Sun Zhongshan and the Toppling of the Qing

Perhaps one of the most controversial figures of his time, Sun Zhongshan (孙中山) is a very colorful individual who lived through some of the most tumultuous times of Chinese history. Often referred to as the “Father of Modern China” (国夫), he played an instrumental role in the collapse of the Qing Dynasty (清朝) in 1911 and was a co-founder of the Kuomintang (国民党, KMT). His unfortunate sudden death in 1925 marked a major turning point in the post-Dynastic history of China.

Sun Zhongshan was born on November 12, 1866 to a family of peasants in the village of Cuiheng (翠亨村) in the county of Xiangshan (香山县), Guangzhou prefecture (广州), Guangdong Province (广东省). At the age of seven, he entered into a private school to receive a traditional Confucian education. He frequently listened to the stories told by former soldiers of the Taiping rebellion with admiration. After some local schooling, he moved to Hawaii to live with his elder brother, fifteen years his elder, Sun Mei (孫眉). Sun Zhongshan studied at the Iolani School where he learned English, mathematics and science. His quick mastery of English was rewarded by recognition for outstanding achievement in English by the Hawaiian King, David Kalakaua. By 1882, he became an American citizen, although it is unclear if he renounced his citizenship to the Qing Dynasty. After graduating from Iolani in 1882, Sun Zhongshan enrolled at Oahu College (now Punahou School). Only studying there for one semester, his brother sent him back home to China after it was found he was dabbling with Christianity.

Sun Zhongshan returned to China in 1883, finding himself increasingly disturbed by the backward society of his homeland. Armed with a Western education, he disdained the Chinese school system that emphasized ancient methods, squashing all expression and opinion. After an incident in which he intentionally broke the hand of a god worshipped by the people of his village, Sun Zhongshan was chased out and fled to Hong Kong.

In Hong Kong, Sun Zhongshan continued to study English at the Anglican Diocesan Home and Orphanage (known today as the Diocesan Boys' School). Because of a prolonged absence brought about by the death of grandfather, he was ultimately expelled. In April 1884, Sun Zhongshan enrolled at Central School of Hong Kong (known today as Queen’s College). On the conclusion of his studies in 1887, he studied medicine at the Guangzhou Boji Hospital under the medical missionary John G. Kerr, eventually earning his license in 1892 from the Hong Kong College of Medicine for Chinese (known today as the University of Hong Kong) as one of its first two graduates.

Sun Zhongshan was married in an arranged ceremony in 1887. His wife, Lu Muzhen (卢慕贞), bore him three children, a son and two girls. Due to her bound feet, she rarely accompanied him on his revolutionary campaigns. Ultimately, she was abandoned in 1915 by Sun Zhongshan when he married Song Qingling.

In 1894, increasingly troubled by the conservative Qing government and its refusal to adapt to the increasingly technological world of the West, Sun Zhongshan gave up his medical practice, devoting his time to saving China. At first he aligned closely with reformers such as Kang Youwei (康有为) and Liang Qichao (梁啟超) who were trying to transform the Qing into a Western-styled constitutional monarchy. In 1894, Sun Zhongshan addressed a letter to the leading Qing statesman, Li Hongzhang (李鴻章). Because of his lack of full schooling in the Confucian traditions, Sun Zhongshan’s letter was ignored. So rebuffed, Sun Zhongshan became more revolutionary in his mindset, calling for the abolition of the Qing monarchy and the establishment of a republic.

After a failed coup attempt in 1895, Sun Zhongshan was forced to go into exile in Europe, America, and Japan. He would not return to China for another sixteen years until the collapse of the Qing Dynasty in 1911. While he was abroad, he raised money for his revolutionary party and bankrolled at least nine unsuccessful uprisings in China—the Huizhou Uprising (惠州起义) in October of 1901, the Chaozhou Huanggang Uprising (潮州黄冈起义) in May of 1907, the Seven Woman Lake Uprising (七女湖起义) in September of 1907, the Fangcheng Uprising (防城起义) in September of 1907, the Zhennan Pass Uprising (镇南关起义) in December of 1907, the Qinzhou and Lianzhou Uprisings (钦州廉州起义) in late March of 1908, the Hekou Uprising (河口起义) in April of 1908, the Guangzhou New Army Uprising (广州新军起义) in February of 1910, and the Huanghuagang Uprising (黃花冈起义) in April of 1911).

