Standing in the northern plaza of Columbus Park in Chinatown, this statue of Dr. Sun Yat-Sen proudly reflects his ideals and impact on democracy. In order to understand the significance of the statue I researched his history and his role in founding the modern Republic of China.

Dr. Sun Yat-Sen (1866-1925) is a prominent figure in Chinese history, best known for his pivotal role in the fall of China’s last imperial dynasty, the Qing Dynasty, and the establishment of the Republic of China instead in 1912. He is often hailed for leading China’s efforts to create a government based on nationalism, democracy, and welfarism, explained in his “Three Principles of the People”. Born into an agricultural family in the Guangdong province, Sun studied in Hawaii and later studied medicine in Hong Kong, eventually becoming a doctor. However, his passion for reforming China led him away from medicine and into politics.

Dr. Sun Yat-Sen was the founder of the Revive China Society, and later the Alliance Society, which marked his leadership in revolting against the Qing monarchy. His persistent efforts through the early 20th century culminated in the successful Wuchang Uprising in 1911, which was an armed rebellion that led to the establishment of the Republic of China and the removal of the Qing emperor. Sun’s inspiration from the American revolution and his longing for Chinese democracy and unity were some of the key factors in the ending of China’s millennium’s of imperial rule.

On the front of the statue, a statement reads “All under Heaven are equal”. This Confucian quote is a great symbol of Dr. Sun Yat-Sen’s own philosophy and a label of his leading work to unite China and modernize it as we know it today.

 

Research by Mitchell Lipyansky and Gillan Blanket