Download The Roots of Sun Yat Sen`s Political Thought

The Roots of Sun Yat Sen's Political Thought
Jonathan Hwang
Mentor: Jeffrey Wasserstrom
Sun Yat Sen is considered to be the father of China. Although he was highly esteemed by both the
Communists and the Nationalists, his political legacy was short and ineffective. Mired by a disunified
republic and unable to establish his political ideals, Sun’s presidency in the Republic of China lasted
only a few months. His three principles of Democracy, Livelihood, and Nationalism still resonate in
contemporary political thought of modern China. An understanding of the roots of Sun Yat Sen’s
political thought is necessary for a greater assessment of Chinese political thought, as his ideals were
pertinent to the establishment of a post-monarchial China. Sun was heavily influenced by
Enlightenment authors such as Rousseau in the development of his thoughts on democracy. He also
ascribed to many of the ideals of Bolshevism. Sun Yat Sen was fundamentally a nationalist and
centered much of his political thought on the unity of the Chinese people. His Christian faith was
also an influence on his political thought, as he was heavily influenced by foreign missionaries during
his youth. A look into the life and theories of Sun Yat Sen is essential for an understanding of China,
in its past and present.