Subjects:
For my Essay I have chosen the topic from Week 4, asking for comment on the statement, "Sun Yat-sen's contribution lay in his optimism and penchant for action rather than in his political thoughts and organisational skills". This is a perplexing topic, as I am sure there are many possible responses to such a statement. The conclusion one would reach is reliant on perception and interpretation of the information now available to us as to the nature of this man's life and times. In this essay I will be arguing that Sun Yat-sen was clearly much more than an optimistic action-man in his shaping of and participation in twentieth century Chinese and world history.
Over the following pages I will endeavour to explain my comments by conveying in a rational way how I came to the opinion that both Sun Yat-sen's political thoughts and organisational skills were of a high order and formed a solid launching pad for both his optimism and actions. I shall try and remain as impartial as possible but as I have been reared in the western world much separated from the time and place o
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Being born a mere 2 years ater the failed Taipang Rebellion, Sun was subject to the influances that gave rise to such a act of defiance.
In a letter written to Li Hung-chang, reformist extrodanair, in the summer 0f 1894 he advised him of his political observations.
Being a man of such high moral bearing and nobility, his light has continued to shine long after his death. Sun also had the insight to build support from overseas Chinese, the secret societies chines converts, the working class peasants, Christian converts, and missionaries [schiffrin p. He has withstood the diminishing affect of the passage of history and remains someone who demands respect and attention. He found that many of the secret societies had become little better then fractenities and social clubs. (Konstoukis, From Manchu to Mao, a History of Modern China). In 1897 added to his national and democratic bassis for revolution the idea of a social revolution. If ever there was a hole in the argument that Sun is lacking in both these two traits it is no more no more aperant then it is here. His first attempted rebellion took advantage of the Chinese military distribution in the north to combat the Japanese menace, leaving the south relatively unguarded. 25)
Threaded through all these organisational achievements was the continuing thread of his political thoughts which were focused on improving the lot of ordinary Chinese people. When he formed his first revolutionary political party, all menbers that joined had to recite the oath 'to expel the manchus, restore the Chinese rule, and establish a fedral republic. Even with his degree, he spent much effort on bring about the overthrow of the Ching Dynasty, so much so that he was regarded as the China's first professional revolutionary (Reference).
Essay's Topics
All research is for reference purposes only.