Sun Yixian's Contribution to the Ending of Manzhu Rule in 1911
Introduction
------------
The 1911 Revolution was so important in the Chinese history that it
ended the thousand-year-old absolute monarchyå›ä¸»å°ˆåˆ¶ and opened a new
era. The KMT國民黨 followers liked calling Dr. Sun the "Father of
Nation國父", as if the birth of the Chinese republic was mainly his
contribution. Let's evaluateè¡¡é‡ how far Dr. Sun really led to the
success of the 1911 Revolution.
Main Body
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A. Dr. Sun's role:
Like Lenin, Dr. Sun was mainly engaged從事 in the preparation準備工作 and
aftermath善後 of the Revolution, rather than in actual fighting.
I. Role as thinkeræ€æƒ³å®¶, propagandist宣傳家 and fund-raiser籌款人: He was the
first one who advocatedæ倡 for a modern revolution in China in order to
build up a Chinese nation-state with popular sovereignty主權在民.
a. Inspirational激勵性Oathå£è™Ÿ: "Expel the Manzhu, restore the Chinese
rule, establish a republic, equalize land
ownership驅除韃虜ã€æ¢å¾©ä¸è¯ã€å‰µç«‹æ°‘國ã€å¹³å‡åœ°æ¬Š" made the revolutionary goal clear à many
followers.
b. Three Principles of the People (sanmin zhuyi三民主義) refer to
nationalism, democracy (people's rights) and livelihood. These made up
a basic revolutionary ideologyæ„è˜å½¢æ…‹ after 1905 à popular support
i. Nationalism (minzu zhuyiæ°‘æ—主義): anti-Manzhu nature à widely echoed回應
ii. Democracy (minquan zhuyi民權主義): noble高尚 idealç†æƒ³ (but few people
understood except the literati知è˜ä»½å)
iii. Livelihood (minsheng zhuyi民生主義): attractive (but difficult to
implemen...
... middle of paper ...
... weakened削弱 the
foundation基礎 of the Qing Dynasty
IV. Influx輸入 of western ideas: Ideas of constitutionalism立憲主義,
democracy and republicanism共和主義 were imported from the West. They had
great impacts on the younger generationå¹´é’一輩 of China. à inclinedå‚¾å‘ to
the revolutionaries
V. Nationalization國有化 of Railways (immediate cause): opposition of the
local gentry鄉紳 and people (high-tide of regionalism) à unrest in
Sichuanå››å· Ã diverted轉移 the Manzhu attention à Hubei湖北 became nakedä¸è¨é˜²
to the revolutionary attacks
Conclusion
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The success of the 1911 Revolution was, in short, a fruit produced by
many personalities人物 and the interaction互動 of many factors. Therefore,
the role of Dr. Sun was great but should not be exaggerated誇大.
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Taylor, Jay. The Generalissimo: Chiang Kai-shek and the Struggle for Modern China. Cambridge, MA: Belknap of Harvard UP, 2009. Print.
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Zhao, S., (2003), ‘Political Liberalization without Democratization: Pan Wei’s proposal for political reform’ Journal of Contemporary China, 12(35): 333–355.
He Lian Bo Bo Da Wang (Mei Yi), Yi Jiu Yi Yi, Ge Ming Yu Su Ming (Hong Kong, Hong Kong Open Page Publishing Co, Ltd., pp.1-35, 138-157. Hsueh, Chun- tu, The Chinese Revolution of 1911: New Perspectives (Hong Kong: Joint _____Publishing Co., 1986), pp.1-15, 119-131, 139-171. Lin Jiayou, Xin Hai Ge, Ming Yu, Zhong Hua Min, Zu De Jue Xing (Guangzhou, Guangdong _____Ren Min Chu Ban She, 2011), pp.
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