In the ten years that spent off and on in Japan, he would join and then eventually lead a group of dissident Chinese emigrants that would become the Tongmenghui (同盟会), befriending many distinguished Japanese luminaries, including the incorruptible politician, Miyazaki Toten. After leaving Japan due to unwarranted fears of his revolutionary activities, which had tremendous support amongst the populace, Sun Zhongshan moved to the United States, befriending the Filipinio rebel, Mariano Ponce.

When the October 10, 1911 Wuchang Uprising (武昌起义) began, kickstarting the Xinhai Revolution (辛亥革命), Sun Zhongshan was still in the United States. By chance, he read about the uprising while in Denver. Instigated by newly formed units (a last ditch effort by the Qing to modernize), many of the soldiers and officers of the Wuchang Uprising were members of the various revolutionary groups. Begun as a result of investigations into a series of bombings within the Russian concessions, loyalists discovered a significant number of revolutionaries within the units based at Wuchang. In order to prevent their arrest and execution, the revolutionaries led by Huang Xing (黄兴) staged a coup and seized control. Within six weeks, fifteen provinces had seceded. By the time the uprising had come to a close, the last Emperor, Puyi (溥仪) abdicated the throne on February 12, 1912.

Sun Zhongshan immediately returned back to China. In a meeting of the representatives of the various revolutionary groups that was held in Nanjing (南京) on December 29, 1911, Sun Zhongshan was elected provisionally as the President of the Republic of China (中华民国). Although his role in the overthrow of the Qing has been long lauded by both the Guomindang (Kuomintang, KMT, 国民党) and the Communist Party of China (CPC, 中国共产党), in reality Sun Zhongshan played a minor role. The fact that he was elected as the provisional president was more due to the fact that he was a respected figure who could serve as the ideal compromise between the revolutionaries and the conservative gentry.

Although the Republic of China had been formed, it was weak, with only control over the southern parts of the country. Although it controlled significant portions of the modernized armies built belatedly by the Qing, the government control was far from absolute. At the time, the only option to reunify China and fully topple the Qing was to gain the support of Yuan Shikai (袁世凯), then the Prime Minister of the Qing court, as well as the commander of the formidable Western-styled force known as the Beiyang Army (北洋軍). In order to gain this devious individual’s support, Sun Zhongshan agreed to surrender the presidency to him. As a result of the promise, Yuan Shikai forced Puyi to abdicate on February 12, 1912, ending the Qing Dynasty.

Sun Bin = CCP, Pang Juan = KMT?

Note on names:

Sun Zhongshan (孙中山) is known in the West as known as Sun Yat-sen or Sun Yixian (孫逸仙).
Jiang Jieshi (蔣介石) is known to the West as Chiang Kai-Shek.



Now probably the most controversial comparison that one can come up that is similar to the relationship between Pang Juan (龐涓) and Sun Bin (孙膑) is contrasting the relationship between the Chinese Communist Party (共产党, CCP) and the Kuomintang (国民党, KMT or the Nationalists). As students of history know, the CCP and the KMT were originally allies in the efforts to reunify China and bring peace to the land. In the early 1920s (scholars can’t agree on a singular date), Sun Zhongshan, the leader of the KMT, began to receive assistance from the Soviet Union via Comintern (Communist International or Third International). He allied with the nascent CCP founded originally in Shanghai (上海) in 1921. The CCP had orders from Stalin to assist the KMT and postpone its all revolutionary Marxist activities until after China had been unified. The cordial, working relationship between the parties lasted until 1927, as thousands of Communists joined or assisted the KMT. After the initial successes of the Northern Expedition (北伐), Jiang Jieshi decided to do away with the Communists, fearing that the Communists would eventually try to take over the KMT from within. On April 12, 1927, Jiang purged the KMT leadership of Communist sympathizers, arresting and killing thousands of people with suspected Communist affiliation in the city of Shanghai. After such a terrible incident, relations would not exist between the two parties for decades until the modern era.

The post-Shanghai Massacre would see the Chinese Communists scattered to the four winds with enclaves all over the country, including that led by Mao Zedong (毛泽东) in the Jinggang Mountains (井冈山) of Jiangxi (江西). In October 1934, facing encirclement by the Nationalist forces, the Communists of the Jinggang Mountains fought their way out, beginning the bitter retreat known as the Long March (长征). Of the approximately 86,000 soldiers, 11,000 administrative personnel, and thousands of civilians, less than 7,000 survived the journey that culminated in the Yan’an region a year later in October of 1935. Party membership fell from roughly 300,000 to about 40,000.

