Sun Yat-Sen and Nationalism in China

The Significance of Sun Yat-Sen to the Rise of Nationalism in China

1. Sun Yat-Sen's Contributions to the 1911 Revolution

A. Fund-Raising to Finance Revolutionary Activities

• Sun Yat-Sen had strong connections with overseas Chinese communities, particularly in Southeast Asia and America.
• He effectively persuaded them to financially support Chinese revolutionary activities due to their sense of patriotism influenced by discrimination they faced abroad.
• Contributions were solicited in the form of "patriotic bonds," which promised repayment upon the success of the revolution.

B. Connections with Foreigners and Request for Foreign Help

• Sun aimed to garner foreign sympathy and support for the Chinese revolutionary movement.
• He cultivated relationships with foreign governments and had influential friends in Britain, America, and Japan.
• These connections allowed him to convey the peaceful intentions of the revolutionaries, distinguishing them from aggressive uprisings like the Boxer Uprising.
• Despite the lack of direct foreign aid during the 1911 Revolution, securing foreign neutrality was crucial for the revolution’s success.

C. Willingness to Work with Lower Social Classes in Revolutionary Efforts

• Unlike many intellectuals, Sun was open to collaborating with lower social classes, including peasant bandits and secret-society members.
• He was himself a member of the Triads, which illustrates his commitment to a broad-based revolutionary coalition.

D. Flexible Leadership

• Sun did not adhere strictly to a fixed revolutionary formula but adapted strategies to meet changing circumstances.
• This adaptability fostered unity within the revolutionary movement, mitigating the adverse effects of policy disagreements.

E. Strong Confidence

• Despite multiple failures in revolutionary efforts, Sun maintained a positive outlook and morale among revolutionaries.
• His optimism provided essential faith for pursuing revolutionary goals, even if some viewed it as naive.

F. Comprehensive Ideology for the Revolutionary Movement

• Sun's "Three Principles of the People" addressed China's political, social, and economic issues, laying systematic groundwork for reform.
• Though his ideologies faced critiques, he was the first modern Chinese political leader to propose comprehensive solutions for national challenges.

2. The Role of Sun Yat-Sen and the Revolutionary Alliance in the Wuhan Uprising of 1911

• The contribution of Sun and the Revolutionary Alliance (Tongmenghui) to the Wuhan Uprising was relatively minor.

i. Nature of the Wuhan Uprising

• The uprising was primarily a military revolt led by the Qing government's New Army; it was not directly organized by the Tongmenghui.
• Sun was in America at the time of the uprising, and there was no contact between the uprisers and him.

ii. Provincial Declarations of Independence

• Following the Wuhan Uprising, it was primarily provincial declarations of independence that led to the downfall of the Qing dynasty, rather than organized efforts by the Revolutionary Alliance.

iii. Establishing Bases in the Provinces

• Before 1911, the Revolutionary Alliance struggled to establish a presence in the provinces.
• Post-uprising, the political landscape shifted to favor the gentry-merchant-militarist alliance, limiting the Alliance’s influence.
• Although Guangdong initially supported Sun, this support waned as local factions aligned with warlords.

iv. Election as President

• Sun's election as president resulted from the power struggle and indecision between Li Yuanhong and Huang Xing regarding the presidency.