Sun Yat-sen's memory unites Chinese on national rejuvenation, unification

This year marks the 150th anniversary of the birth of Dr Sun Yat-sen, a great forerunner of China's democratic revolution. Chinese all over the world, including those Chinese Americans in the Bay Area, are uniting to commemorate the great national hero, patriot and pioneer of China's democratic revolution.

Sun played a decisive role in the 1911 revolution that overthrew the imperial Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), terminated China's more than 2,000 years of feudal ruling, and laid the foundation for the establishment of a new political system.

In San Francisco, overseas Chinese organizations have sponsored a series of symposiums, seminars, performances and photo exhibitions to spread Sun's revolutionary ideals and practices to help the Chinese community get a deeper understanding of the historical meaning and rich connotation of the Chinese Dream. They also build confidence for China's rejuvenation and promote the peaceful reunification of the Chinese mainland and Taiwan.

Born in 1866, Sun was heavily influenced by Western civilization and once claimed, "This is my Hawaii; here I was brought up and educated, and it was here that I came to know what modern, civilized governments are like and what they mean," he said in reference to the early teenage education he'd received in Hawaii since he was 13 years old.

Later on, Sun continuously received fiscal and humanitarian support for his revolution from overseas Chinese communities between coasts in the US, Japan and other countries around the world.

Sun created Kuomintang and later the republican government in Nanjing, Jiangsu province in 1911. He died in 1929 and his remains were placed in the mausoleum in Nanjing.

"Dr Sun is selfless, dedicated and committed for the cause," said Zha Liyou, deputy consul general at the Chinese Consulate General in San Francisco at a seminar on Friday. "Sun's Bo Ai (Universal Love) and Tian Xia Wei Gong (The entire world as one community) still apply to current affairs among overseas communities and our nation's rejuvenation," he added.

"These are very powerful tools to resolve conflict and to teach people to treat others as equals, with acceptance and respect; that's why people throughout the world, regardless of ideological differences and background variances, adore him."

On Nov 9, 2015, one day after President Xi Jinping met then-Taiwan leader Ma Ying-jeou in Singapore, the Standing Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee announced that China would organize well-rounded programs and events to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the birth of Sun in 2016.

A series of events will be held "to honor his contribution to national independence, social advancement and people's happiness, carry forward his patriotic thoughts and revolutionary and entrepreneurial spirits, consolidate the unity among Chinese people and the patriotic united front, safeguard cross-Straits peace and jointly advance the country's peaceful unification," said the CPPCC statement.

"The initiative of the Chinese government will help consolidate a shared recognition of history and Sun's legacy in both the mainland and Taiwan," said He Konghua, a celebrated community leader in the Bay Area who is also a founding member and vice-president of Chinese for Peaceful Unification-Northern California.

At a seminar on Oct 19 in San Mateo which drew about leaders from 130 organizations of overseas Chinese around the theme of commemorating Dr. Sun, He and Florence Fang, chairwoman of the Florence Fang Family Foundation, encouraged the community to analyze Sun's essence of thoughts, learn from his dedication and devotion to his country and people, and stride forward on the cause of national rejuvenation and unification.

"Sun's thoughts are still of realistic value of promoting the cooperation and understanding between the mainland and Taiwan," said Fang, calling for the memory of the last words of Sun "we haven't succeed in the revolution yet, so our comrades should still work hard".

Contact the writer at junechang@chinadailyusa.com