The end result was that the CCP was nearly crippled. A retreat into the relative isolation of Yan’an permitted it to rebuild its strength. The Long March had one tangible effect, coalescing leadership of the CCP under Mao.

My comparison contends that the CCP was Sun Bin, while the KMT was Pang Juan. In a fit of arrogance, the Nationalists under Chiang Kai-shek massacred the Communists in Shanghai in 1927. Their act doomed a working relationship that directly harmed cooperation during another war with Japan (a conflict that would be merged with that of the Second World War). Now the connection is quite dubious, but if you consider the two situations carefully, the comparison fits. The CCP although united behind Mao was virtually crippled by the Long March, as Sun Bin was as punishment for his “purported treason.” On the other hand, like Pang Juan, the KMT seemed to enjoy all the benefits.

Even with the Japanese intervening in 1937, the two sides basically picked up where they left off in 1945, albeit the only difference is the CCP armed by the Soviets using captured Japanese armaments and equipment. The ultimate CCP victory given the circumstances was virtually unimaginable, just as the early Qi victories against Wei were inconceivable. But one can’t stretch the comparison too far.



Further blog posts on: the Long March, Sun Zhongshan, and American involvement in post-WWII China, and the Chinese Civil War

The Rivalry of Sun Bin and Pang Juan

This is the tale of two men of great intelligence and ability, formerly fellow students who due to the treachery and jealousy of one had a terrible falling out. Living in the height of the Warring States Era (战国时代), their contests between the two greatest military commanders of the times held the fate of all of central China in their hands. The first was Pang Juan (龐涓, dates unknown), a general who would rise to command all of the armies of the State of Wei (魏国). The second was named Sun Bin (孙膑, ? – 316 BC). Purportedly descended from the great Chinese strategist Sunzi (孙子), he was a gifted military adviser who steered the State of Qi (齐国) to hegemony. One through jealousy and arrogance brought about his eventual death. The other even though crippled and humiliated, worked from humility and adversity to triumph. This is the tale of the rivalry between Sun Bin and Pang Juan.

Originally named Sun Bing (孙宾), Pang Juan and he were originally students together studying the military strategies under the same master, Guiguzi (鬼谷子). When they were students, the two were granted the honor of solo lessons. The two agreed that they would share the contents of their lessons with each other. Ever devious, Pang Juan feigned after each lesson that he had not learned anything from his master, while learning everything that Sun Bing had learned. When he had deemed himself sufficiently schooled in warfare, Pang Juan departed, his studies not completed. In the meantime, Sun Bing was given one of the few copies of his ancestor’s Art of War (孙子兵法) by his master. He studied it closely and when he had mastered it, he left the mountain retreat as well.

By then, Pang Juan had already accepted a position in the military of the State of Wei. When he learned that Sun Bing had mastered Sunzi’s Art of War and realizing that his fellow student was now superior to him, the ever envious and scheming Pang Juan worked to ensnare Sun Bing. Sun Bing was offered and accepted a position in Wei. Before too long, he was framed for treasonous activities by Pang Juan. He was punished by the removing of his kneecaps (crippling him) and the tattooing of ‘traitor’ on his cheek. Sun Bing was only allowed to live because of Pang Juan’s coveting of the Art of War.

Finally understanding the depth of his classmate’s depravity and his motives, Sun Bing feigned insanity. He was written off by Pang Juan and with the assistance of his servants; Sun Bin managed to escape to the State of Qi. Changing his name to Sun Bin (Bin (膑) meaning someone who has had his kneecaps removed), he found refuge as a guest of Qi’s chief commander, Tian Ji (田忌), who valued his intelligence and abilities. Sun Bin would eventually rise to the position of Chief Strategist (军师, otherwise translated as Director General) of Qi.

And so it was that the personal vendetta that raged between two men became intertwined with the fates of two preeminent states in China. Wei at this point was the most powerful state with an elite army trained and commanded by Pang Juan and his subordinates. Under the rule of its third ruler, King Hui (惠王), Wei had recently moved its capital to the impressive newly built city of Daliang (大梁) and begun massive irrigation projects along the Huang He (黄河, Yellow River). Qi had recently established itself as a power in northeastern China and with the acquisition of Sun Bin’s services would soon rise to preeminence.

There were two military contests between Qi and Wei that occurred, culminating in the Battle of Guiling (桂陵之战) in 354 BC and the Battle of Maling (马陵之战) in 342 BC. The first destroyed the myth of the invincibility of Wei’s mighty armies, the second established Qi as a powerful hegemonic power in eastern China.

