Introduction
Sun Yat-sen is one of the most respected revolutionary leaders in the history of China. The name of this political activist is not only known in the context of the Chinese revolution but also connected to the development of democratic society in the country. His ideas spread far beyond the equality of people and respect for human rights. Several Sun’s doctrines address all spheres of life and combine the Western political thought with traditional Chinese philosophy for the benefit of all the citizens. However, due to the difference in interpretation of his economic, social, and political ideas by various political parties, it is difficult to figure out the original ideas that led to the development of democracy in China.
Biography
Sun Yat-sen was a political leader who became the first president of China. He was born on November 12, 1866, in Cuiheng village of Guangdong province. Being born in a poor family, he had no other choice but to move to his elder brother in Honolulu in the hope of getting a proper education. After graduating from Iolani School and then Oahu College, Sun returned to his parents. He was influenced by the injustice of authorities and the lack of freedom of Chinese people that he saw at home. These circumstances led to shaping his opinion about the situation in China that needed to be changed.
In 1884, Sun moved to Hong Kong to study medicine and was baptized there. The connection to the Christian church contributed to the understanding of the necessary change as a special mission from God. The idea of the revolution came from this new belief, and his aspirations made him the leader of the Qing Dynasty rebellion. The principal reason for it was in the rejection of the government to accept Western ideas that were more advanced in comparison with the Chinese ones.
Despite all his efforts, Sun failed many times and was exiled for his revolutionary attempts. However, these failures did not influence his determination to change Chinese society. Spending his time in exile, Sun developed the idea to create a republic instead of the existing monarchy and raised money for its implementation. The society he founded included representatives of the lower class in China and Japanese supporters. After the successful uprising in 1911, he came back to China to become its first president. However, it was just the beginning of his influence on the country, and his ideas on further social, economic, and political changes will spread.
Various works, in which Sun combined Western ideas with Chinese traditions, represent the ideas he gathered during the years in exile in the United States and Europe. His contribution to the revolution made an impact on what the country became afterward. Sun Yat-sen died of liver cancer on March 12, 1965, but is still remembered as a person who made it possible for all Chinese citizens to have equal rights and live in a democratic society.
Major Works and Political Ideas
Sun Yat-sen made its contribution to the revolution and the creation of a new society in China. His works represent the basic ideas and the vision he was implementing based on what he learned in the western world. One of his most known works is The Three Principles of the People (San Min Chu I) written in 1924. It consists of ten chapters, including the basic concepts of his doctrine and the ways of its implementation in China. This political doctrine contains measures to transform China into a prosperous country. These three principles are nationalism, democracy, and people’s welfare, and the combination of them leads to the creation of a prosperous society.
The first principle, nationalism, means the freedom of China from imperialistic pressure. Within this concept, Sun considered it necessary to unite the people of all nationalities on the territory of China to create a strong government with their equal representation. The second principle, democracy, represents the ideas from western society and divides the power into two parts. Hence, political power represents the rights of people to express their demands, e.g., by voting or choosing their representatives. Another power is public administration including the three branches of power (executive, legislative and judiciary) and two additional branches (examination and control). And the third principle, people’s welfare, represents the idea of equal provision of land for the citizens and some other goods.
In his vision, the combination of the measures mentioned above would lead to the creation of a prosperous society for the benefit of the people of China. These ideas represent his experience in American society and inspiration from Lincoln’s political views. Although the implementation of Sun’s ideas differed depending on a political party and the interests of groups of people, his works became the basis for further development of the Chinese government.
Social and Economic Doctrines
The keystone of Sun’s ideas, considering the economic development of China, was the necessity to gain independence. For this purpose, he proposed to conduct a row of reforms<. However, they were possible only in the case of elimination disparities between the people of China and dealing with social divisions. Therefore, his first ideas were to change the traditional Chinese society into a modern one with some elements of European culture. They included Sun’s vision of a democratic society of China that was included in is The Three Principles of the People (San Min Chu I).
To create a democratic society, it was necessary to deal with the inequality of the citizens of China. Sun Yat-sen rejected the idea of different classes of people, which existed during imperialistic times. The main problem in it was in the economic burden placed on the people of lower classes. He supported the idea of true equality, which means that all people should be given equal opportunities and thereby to take their places in society. Hence, the more capable a person is, the higher his status will be. This vision was based on the concept of services that can be rendered by various categories of citizens: people of vision, understanding or action. Sun did not have a method for the citizens’ classification as they were to find their places in society on their own.
As for the economic aspect of life, Sun Yat-sen paid considerable attention to the agrarian problem of China. He believed that it was necessary to transfer the right to tax and buy land to the government, but its value should be declared by the landowners. It was a long-term economic plan, but it had some complications. After the revolution, the price for most of the land was low, and it was necessary to develop some regions of the country to increase its value. Therefore, further development of this concept, as well as other aspects of the life of the citizens of China, lies in the cooperation of the government with common people.
According to Sun, a mixed economic system is a better option for China. To promote its industrial development, the cooperation of public and private enterprises. The tasks that can be performed by private enterprises should be their sole responsibility. The government should not interfere in their affairs. This concept also contributes to the development of a democratic society with consideration of all the human rights within it.
Government, in its turn, should be responsible for protecting its people and promoting the general welfare. Sun distinguished the four principal goods that it needs to provide to maintain the lives of its citizens. They included food, shelter, clothing, and transportation. Therefore, social and economic changes and reforms would be possible only in the case if the government is providing its people with the necessary goods and takes into account their interests.
Conclusion
Sun Yat-sen is the main revolutionary leader who influenced the creation of the Chinese democratic society based on western countries and traditional Chinese views on the prosperity of the government. His social, economic, and political doctrines became the basis for other political leaders’ works for the benefit of the common people in China. The works of Sun Yat-sen contributed to the transformation of China into a modern society.
References
Cheng, Chu-yuan, Hung-Chao Tai, Harold Z. Schiffrin, and Yu-long Ling. 2019. Sun Yat-sen’s Doctrine in the Modern World. New York: Routledge
“Sun Yat-Sen.” 2020. New World Encyclopedia. Web.