China: Dr Sun Yat-sen (1866-1925), Founder of the Chinese Republic (1912), together with his wife Song Qingling (1893-1981)

Sun Yat-sen (12 November 1866 – 12 March 1925) was a Chinese revolutionary and political leader. As the foremost pioneer of Nationalist China, Sun is frequently referred to as the Founding Father of Republican China.

Sun played an instrumental role in inspiring the overthrow of the Qing Dynasty, the last imperial dynasty of China. He was the first provisional president when the Republic of China (ROC) was founded in 1912 and later co-founded the Chinese National People's Party or Kuomintang (KMT) where he served as its first leader.

Sun was a uniting figure in post-Imperial China, and remains unique among 20th-century Chinese politicians for being widely revered amongst the people from both sides of the Taiwan Strait.

Song Qingling (27 January 1893 – 29 May 1981), also known as Madame Sun Yat-sen, was one of the three Song sisters, who, along with their husbands, were amongst China's most significant political figures of the early 20th century.

Soong Qingling was born to the wealthy businessman and missionary Charlie Soong in Nanshi (a part of present-day Huangpu District), Shanghai, attended McTyeire School for Girls in Shanghai, and graduated from Wesleyan College in Macon, Georgia, United States. Her Christian name was Rosamond.

She married Sun Yat Sen in Japan on 25 October 1915. After Sun's death in 1925, she was elected to the Kuomintang (KMT) Central Executive Committee in 1926. However, she exiled herself to Moscow after the expulsion of the Communists from the KMT in 1927. During the Chinese Civil War, she sided with the Communists. After the establishment of the People's Republic of China in 1949, she became the Vice Chair of the People's Republic of China (now translated as 'Vice President'), Head of the Sino-Soviet Friendship Association and Honorary President of the All-China Women's Federation.

In 1951 she was awarded the Stalin Peace Prize (Lenin Peace Prize after destalinization). She became the first female Chairman and President of the People's Republic of China. From 1968 to 1972 she acted jointly with Dong Biwu as head of state. On 16 May 1981, two weeks before her death, she was admitted to the Communist Party and was named Honorary President of the People's Republic of China. She is the only person ever to hold this title.

Theme:

REVOLUTIONARY CHINA