Huang Xing
Encyclopedia
Huang Xing or Huang Hsing , was a Chinese revolutionary leader, militarist, and statesman, was the first army commander-in-chief
of the Republic of China
. As one of the founders of the Kuomintang
(KMT) and the Republic of China, his position was next to Sun Yat-sen
. Together they were known as Sun-Huang during the Xinhai Revolution
. He was also known as the "Eight Fingered General" because of wounds sustained during war. His tomb is on Mount Yuelu, in Changsha, Hunan, China.
Huang was born in the village of Gaotang, now part of Changsha, Hunan
. Like many other Chinese men born before 1949, Huang was known by many different names during his life. His birth name was "Huang Zhen", but this was later changed to "Huang Xing". He was also known as "Huang Keqiang" and "Qing Wu". In the period after 1911 he also used the names "Li Youqing" and "Zhang Shouzheng".
to study abroad in Japan, and was enrolled in the Tokyo Hongwen University.
While in Japan, Huang developed an appreciation for the study of military affairs, and studied modern warfare under Japanese officer in his leisure time. While living in Japan Huang practiced horsemanship and shooting every morning. Huang's military training in Japan prepared him for his later role as a Chinese revolutionary.
and Manchuria
, Huang organized a volunteer army of over two hundred fellow students in Japan. Later in 1903 Huang returned to China and organized a meeting with Chen Tianhua
, Song Jiaoren
, and more than 20 other people. The group founded the Huaxinghui
, a secret revolutionary party dedicated to the overthrow of the Qing Dynasty
. Huang Xing was voted president.
The Huaxinghui cooperated with other revolutionary parties, and in 1905 scheduled an armed uprising in Changsha during the Empress's seventieth birthday celebration. The Huaxinghui's plan was discovered, and its members (including Huang) were forced to escape to Japan. In Japan Huang met Sun Yat-sen
and helped Sun found the Tongmenghui
, another revolutionary party dedicated to the overthrow of the Qing Dynasty. Huang held the post of General Affairs Officer, and became the Tongmenghui's second most important leader, after Sun. Following the founding of the Tongmenghui, Huang devoted his time and energy to the revolution.
in order to participate in numerous revolts, including the Qinzhou Uprising, Fangcheng Uprising, and Zhen Nanguan Uprising. All of the revolts that Huang was active in failed. In the autumn of 1909, Huang was commissioned by Sun Yat-sen to establish the South Branch of the Tongmenghui, and to prepare the Party for a planned military uprising from Guangzhou. In the spring of 1909, Huang led another uprising, but this revolt also failed. In October 1909, Huang held an assembly with Sun Yat-sen in the British colony of Penang
(now part of Malaysia). The assembly decided to concentrate human and financial resources in order to stage further uprisings in Guangzhou.
In the spring of 1911, Huang established the Department of the Guangzhou Uprising in Hong Kong，and became the Department's minister. On April 27, Huang launched the Huanghuagang Uprising in Guangzhou, and lead hundreds of people in an attempt to capture the viceroy of Guangdong and Guangxi. Huang and his followers failed to capture the viceroy, who climbed over a wall in order to escape them. The Huanghuagang Uprising was the last unsuccessful revolt before the Wuchang Uprising
ultimately succeeded in overthrowing the Qing Dynasty by the end of 1911.
, Yuan Shikai
, successfully assassinated the chairman of the KMT, Song Jiaoren
, whose party had won China's first elections and who had shown indications of a desire to limit Yuan's powers within the new government.
In 1913 Yuan Shikai
expelled KMT members from all government offices and moved the government to Beijing
. Huang stayed in Nanjing, and attempted to reorganize the South Army in order to oppose Yuan. Because a shortage of money Huang's army later mutinied, and Huang had to abandon Nanjing and retreat to the foreign concession areas of Shanghai. Sun Yat-sen again fled to Japan in November 1913.
In July 1914, Sun organized armed forces to suppress Yuan, and the Second Revolution broke out. On July 14 Huang went to Nanjing from Shanghai, convinced the military governor of Jiangsu
to declare independence from Yuan, and pushed to be the military commander in charge suppressing Yuan's forces in Jiangsu. After Huang's rebellion in Jiangsu failed, Huang fled back to Japan.
.
in the film 1911, released in 2011 on the 100 year anniversary of the Wuchang Uprising.
Commander-in-Chief
A commander-in-chief is the commander of a nation's military forces or significant element of those forces. In the latter case, the force element may be defined as those forces within a particular region or those forces which are associated by function. As a practical term it refers to the military...
of 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...
. As one of the founders of the Kuomintang
Kuomintang
The Kuomintang of China , sometimes romanized as Guomindang via the Pinyin transcription system or GMD for short, and translated as the Chinese Nationalist Party is a founding and ruling political party of the Republic of China . Its guiding ideology is the Three Principles of the People, espoused...
(KMT) and the Republic of China, his position was next to 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...
