Chan Siu-bak
Encyclopedia
Chinese style name
A Chinese style name, sometimes also known as a courtesy name , is a given name to be used later in life. After 20 years of age, the zì is assigned in place of one's given name as a symbol of adulthood and respect...
Siu-bak (少白), art-name
Art-name
An art-name is a pseudonym, or penname, used by an East Asian artist, which they sometimes change. The word and the idea to use a pseudonym originated from China, then became popular in other East Asian countries ....
d Kwai-shek (夔石), was a Chinese revolutionary from Sanwui, Kwangtung
Guangdong
Guangdong is a province on the South China Sea coast of the People's Republic of China. The province was previously often written with the alternative English name Kwangtung Province...
. He was one of the Four Bandits
Four Bandits
The Four Bandits, Four Outlaws or the Four Desperados was a nickname given to a group of 4 young students in Hong Kong who were keen on discussing the current issues in China, and aspired to overthrow the corrupt Qing dynasty run by the Manchus. The four bandits were Yeung Hok-ling, Sun Yat-sen,...
, together with Sun Yat-sen
Sun Yat-sen
Sun Yat-sen was a Chinese doctor, revolutionary and political leader. As the foremost pioneer of Nationalist China, Sun is frequently referred to as the "Father of the Nation" , a view agreed upon by both the People's Republic of China and the Republic of China...
, Yau Lit
Yau Lit
Yau Lit , born Yau Kwai-bok , styled Tui-hau or Ling-kwai was a Chinese revolutionary from Shuntak, Kwangtung. He is one of the Four Bandits, together with Sun Yat-sen, Chan siu-bak and Yeung Hok-ling....
and Yeung Hok-ling
Yeung Hok-ling
Yeung Hok-ling , styled Lai-ha was a Chinese revolutionary from Cuiheng Village, Heungshan, Kwangtung. He is one of the Four Bandits, together with Sun Yat-sen, Yau Lit and Chan Siu-bak.-Biography:...
.
Early life
Chan was born to a family of Christian scholars, and entered a private school at the age of 6. When he was young, he learned about western knowledge from the translated books brought by his uncle Chan Mung-nam (陳夢南), a Christian preacher. In 1888, Chan became one of the first students to study at Christian College in China (格致書院) founded by Andrew P. Happer. He met Au Fung-chi (區鳳墀), who introduced him to Sun Yat-senSun Yat-sen
Sun Yat-sen was a Chinese doctor, revolutionary and political leader. As the foremost pioneer of Nationalist China, Sun is frequently referred to as the "Father of the Nation" , a view agreed upon by both the People's Republic of China and the Republic of China...
, a medical student at Hong Kong College of Medicine for Chinese
Hong Kong College of Medicine for Chinese
The Hong Kong College of Medicine for Chinese was the first college in Hong Kong to fully adopt and accept Western medical science practices...
. Chan and Sun found revolution as a common interest between themselves.
Revolution
With Sun's suggestion, Chan changed to study at Hong Kong College of Medicine for Chinese in January 1890. In Hong Kong, Sun introduced him to Yau LitYau Lit
Yau Lit , born Yau Kwai-bok , styled Tui-hau or Ling-kwai was a Chinese revolutionary from Shuntak, Kwangtung. He is one of the Four Bandits, together with Sun Yat-sen, Chan siu-bak and Yeung Hok-ling....
and Yeung Hok-ling
Yeung Hok-ling
Yeung Hok-ling , styled Lai-ha was a Chinese revolutionary from Cuiheng Village, Heungshan, Kwangtung. He is one of the Four Bandits, together with Sun Yat-sen, Yau Lit and Chan Siu-bak.-Biography:...
. The four frequently met at Yeung Yiu Kee (楊耀記), Yeung's family shop at 24 Gough Street
Gough Street
Gough Street is a street on Sheung Wan, Hong Kong just north of the Soho area of Central. It is connected to Shing Wong Street to the west and Aberdeen Street to the east....
, to discuss a revolution against the Qing Dynasty, and were collectively called the Four Bandits
Four Bandits
The Four Bandits, Four Outlaws or the Four Desperados was a nickname given to a group of 4 young students in Hong Kong who were keen on discussing the current issues in China, and aspired to overthrow the corrupt Qing dynasty run by the Manchus. The four bandits were Yeung Hok-ling, Sun Yat-sen,...
by their neighbours. As Sun began his commitment to revolution upon graudation, Chan dropped out of the medical school to follow him.
In 1895, the Revive China Society
Revive China Society
The Hsing Chung Hui or Xingzhonghui translated as the Revive China Society, Society for Regenerating China, Proper China Society was founded by Sun Yat-sen on 24 November 1894 to forward the goal of establishing prosperity for China and as a platform for future revolutionary activities...
in Hong Kong was founded by Sun, and Chan became a member of the society. Chan and Sun set up the headquarters of the society at 13 Staunton Street
Staunton Street
Staunton Street is a street in Central and Sheung Wan, on Hong Kong Island, Hong Kong. Together with the upper section of Elgin Street, it is the heart of the Soho entertainment area, featuring a number of restaurants, bars and shops...
, Central, Hong Kong
Central, Hong Kong
Central is the central business district of Hong Kong. It is located in Central and Western District, on the north shore of Hong Kong Island, across Victoria Harbour from Tsim Sha Tsui, the southernmost point of Kowloon Peninsula...
. Following the failure of the Canton Uprising of 1895, Chan fleed to Yokohama, Japan with Sun and Cheng Si-leung. He would stay there for 2 years until he went to Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
to set up the Taiwan Chapter of Revive China Society.
In 1899, he returned to Hong Kong to reform the Chung-wo Tong (中和堂) founded by Yau Lit earlier. In 1900, he founded the China Daily to spread the idea of revolution. In 1905 he became the president of the Hong Kong Chinese Revolutionary Alliance. As Kwangtung declared independence from Qing government shortly after the Wuchang Uprising
Wuchang Uprising
The Wuchang Uprising began with the dissatisfaction of the handling of a railway crisis. The crisis then escalated to an uprising where the revolutionaries went up against Qing government officials. The uprising was then assisted by the New Army in a coup against their own authorities in the city...
in October 1911, Chan was appointed by the Kwangtung military government as the foreign minister, until the Republic of China
Republic of China
The Republic of China , commonly known as Taiwan , is a unitary sovereign state located in East Asia. Originally based in mainland China, the Republic of China currently governs the island of Taiwan , which forms over 99% of its current territory, as well as Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu and other minor...
was established in Nanking on 1 January 1912.
After the revolution
After resigning from the government, Chan founded the Yuethong Shipping Company (粵航公司) and regained several piers in Canton from foreign companies. Yuethong lasted until 1919.When Sun Yat-sen established the Government in Canton in 1921, the Three Bandits were appointed as Sun's consultants and Chan also as the advisor at the base camp. In 1923 the Canton Government was forced to dissolve due to Chen Jiongming
Chen Jiongming
Chen Jiongming was a revolutionary figure in the early periods of the Republic of China. Chen Jiongming was born in 1878 at Haifeng, Guangdong, China....
's rebellion, and Chan returned to develop Sanwui. He died in Peking on 23 December 1934.