Beijing with its 120 members divided between members of Tongmenghui and a Republican party that supported Yuan Shikai. Many revolutionary members were already alarmed by Yuan's ambitions and the northern based Beiyang government.
Nationalist party and Second RevolutionTongmenghui member Song Jiaoren quickly tried to control the parliament. He mobilized the old Tungmenghui at the core with the merger of a number of new small parties to form a new political party called the Guomindang (Chinese nationalist party) on 25 August 1912 at Huguang Guild Hall Beijing. The 1912–1913 National assembly election was considered a huge success for the KMT winning 269 of the 596 seats in the lower house and 123 of the 274 senate seats. The Second Revolution took place where Sun and KMT military forces tried to overthrow Yuan's forces of about 80,000 men in an armed conflict in July 1913. The revolt against Yuan was unsuccessful. Sun was forced to seek asylum in Japan. In retaliation the national party leader Song Jiaoren was assassinated under the secret order of Yuan Shikai on 20 March 1913.
Political chaosIn 1915 Yuan Shikai proclaimed the Empire of China (1915–1916) with himself as Emperor of China. Sun took part in the Anti-Monarchy war of the Constitutional Protection Movement, while also supporting bandit leaders like Bai Lang during the Bai Lang Rebellion. This marked the beginning of the Warlord Era. In 1915 Sun wrote to the Second International, an organisation of socialist based in Paris, asking it to send a team of specialists to help China set up the world's first socialist republic. At the time there were many theories and proposals of what China could be. In the political mess, even when Sun Yat-sen was announced as President, Xu Shichang was also announced as President of the Republic of China.
Path to Northern Expedition Sun Yat-sen (middle, dressed in white) and Chiang Kai-shek (on stage in uniform) at the founding of the Whampoa Military Academy in 1924.
Guangzhou militarist governmentChina had become divided between different military leaders without a proper central government. Sun saw the danger of this and returned to China in 1917 to advocate Chinese reunification. In 1921 he started a self-proclaimed military government in Guangzhou and was elected Grand Marshal. Between 1912 and 1927 three governments had been set up in South China: the Provisional government in Nanjing (1912), the Military government in Guangzhou (1921–1925), and the National government in Guangzhou and later Wuhan (1925–1927). The southern separatist government in the South was established to rival the Beiyang government in the north. Yuan Shikai had banned the KMT. The short lived Chinese Revolutionary Party was a temporary replacement for the KMT. On 10 October 1919 Sun resurrected the KMT with the new name Chung-kuo Kuomintang, basically "Chinese Nationalist party". Sun Yat-sen (seated on right) and Chiang Kai-shek
KMT CPC cooperationBy this time Sun had become convinced that the only hope for a unified China lay in a military conquest from his base in the south, followed by a period of political tutelage that would culminate in the transition to democracy. In order to hasten the conquest of China, he began a policy of active cooperation with the Communist Party of China (CPC). Sun and the Soviet Union's Adolph Joffe signed the Sun-Joffe Manifesto in January 1923. Sun received help from the Comintern for his acceptance of communist members into his KMT. Revolutionary and socialist leader Vladimir Lenin praised Sun and the KMT for their ideology and principles. Lenin praised Sun and his attempts at social reformation, and also congratulated him for fighting foreign Imperialism. Sun also returned the praise, calling him a "great man", and sent his congratulations on the revolution in Russia. With the Soviet's help, Sun was able to develop the military power needed for the Northern Expedition against the military at the north. He established the Whampoa Military Academy near Guangzhou with Chiang Kai-shek as the commandant of the National Revolutionary Army (NRA). Other Whampoa leaders include Wang Jingwei and Hu Hanmin as political instructors. This full collaboration was called the First United Front.
