While some advocates for change pressed for various reforms within the framework of Qing dynasty China, others felt that the millennia-old monarchy itself had to be overthrown if China was to modernize and prosper as a nation. The leading figure among China’s late nineteenth-century revolutionaries was Sun Yat-sen (1866–1925), a convert to Christianity, a trained medical doctor, and by the 1890s an ardent revolutionary. From exile in Europe, the United States, and Japan, Sun plotted various uprisings against the Qing dynasty and in 1905 created the Revolutionary Alliance in an effort to bring together the various groups seeking to end the ancient imperial system. But what kind of society and political structure did Sun envisage for his country? In 1906, Sun spelled out an early formulation of his “three people’s principles”—nationalism, democracy, and people’s livelihood—that articulated his vision for China’s future.

SUN YAT-SEN

The Three People’s Principles and the Future of the Chinese People

1906

Nationalism … has to do with human nature and applies to everyone. Today, more than 260 years have passed since the Manchus entered China proper, yet even as children we Han [ethnic Chinese] would certainly not mistake them for fellow Han. This is the root of nationalism…. It simply means not allowing such people [the Manchu rulers of the Qing dynasty] to seize our political power, for only when we Han are in control politically do we have a nation….

Actually we are already a people without a nation…. Our nation is the most populous, most ancient, and most civilized in the world, yet today we are a lost nation…. We Han are now swiftly being caught up in a tidal wave of nationalist revolution, yet the Manchus continue to discriminate against the Han. They boast that their forefathers conquered the Han because of their superior unity and that they intend … to dominate the Han forever…. Certainly once we Han unite, our power will be thousands of times greater than theirs and the success of our nationalist revolution will be assured.

As for the Principle of Democracy, it is the foundation of the political revolution…. For several thousand years China has been a monarchial autocracy, a type of political system intolerable to those living in freedom and equality. A nationalist revolution is not itself sufficient to get rid of such a system … a political revolution is an absolute necessity. The aim of the political revolution is to create a constitutional democratic political system…. [Such a] revolution would be necessary even if the monarch were a Han.

As for the Principle of the People’s Livelihood …, we must try to improve the economic structures of society so as to preclude a social revolution in the future…. As civilization advanced, people relied less on physical labor and more on natural forces, since electricity and steam could accomplish things a thousand times faster than physical strength…. [N]ow with the development of natural forces that human labor cannot match, agriculture and industry have fallen completely into the hands of capitalists. Unable to compete, the poor have naturally been reduced to destitution…. [E]very informed person knows that a social revolution is inevitable in Europe and America.

Indeed this constitutes a lesson for China…. Civilization [advanced industrial capitalist countries] yields both good and bad fruits, and we should embrace the good and reject the bad. In Europe and America the rich monopolize the good fruits of civilization, while the poor suffer from its evil fruits….

With respect to a solution … the procedure I most favor is land valuation. For example, if a landlord has land worth 1000 dollars, its price can be set at 1000 or even 2000 dollars. Perhaps in the future, after communications have been developed, the value of his land will rise to 10,000 dollars; the owner should receive 2000, which entails a profit and no loss, and the 8000 increment will go to the state. Such an arrangement will greatly benefit both the state and the people’s livelihood. Naturally it will also eliminate the shortcomings that have permitted a few people to monopolize wealth….

As to the future constitution I propose that we introduce a new principle, that of the “five separate powers.” Under this system there will be two other powers in addition to the [executive, legislative, and judicial]. One is the examination power…. American officials are either elected or appointed. Formerly there were no civil service examinations, which led to serious shortcomings…. With respect to elections, those endowed with eloquence ingratiated themselves with the public and won elections, while those who had learning and ideals but lacked eloquence were ignored. Consequently members of America’s House of Representatives have often been foolish and ignorant people who have made its history quite ridiculous…. Therefore the future constitution of the Republic of China must provide for an independent branch expressly responsible for civil service examinations. Furthermore all officials, however high their rank, must undergo examinations in order to determine their qualifications.

The other power is the supervisory power, responsible for monitoring matters involving impeachment…. Since ancient times, China had a supervisory organization, the Censorate, to monitor the traditional social order.

Source: Julie Lee Wei et al., Prescriptions for Saving China: Selected Writings of Sun Yat-sen (Stanford, CA: Hoover Institution Press, 1994), 41–50.