Prescriptions For Saving China: Selected Writings Of Sun Yat-sen (studies In Economic, Social, And Political Change, The Republic Of China)

For the first time, more than forty selected writings of Sun Yat-sen, the father of the Republic of China, have been collected and translated into English. The writings, which span his entire political career (from 1894 to 1924), are accompanied by explanatory notes and an introduction that discusses the historical context and significance of Sun Yat-sen's thought. Sun Yat-sen is still revered in both the Republic of China on Taiwan and the People's Republic of China. The living legacy of Sun's thought is evident on Taiwan, where since 1949 the Kuomintang (KMT) party has applied his principles to create a modern Chinese society and, in the process, forged an economic and political miracle based on pluralistic marketplaces. On mainland China, Sun is recognized as a leader of early twentieth-century China whose ideas were a catalyst for revolutionary action. The collection begins with Sun's famous letter to Viceroy Li Hung-chang in 1894 (instructing him in how to reform China) and concludes with his farewell address to the graduating class of the Whampoa Military Academy in Canton in 1924, one year before his death (the speech argues that KMT members should submit to party discipline). The lectures, speeches, and essays cover the breadth and span of Sun's vision for a strong modern China and trace the refinements in the cornerstone of his doctrine, the Three Principles of the People. The Three Principles of the People were first conceived in 1906 as the guiding precepts for Sun's revolutionary organization. The Principle of Nationalism addressed the problem of foreign domination and the restoration of national sovereignty; the Principle of Democracy was a plan for empowering the people to govern themselves; and the Principle of the People's Livelihood dealt with economic reforms for free markets that would distribute income equitably. As evidenced in Sun's writings, his expression of these principles significantly changed over the years as he considered Western concepts and contemporary influences and movements, including the socialist revolution in Russia. He tried to fit those new ideas into a framework that did not ignore traditional Chinese ideals and values derived from Confucianism. Sun Yat-sen last enunciated his principles in 1923 in a series of lectures in Canton. The expression of his ideas had an added dimension that dealt with practical applicability, moving from the definition of philosophical and political ends to revised means for achieving those ends. For instance, he modified his Principle of Democracy, insisting that a period of political tutelage, with authoritarian one-party rule, was necessary before China could achieve representative government. This first-rate translation of Sun's important speeches and documents allows Western audiences to savor his unique, idiomatic style and trace the evolution of his ideas as he grappled with the tensions in the path toward China's salvation. It is a measure of Sun's prescience that his ideas are as relevant and resonant today as they were at the beginning of the century Front Cover Preface Acknowledgments Introduction Principal Events in the Life of Sun Yat-sen: A Chronology SECTION ONE: To Overthrow the Manchu Regime 1.1: A Plea to Li Hung-chang: June 1894 1.2: An Autobiography: Written in October 1896 at the request of Professor Herbert Giles of Cambridge University, England 1.3: A Joint Discussion of the Question of China's Preservation or Its Partition: Tokyo, August 1, 1903 1.4: A Refutation of an Article in the Pao-huang Pao [Protect the Emperor Newspaper]: Honolulu, December 1903 1.5: Discussion with Wang Ching-wei: Autumn 1905 1.6: Editorial Introducing the First Issue of Min Pao [People's Journal]: Tokyo, November 26, 1905 1.7: A Talk with Hu Han-min: Before 1911 1.8: The Three People's Principles and the Future of the Chinese People: A speech given at a Tokyo gathering to celebrate the first anniversary of Min Pao [People's Journal], Decemeber 2, 1906 1.9: Those Who Fear a Revolution Will Cause Partition Are Ignorant of Current Affairs: Singapore, August 6, 1908 1.10: Statement of Proposals by the T'ung-meng-hui [United