Finance concernsIn 1924 Sun appointed TV Soong to set up the first Chinese Central bank called the Canton Central Bank. To establish national capitalism and a banking system was a major objective for the KMT. However Sun was not without some opposition as there was the Canton volunteers corps uprising against him. Sun (seated, right) and his wife Soong Ching-ling (宋慶齡) (seated, center) in Kobe, Japan in 1924
Final speechesIn February 1923 Sun made a presentation to the Students' Union in Hong Kong University and declared that it was the corruption of China and the peace, order and good government of Hong Kong that turned him into a revolutionary. This same year, he delivered a speech in which he proclaimed his Three Principles of the People as the foundation of the country and the Five-Yuan Constitution as the guideline for the political system and bureaucracy. Part of the speech was made into the National Anthem of the Republic of China. On 10 November 1924, Sun traveled north to Tianjin and delivered a speech to suggest a gathering for a "National conference" for the Chinese people. It called for the end of warlord rules and the abolition of all unequal treaties with the Western powers. Two days later, he traveled to Beijing to discuss the future of the country, despite his deteriorating health and the ongoing civil war of the warlords. On 28 November 1924 Sun traveled to Japan and gave a speech on Pan-Asianism at Kobe, Japan.
DeathSun died of liver cancer on 12 March 1925 at the age of 58 at the Rockefeller financed Peking Union Medical College. In keeping with common Chinese practice, his remains were placed in the Temple of Azure Clouds, a Buddhist shrine in the Western Hills a few miles outside of Beijing. A mausoleum was built and completed in 1929. In 1 June 1929, Sun's remains were relocated from Beijing and buried in Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum in Nanjing.
Legacy Chinese Generals pay tribute to the Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum in Beijing in 1928 after the success of the Northern Expedition. From right to left, are Generals Cheng Jin (何成瀎), Zhang Zuobao (張作寶), Chen Diaoyuan (陳調元), Chiang Kai-shek, Woo Tsin-hang, Yan Xishan, Ma Fuxiang, Ma Sida (馬四達), and Bai Chongxi.
Power struggleAfter Sun's death, a power struggle between his young protégé Chiang Kai-shek and his old revolutionary comrade Wang Jingwei split the KMT. At stake in this struggle was the right to lay claim to Sun's ambiguous legacy. In 1927 Chiang Kai-shek married Soong May-ling, a sister of Sun's widow Soong Ching-ling, and subsequently he could claim to be a brother-in-law of Sun. When the Communists and the Kuomintang split in 1927, marking the start of the Chinese Civil War, each group claimed to be his true heirs, a conflict that continued through World War II. His widow, Soong Ching-ling, sided with the Communists during the Chinese Civil War and served from 1949 to 1981 as Vice President (or Vice Chairwoman) of the People's Republic of China and as Honorary President shortly before her demise in 1981.
Cult of PersonalityA personality cult in the Republic of China was centered on Sun and his successor, Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek. Chinese Muslim Generals and Imams participated in this cult of personality and one party state, with Muslim General Ma Bufang making people bow to Sun's portrait and listen to the national anthem during a Tibetan and Mongol religious ceremony for the Qinghai Lake God. Quotes from the Quran and Hadith were used by Muslims to justify Chiang Kai-shek's rule over China. Statue in the Mausoleum, Kuomintang flag on the ceiling
Father of the NationSun Yat-sen remains unique among 20th century Chinese leaders for having a high reputation both in mainland China and in Taiwan. In Taiwan, he is seen as the Father of the Republic of China, and is known by the posthumous name Father of the Nation, Mr. Sun Zhongshan (Chinese: 國父 孫中山先生, where the one-character space is a traditional homage symbol). His likeness is still almost always found in ceremonial locations such as in front of legislatures and classrooms of public schools, from elementary to senior high school, and he continues to appear in new coinage and currency.
Forerunner of the revolutionOn the mainland, Sun is also seen as a Chinese nationalist and proto-socialist, and is highly regarded as the Forerunner of the Revolution (革命先行者). He is even mentioned by name in the preamble to the Constitution of the People's Republic of China. In recent years, the leadership of the Communist Party of China has increasingly invoked Sun, partly as a way of bolstering Chinese nationalism in light of Chinese economic reform and partly to increase connections with supporters of the Kuomintang on Taiwan which the PRC sees as allies against Taiwan independence. Sun's tomb was one of the first stops made by the leaders of both the Kuomintang and the People First Party on their pan-blue visit to mainland China in 2005. A massive portrait of Sun continues to appear in Tiananmen Square for May Day and National Day.
