Sun Yat-sen and the revolutionary groups
Sun Yat-sen (1866-1925) was a doctor who studied abroad and came to believe that China needed a republic. In 1894 he founded the Xing Zhong Hui (Revive China Society) in Hawaii. In 1904 two more groups appeared: the Huaxinghui in Hunan led by Huang Xing, and the Guangfuhui in the Shanghai area, which included Cai Yuanpei.
Each group worked alone and most were small. Students from China studying in Japan were a rich source of recruits, and Tokyo was a safe place to meet.
Founding the Tongmenghui (1905)
In August 1905 in Tokyo, the three groups and many students joined to form the Tongmenghui (China Alliance, or Chinese Revolutionary Alliance). Sun Yat-sen was chosen as its head and Huang Xing became a key military leader. Its members came from many provinces, and by the next years it had hundreds and then thousands of members.
The party published a newspaper, the Minbao (People’s Journal), which explained the Three Principles and argued with reformers who wanted to keep the monarchy. It also raised money from overseas Chinese and planned uprisings in the south.
The oath had four aims: drive out the Manchu (Qing) rulers, restore China, establish a republic, and equalise land rights.
The Three Principles of the People
Sun explained the aim with three ideas:
- Nationalism (minzu): a free and strong nation, not pushed around by outsiders or ruled by a dynasty seen as foreign.
- Democracy (minquan): power belongs to the people, with a republic, a constitution and elected government.
- People’s livelihood (minsheng): ordinary people should have a decent living, for example by sharing the rising value of land fairly.
Later in his life Sun rewrote the principles, but this is the 1905-1911 form that students study first. The Three Principles became the guiding idea of the Guomindang.
Uprisings and results
Between about 1906 and 1911 the Tongmenghui tried around ten armed risings, mostly in south China. Almost all failed. A famous one was at Huanghuagang near Guangzhou in April 1911, where many young revolutionaries died. These failures were costly but made the cause widely known and respected.
The actual fall of the Qing in October 1911 began with a rising in Wuchang by soldiers, many of them influenced by revolutionary ideas. You will see this in the next lesson, 1911 Revolution.
Try it
Use the pillar buttons in the 3D. For each pillar, think of one modern example: a freedom day (nationalism), a vote (democracy), a meal scheme or housing plan (livelihood). Write them in your notebook.
Key formulas and definitions
- Founded: August 1905, Tokyo. Leader: Sun Yat-sen. Newspaper: Minbao.
- Four aims: drive out Manchu rule, restore China, found a republic, equalise land rights.
- Three Principles: nationalism, democracy, people’s livelihood.
- Earlier groups: Xing Zhong Hui (1894), Huaxinghui (1904), Guangfuhui (1904).
Worked examples
1. Why was the Tongmenghui stronger than the groups before it?
It joined three groups and many students into one party with one leader, one newspaper and one plan, so money, members and ideas were pooled.
2. Name the Three Principles and give one line for each.
Nationalism: a free, strong nation. Democracy: power with the people through a republic. People’s livelihood: a decent living for ordinary people.
3. Why does a failed uprising still matter?
Each rising spread the idea of revolution and brought attention and money. Many soldiers and students were inspired, which helped the Wuchang rising of 1911 succeed.
Common mistakes
- Thinking Sun Yat-sen founded the Tongmenghui in China. It was formed in Tokyo.
- Mixing up the Tongmenghui (1905) with the Xing Zhong Hui (1894).
- Saying that the Tongmenghui won in 1911 by itself. Soldiers and local groups did the Wuchang rising.
- Writing "communism" for the third principle. It is people’s livelihood.