. Together they were known as Sun-Huang during the Xinhai Revolution
Xinhai Revolution
The Xinhai Revolution or Hsinhai Revolution, also known as Revolution of 1911 or the Chinese Revolution, was a revolution that overthrew China's last imperial dynasty, the Qing , and established the Republic of China...
. He was also known as the "Eight Fingered General" because of wounds sustained during war. His tomb is on Mount Yuelu, in Changsha, Hunan, China.
Huang was born in the village of Gaotang, now part of Changsha, Hunan
Hunan
' is a province of South-Central China, located to the south of the middle reaches of the Yangtze River and south of Lake Dongting...
. Like many other Chinese men born before 1949, Huang was known by many different names during his life. His birth name was "Huang Zhen", but this was later changed to "Huang Xing". He was also known as "Huang Keqiang" and "Qing Wu". In the period after 1911 he also used the names "Li Youqing" and "Zhang Shouzheng".
Early life
Huang Xing began his studies at the prestigious South Changsha Academy in 1893, and received his Jinshi degree when he was only 22 years old. In 1898 Huang was selected to complete further study at Wuchang Lianghu College, from which Huang graduated in 1901. In 1902 Huang was selected by Zhang ZhidongZhang Zhidong
Zhang Zhidong ; Pseudonyms: Xiāngtāo , Xiāngyán , Yīgōng , Wújìng-Jūshì , later Bàobīng ; Posthumous name: Wénxiāng ) was an eminent Chinese politician during the late Qing Dynasty who advocated for controlled reform...
to study abroad in Japan, and was enrolled in the Tokyo Hongwen University.
While in Japan, Huang developed an appreciation for the study of military affairs, and studied modern warfare under Japanese officer in his leisure time. While living in Japan Huang practiced horsemanship and shooting every morning. Huang's military training in Japan prepared him for his later role as a Chinese revolutionary.
Taking up the sword
In 1903, in order to protest against Russia's growing hegemony over Outer MongoliaOuter Mongolia
Outer Mongolia was a territory of the Qing Dynasty = the Manchu Empire. Its area was roughly equivalent to that of the modern state of Mongolia, which is sometimes informally called "Outer Mongolia" today...
and Manchuria
Manchuria
Manchuria is a historical name given to a large geographic region in northeast Asia. Depending on the definition of its extent, Manchuria usually falls entirely within the People's Republic of China, or is sometimes divided between China and Russia. The region is commonly referred to as Northeast...
, Huang organized a volunteer army of over two hundred fellow students in Japan. Later in 1903 Huang returned to China and organized a meeting with Chen Tianhua
Chen Tianhua
Chen Tianhua , was a Chinese revolutionary born in Xinhua, Hunan province into a poor peasant family during the Qing dynasty.-Early life and education:Chen did not begin his education until he was fifteen...
, Song Jiaoren
Song Jiaoren
Song Jiaoren was a Chinese republican revolutionary, political leader and a founder of the Kuomintang . He was assassinated in 1913 after leading his Kuomintang party to victory in China's first democratic elections...
, and more than 20 other people. The group founded the Huaxinghui
Huaxinghui
The Huaxinghui , translated as the China Revival Society or China Arise Society, was founded by Huang Xing and Zhang Shizhao on February 15, 1904, in Hunan for the explicit goal of overthrowing the Manchu dynasty. Many of its members later became key figures of the Tongmenghui. The Huaxinghui was...
, a secret revolutionary party dedicated to the overthrow of the Qing Dynasty
Qing Dynasty
The Qing Dynasty was the last dynasty of China, ruling from 1644 to 1912 with a brief, abortive restoration in 1917. It was preceded by the Ming Dynasty and followed by the Republic of China....
. Huang Xing was voted president.
The Huaxinghui cooperated with other revolutionary parties, and in 1905 scheduled an armed uprising in Changsha during the Empress's seventieth birthday celebration. The Huaxinghui's plan was discovered, and its members (including Huang) were forced to escape to Japan. In Japan Huang met 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...
and helped Sun found the Tongmenghui
Tongmenghui
The Tongmenghui, also known as the Chinese United League, United League, Chinese Revolutionary Alliance, Chinese Alliance and United Allegiance Society, was a secret society and underground resistance movement formed when merging many Chinese revolutionary groups together by Sun Yat-sen, Song...
, another revolutionary party dedicated to the overthrow of the Qing Dynasty. Huang held the post of General Affairs Officer, and became the Tongmenghui's second most important leader, after Sun. Following the founding of the Tongmenghui, Huang devoted his time and energy to the revolution.
Attempted uprisings
In 1907 Huang secretly returned to China and traveled to HeneiHenei
Henei can refer to:# Hanoi, a city of Vietnam ;# Henei, an ancient province in China, currently in the north of modern Henan....
in order to participate in numerous revolts, including the Qinzhou Uprising, Fangcheng Uprising, and Zhen Nanguan Uprising. All of the revolts that Huang was active in failed. In the autumn of 1909, Huang was commissioned by Sun Yat-sen to establish the South Branch of the Tongmenghui, and to prepare the Party for a planned military uprising from Guangzhou. In the spring of 1909, Huang led another uprising, but this revolt also failed. In October 1909, Huang held an assembly with Sun Yat-sen in the British colony of Penang
History of Penang
The history of Penang is closely related to the history of Kedah. Penang was previously part of the sultanate of Kedah until it became a British possession in 1786...