Family Lu Muzhen (1867–1952), Sun's first wife from 1885 to 1915Main article: Family tree of Sun Yat-sen Sun Yat-sen was born to father Sun Dacheng (孫達成) and mother lady Yang (楊氏) on 12 November 1866. At the time his father was age 53, while his mother was 38 years old. By the time he was born, he already had an older brother Sun Dezhang (孫德彰), an older sister Sun Jinxing (孫金星) who died at the early age of 4. Another older brother Sun Deyou (孫德祐) also died at the age of 6. He had two other sisters Sun Miaoxi (孫妙茜), who was older and Sun Qiuqi (孫秋綺) who was younger. Sun had an arranged marriage with fellow villager Lu Muzhen at the age of 20. She bore him a son Sun Fo and two daughters, Sun Jinyuan (孫金媛) and Sun Jinwan (孫金婉). Sun subsequently married Soong Ching-ling, one of the Soong sisters. They were married in Japan on 25 October 1915, though he did not divorce his first wife, Lu Muzhen, due to opposition from the Chinese community. The relation with the sisters' father Charles Soong would play a role in political affairs. Among Sun's descendants was Leland Sun, who spent 37 years working in Hollywood as an actor and stuntman.
Cultural references Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum in Nanjing at 1 May 2011
Memorials and structures in AsiaIn most major Chinese cities one of the main streets is named Zhongshan Lu (中山路) to celebrate his memory. There are also numerous parks, schools, and geographical features named after him. Xiangshan, Sun's hometown in Guangdong, was renamed Zhongshan in his honor, and there is a hall dedicated to his memory at the Temple of Azure Clouds in Beijing. There are also a series of Sun Yat-sen stamps. Other reference to Sun include the Sun Yat-sen University in Guangzhou and National Sun Yat-sen University in Kaohsiung. Other structures include Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum, Sun Yat-sen subway station, Sun Yat-sen house in Nanjing, Dr. Sun Yat-sen Museum in Hong Kong, Chung-Shan Building in the Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall in Taipei. Zhongshan Memorial Middle School has also been a name used by many schools. Zhongshan Park is also a common name used for a number of places named after him. The first highway in Taiwan is called the Sun Yat-sen expressway. Two ships are also named after him, the Chinese gunboat Chung Shan and Chinese cruiser Yat Sen. The old Chinatown in Calcutta (now known as Kolkata), India has a prominent street by the name of Sun Yat-sen street. In Penang, Malaysia, the Penang Philomatic Union had its premises at 120 Armenian Street in 1910, during the time when Sun spent more than four months in Penang, convened the historic "Penang Conference" to launch the fundraising campaign for the Huanghuagang Uprising and founded the Kwong Wah Yit Poh; this house, which has been preserved as the Sun Yat Sen Museum Penang (formerly called the Sun Yat Sen Penang Base), was visited by President designate Hu Jintao in 2002. The Penang Philomatic Union subsequently moved to a bungalow at 65 Macalister Road which has been preserved as the Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Centre in Penang. As dedication, the 1966 Chinese Cultural Renaissance was launched on Sun's birthday on 12 November. The Nanyang Wan Qing Yuan have since been preserved and renamed as the Sun Yat Sen Nanyang Memorial Hall. A Sun Yat-sen heritage trail was also launched in 20 November 2010 in Penang. Sun's US citizen Hawaii birth certificate that show he was not born in the ROC, but instead born in the US was on public display at the American Institute in Taiwan on US Independence day 4 July 2011. A marker on the Sun Yat-sen Historical Trail on Hong Kong Island