In the first campaign that resulted in the Battle of Guiling, the Wei armies of Pang Juan (龐涓) were attacking the State of Zhao (赵国). In desperate straits, Zhao begged for aid from Qi. Under the direction of Sun Bin, the Zhao envoy was informed that the Qi army would come to the rescue. In the meantime, Sun Bin advised the Qi King Wei (齐威王) using the term “Sit Atop a Mountain Watching the Tigers Fight” (坐山观虎斗), meaning to allow the two states to wear each other out in battle. As a result of Sun Bin’s advice, Qi waited a year before attacking, launching minor attacks against other states to lull the State of Wei into complacency and even allowing Handan to fall. When the Qi army finally marched off under Tian Ji and Sun Bin’s command, the army was split, using the famous strategy that would be compiled in the Thirty-Six Stratagems (三十六計) known as “Besieging Wei to Rescue Zhao” (围魏救赵). Half the army was sent to besiege the Wei capital of Daliang, while the second half was placed in ambush at Guiling, the most likely route that Pang Juan would take from Handan back to Daliang. Recalled back to protect the poorly garrisoned Wei capital, Pang Juan took the path through Guiling and was ambushed. The Wei army suffered heavy casualties and was sent into disarray. Pang Juan himself was captured. Wei’s aura of invincibility was forever weakened. Although Qi won the engagement, the conflict dragged on as the State of Han (韩国) joined in with Wei until Handan was restored back to Zhao.

Just a few short years later, Qi and Wei would fight once again. By 343 BC, state of Han under the guidance of its Legalist Chancellor, Shen Buhai (申不害), had built up a formidable and well-trained army (although smaller than the armies of its larger neighbors), enough to worry its more militaristic of neighbors of Qi and Wei. In 343, Han thought that it had sufficient strength to swallow up the even smaller states of Chen (陈) and Song (宋), sending its army to attack. Wei, disturbed by Han’s expansionist policies, reacted by sending Pang Juan with a massive army to intervene.

The Han army could not stop Pang Juan’s onslaught alone and was forced to retreat to its capital of Xinzheng (新郑) after repeatedly sending messengers to beg for aid from the States of Chu (楚国), Qi, and Zhao (赵国). Once again Sun Bin’s advice was sought. Viewing Han’s new Legalistic reforms and armies as a threat, Sun Bin advised that the rescuers withhold aid for a year. By the time the Qi army under Tian Ji (田忌) finally (and once again) attacked the Wei capital of Daliang (大梁), Han had been almost completely destroyed by Pang Juan. Learning of the attack against Daliang, Pang Juan was forced to retreat, sparing Han from total annihilation.

Seeing that Pang Juan was extremely wary of another ambush after the events of the Battle of Guiling, Sun Bin ingeniously used the “Missing Stoves” (減灶) tactic to lure him to Maling. The tactic called for the gradual elimination of cooking stoves (so that it appeared the Qi army was decreasing in size every day), misleading Pang Juan to believe that the Qi troops were deserting. And when the Qi army retreated, Pang Juan eagerly rode forth at the head of a force of his army towards Maling. There in the darkness, he found a tree carved with the words “Pang Juan died under this tree” (龐涓死于此树之下). Angrily, Pang Juan ordered the words to be wiped away and ordered the advance to continue. Before going so far, he was ambushed by the Qi army. The Wei army suffered heavy casualties. Wei Crown Prince Jia (太子申) was captured and depending on the source, Pang Juan either died under a hail of Qi arrows or committed suicide. It was said that Sun Bin wept upon hearing of the death of his schoolmate, having hoped to eventually reconcile with Pang Juan.

The power of the State of Wei was forever broken. Henceforth, it would suffer with its neighbors of Han and Zhao the depravations of the rising State of Qin (秦国). If it were not for the twin defeats of Guiling and Maling, Qin would not have had the opportunity to prosper under the reforms of the Legalist thinker, Shang Yang (商鞅). The State of Qi would establish itself as the preeminent power in Eastern China, formally recognized as the Hegemon of the East.

This is the intense rivalry of Sun Bin and Pang Juan. Pang Juan lost not only because of his own personal arrogance, beginning from when he first departed before completing his studies, but also in his conduct during the battles against Sun Bin as well. In the test of war, Pang Juan gambled and ultimately lost his life.

From humble origins to crippling humiliations, Sun Bin persevered because of his will and tenacity. Eventually, in the face of political persecution by the Prime Minister of Qi, Zou Ji (鄒忌), Sun Bin would retire to the mountains to become a hermit, purportedly producing his own version of the Art of War.