Sun Yat-sen's memory unites Chinese on 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 age 13.

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.

"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.

"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.

At a seminar on Oct 19 in San Mateo, He and Florence Fang encouraged the community to analyze Sun's essence of thoughts.

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

Contact the writer at junechang@chinadailyusa.com