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Sun Yat-sen

Original nameSun Yat-senAlsoSun Wen

Forerunner of China’s democratic revolution, champion of the Three Principles

Those Who Gave Power Back to the People · Revolution & Rights
Xinhai RevolutionThree Principles of the PeopleRepublicCivil Rights

Who they are

The forerunner of China’s democratic revolution. The Xinhai Revolution he led overthrew, in 1911, the monarchical imperial system that had ruled China for more than two thousand years, and founded Asia’s first republic — the Republic of China. He put forward the "Three Principles of the People" — nationalism, democracy (civil rights), and the people’s livelihood — trying to find an ancient empire a path to modern republic. He fought on through repeated defeats and is honored as the "Father of the Nation." From Qin Shi Huang, the first emperor, to Sun Yat-sen, who overthrew the last — China’s two thousand years of imperial history close, in this universe, upon themselves.

Primary sourcesSun Yat-sen, The Three Principles of the PeopleThe International Development of China

Key stories

Sending the Word "Emperor" into History

From Qin Shi Huang’s taking the imperial title in 221 BC to the abdication of the Qing emperor in 1912, the imperial system endured in China for over two thousand one hundred years. The revolution Sun Yat-sen led ended it all. Among his "Three Principles," the principle of "civil rights" was deeply inspired by Lincoln’s "of the people, by the people, for the people." A long age of power concentrated in one man thus came to a close in his hands — though he knew well the true road to a republic had only just begun.

Relationships

Mentor
🎩Lincoln　the "civil rights" of his Three Principles was inspired by Lincoln’s "of the people, by the people, for the people"

Echoes today

Below are how modern works borrow or reinterpret this name or story — not the original material. The two differ, so keep them apart.

The "Father of the Nation" and the end of two thousand years of empireThe Xinhai Revolution Sun Yat-sen led ended over two thousand one hundred years of imperial rule in China, and he is honored on both sides of the strait as "Father of the Nation"; his "Three Principles" remain a core text for understanding modern China’s political transformation.

Appears in

The Widening of RightsSun Yat-sen: Sending the Emperor into History
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