Memorials and structures outside of AsiaDr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden is located in Vancouver, the largest classical Chinese gardens outside of Asia. There is the Dr. Sun Yat-sen Memorial Park in Chinatown, Honolulu. In Sacramento, California there is a bronze statue of Sun in front of the Chinese Benevolent Association of Sacramento. Another statue of Sun Yat-sen can be found at Riverdale Park in Toronto, Canada. There is also the Moscow Sun Yat-sen University. In Chinatown, San Francisco, there is a 12-foot statue of him on St. Mary's Square. In late 2011, the Chinese Youth Society of Melbourne, in celebration of the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Republic Of China, unveiled, in a Lion Dance Blessing ceremony, a memorial statue of Dr. Sun Yat-Sen outside the Chinese Museum in Melbourne's Chinatown, on the spot where their traditional Chinese New Year Lion Dance always ends. In 1993 Lily Sun, one of Sun Yat-sen's granddaughters, donated books, photographs, artwork and other memorabilia to the Kapi`olani library as part of the "Sun Yat-sen Asian collection". During October and November every year the entire collection is shown. In 1997 the "Dr Sun Yat-sen Hawaii foundation" was formed online as a virtual library. In 2006 the NASA Mars Exploration Rover Spirit labeled one of the hills explored "Zhongsan". The plaque shown earlier in this article is by Dora Gordine, and is situated on the site of Sun's lodgings in London in 1896, 8 Grays Inn Place. There is also a plaque commemorating Sun at The Kennels, Cottered, Hertfordshire, the country home of the Cantlies where Sun came to recuperate after his rescue from the legation in 1896.
In popular culture
TV series, filmsThe life of Sun is portrayed in various films, mainly The Soong Sisters and Road to Dawn. A fictionalized assassination attempt on his life was featured in Bodyguards and Assassins. He is also portrayed during his struggle to overthrow the Qing dynasty in Once Upon a Time in China II. The TV series Towards the Republic features Ma Shaohua as Sun Yat-sen. In the 100th anniversary tribute of the film 1911, Winston Chao played Sun. Sun Yat-sen tribute in Tiananmen Square, 2005.
PerformancesIn 2010 a theatrical play "Yellow Flower on slopes" (斜路黃花) was made. In 2011 there is also a mandopop group called "Zhongsan road 100" (中山路100號) known for singing the song "Our father of the nation" (我們國父). In 2011 a three-act "Dr Sun Yat-sen opera" was announced by the Hong Kong Leisure and Cultural Services Department.
BooksThe 1992 novel China Mountain Zhang has a protagonist named Zhongsan of Chinese and Puerto Rican ancestry in a world dominated by the Communist party.
Controversy
New Three Principles of the PeopleAt one time CPC General secretary and PRC president Jiang Zemin claimed Sun Yat-sen had a "New Three Principles of the People" (新三民主義) which consisted of "working with the soviets, working with the communists and helping the farmers" (聯俄, 聯共, 扶助工農). Lily Sun said the CPC was distorting Sun's legacy in 2001. She then voiced her displeasure in 2002 in a private letter to Jiang about the distortion of history. In 2008 Jiang Zemin was willing to offer US$10 million to sponsor a Xinhai Revolution anniversary celebration event. According to Ming Pao she could not take the money because she would no longer have the freedom to communicate the revolution. This concept is still currently available on Baike Baidu.
KMT emblem disappearance caseIn 1981 Lily Sun took a trip to Sun Yat-sen mausoleum in Nanjing, People's Republic of China. The emblem of the KMT had disappeared from the top of his tomb. On another visit in May 2011, she was surprised to find the four characters "General Rules of Meetings" (會議通則), a document that Sun wrote in reference to Robert's Rules of Order had disappeared from a stone carving.
Father of Independent Taiwan issueIn November 2004 the Taiwan Ministry of Education proposed that Sun Yat-sen was not the father of their independent country, Taiwan. Instead Sun was a foreigner from China. Taiwanese Education minister Tu Cheng-sheng and Examination Yuan member Lin Yu-ti (林玉體) were then attacked with eggs. At a Sun Yat-sen statue in Kaohsiung, a 70 year old ROC retired soldier slit his own throat to commit suicide as a way to protest the ministry proposal on the anniversary of Sun's birthday 12 November. |