League]: December 30, 1911 SECTION TWO: Establishing and Consolidating the First Chinese Republic 2.1: The Principle of the People's Livelihood and Social Revolution: Speech to members of the T'ung-meng-hui [United League] at a farewell party in Nanking after Sun Yat-sen's resignation as provisional president of the Republic of China, April 1, 1912 2.2: The Popular Mind Depends on the Power of the Press: A speech made on a visit to Min-li Pao [Popular Stance Tribune] in Shanghai, April 16, 1912 2.3: The Intrinsic Duty of Military Men: A speech made at a welcome given by military men in Canton, April 26, 1912 2.4: The Press Should Be United: A speech given on April 27, 1912, to reporters of Canton newpapers 2.5: Kwangtung Province Should Quickly Elect a Governor: A speech made before the Kwangtung Provincial Assembly, April 27, 1912 2.6: Everyone Should Strive to Be a Patriotic Citizen: A speech made at a reception hosted by Chinese members of the Rotary Club of Kwangtung, May 6, 1912 2.7: Reconstruction Is Impossible without Learning: A speech made on May 7, 1912, at the Ling-nan School, Canton 2.8: Christians Should Give Full Play to Their Faith and Help Shoulder National Responsibilities: Extract of a May 9, 1912, lecture to the Christian Alliance of Canton 2.9: Students Should Champion Social Virtue: The gist of a speech to a reception hosted by academic circles in Peking in August 1912 2.10: In Order to Unify the Republic of China, Members of the Revolutionary Brotherhood Should Befriend Nonmembers: Extract of an August 25, 1912, lecture delivered at a reception in Peking given by the Revolutionary Brotherhood 2.11: In Seeking the Means to Reconstruction, Be Responsive to the People of the Entire Nation: A lecture delivered to educational circles at a reception at the Hu-kuang Clubhouse on the afternoon of August 30, 1912 2.12: The Duty of the Army and the Police: A speech at a September 1, 1912, reception given by army circles in Peking 2.13: Using Religious Virtues to Remedy Political Inadequacies: The substance of a speech made at 2:00 p.m. on September 5, 1912, in responsse to a welcome by the churches of Peking 2.14: An Open-Door Policy Is the Only Way to Resolve the Diplomatic Question: A speech made on September 5, 1912, at 4:00 p.m. during a thank-you reception at the Guest House in Peking 2.15: Building Railroads across the Nation Is a Matter of Life and Death for the Republic of China: A lecture delivered at a Peking Guest House press conference at 2:00 p.m. on September 14, 1912 2.16: Speech to a Kuomintang Electoral Meeting: A speech made in Shanghai on October 6, 1919, to an electoral meeting of the Kuomintang 2.17: Always Adhere to the Right, and There Will Be No Need to Fear: A speech given on October 10, 1912, at a meeting of the Chinese World Student Association, in Shanghai, to commemorate Double-Ten Day 2.18: An Expression of Political Views: A speech given on October 12, 1912, at a reception hosted by the Shanghai Newspaper Guild 2.19: The Monetary Revolution: Shanghai, December 6, 1912 2.20: Our Political Party Should Stress Party Principles and Party Ethics: A speech at a tea discussion party of the Kuomintang, Shanghai, January 19, 1913 SECTION THREE: Launching a New Revolution 3.1: The Meaning of the Republic of China: A speech delivered at a welcome party given by Cantonese Parliament members stationed in Shanghai, July 15, 1916 3.2: Our Nation's Strength Depends on Our United Efforts: A speech to the Shao-hsing Business Association, August 23, 1916 3.3: The Question of China's Survival: 1917 3.4: The Doctrine of Sun Yat-sen: To Act Is Easy, to Know Is Difficult: December 3, 1918 3.5: The Three Principles of the People [San-min chu-i]: 1919 3.6: How China's Industry Should Be Developed: 1919 3.7: The Means of Introducing Local Self-Government: March 1, 1920 3.8: The Foundation for Building the Republic of China: Written for the thirtieth anniversary of the Shanghai hsin-wen jih-pao [Shanghai Daily News], 1922 3.9: A History of the Chinese Revolution: January 29, 1923 3.10: A Speech to the First Graduating Class of the Institute for the Study of the Farmers' Movement: Canton, August 12, 1924 3.11: Farewell Speech to the Whampoa Military Academy: November 3, 1924 Notes Bibliographic Note Contributors Index