(now part of Malaysia). The assembly decided to concentrate human and financial resources in order to stage further uprisings in Guangzhou.
In the spring of 1911, Huang established the Department of the Guangzhou Uprising in Hong Kong，and became the Department's minister. On April 27, Huang launched the Huanghuagang Uprising in Guangzhou, and lead hundreds of people in an attempt to capture the viceroy of Guangdong and Guangxi. Huang and his followers failed to capture the viceroy, who climbed over a wall in order to escape them. The Huanghuagang Uprising was the last unsuccessful revolt before 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...
ultimately succeeded in overthrowing the Qing Dynasty by the end of 1911.
Opposing Yuan Shikai
On January 1, 1912，the Nanjing Interim Government was established, and Huang was selected to be one of its leaders. In August 1913 Huang became the director of the KMT. In March 1913, the provisional president of the newly formed Republic of ChinaRepublic 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...
, Yuan Shikai
Yuan Shikai
Yuan Shikai was an important Chinese general and politician famous for his influence during the late Qing Dynasty, his role in the events leading up to the abdication of the last Qing Emperor of China, his autocratic rule as the second President of the Republic of China , and his short-lived...
, successfully assassinated the chairman of the KMT, Song Jiaoren
Song Jiaoren
Song Jiaoren was a Chinese republican revolutionary, political leader and a founder of the Kuomintang . He was assassinated in 1913 after leading his Kuomintang party to victory in China's first democratic elections...
, whose party had won China's first elections and who had shown indications of a desire to limit Yuan's powers within the new government.
In 1913 Yuan Shikai
Yuan Shikai
Yuan Shikai was an important Chinese general and politician famous for his influence during the late Qing Dynasty, his role in the events leading up to the abdication of the last Qing Emperor of China, his autocratic rule as the second President of the Republic of China , and his short-lived...
expelled KMT members from all government offices and moved the government to Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
. Huang stayed in Nanjing, and attempted to reorganize the South Army in order to oppose Yuan. Because a shortage of money Huang's army later mutinied, and Huang had to abandon Nanjing and retreat to the foreign concession areas of Shanghai. Sun Yat-sen again fled to Japan in November 1913.
In July 1914, Sun organized armed forces to suppress Yuan, and the Second Revolution broke out. On July 14 Huang went to Nanjing from Shanghai, convinced the military governor of Jiangsu
Jiangsu
' is a province of the People's Republic of China, located along the east coast of the country. The name comes from jiang, short for the city of Jiangning , and su, for the city of Suzhou. The abbreviation for this province is "苏" , the second character of its name...
to declare independence from Yuan, and pushed to be the military commander in charge suppressing Yuan's forces in Jiangsu. After Huang's rebellion in Jiangsu failed, Huang fled back to Japan.
Final years
Huang went into exile in the United States in 1914, and Yuan Shikai proclaimed himself emperor in 1915. While abroad, Huang raised funds in order to raise a Yunnan National Protection Army to suppress Yuan. After the death of Yuan, in June 1916, Huang returned to China. On October 1916, Huang died in Shanghai at the age of 42. On April 15, 1917, Huang was given a state funeral, and was buried in Changsha on Yuelu MountainYuelu Mountain
Mount Yuelu is located on the west bank of Xiang River in Changsha, Hunan, China. Its main peak and the highest point, Yunlu Peak, is about 300 meters above the sea level....
.
Remembrance
- In Changsha, Nanzheng Street was renamed to Huang Xing Road in 1934. There are also roads named in honor of Huang Xing in ShanghaiShanghaiShanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010...
and WuhanWuhanWuhan is the capital of Hubei province, People's Republic of China, and is the most populous city in Central China. It lies at the east of the Jianghan Plain, and the intersection of the middle reaches of the Yangtze and Han rivers...
. - The town where Huang Xing was born was renamed "Huang Xing Town" in his honor.
- Similar to the Zhongshan ParkZhongshan ParkZhongshan Park is a common name of Chinese parks, in honour of Sun Yat-sen, better-known in Chinese as Sun Zhongshan, who is considered by many to be the "Father of modern China"...
s, the Huang Xing Park in Shanghai is named after Huang Xing.
In popular culture
Huang Xing is portrayed by Jackie ChanJackie Chan
Jackie Chan, SBS, MBE is a Hong Kong actor, action choreographer, comedian, director, producer, martial artist, screenwriter, entrepreneur, singer and stunt performer. In his movies, he is known for his acrobatic fighting style, comic timing, use of improvised weapons, and innovative stunts...
in the film 1911, released in 2011 on the 100 year anniversary of the Wuchang Uprising.