Tse Tsan-tai
Encyclopedia
Tse Tsan-tai (16 May 1872 – 4 April 1938), styled
Sing-on (聖安), art-name
d Hong-yu (康如) was a Chinese revolutionary of the late Qing Dynasty. Tse was the first Chinese to fly an airship
, China in 1899. His book The Chinese Republic: Secret History of the Revolution (中華民國革命秘史), published in 1924 by the South China Morning Post
, of which he was co-founder, is an important source of studies on the anti-Qing revolution.
with his family and was educated at the Government Central School (now the Queen's College). Later, Tse worked as a secretary in the Public Works Department of the Government of Hong Kong
for nearly 10 years.
and others, started the Furen Literary Society
in Pak Tse Lane, Sheung Wan
, with the guiding principle of "Ducit Amor Patriae" (盡心愛國 in Chinese, literally "Love your country with all your heart"). The society released books and papers discussing the future of China and advocating the overthrow of the Qing government and the establishment of a republic
in China
. The Furen Literary Society was merged into the Hong Kong Chapter of the Revive China Society
in 1895, with Yeung and Sun Yat-sen
as the president and secretary of the society respectively. When Yeung and Sun fled overseas after the unsuccessful First Guangzhou Uprising, Tse remained in Hong Kong.
After Yeung was assassinated by Qing agents in 1901, Tse strove for his burial in the Hong Kong Cemetery
, albeit with a nameless gravestone. Determined to revenge his friend, Tse, together with his father, his brother, Hung Chuen-fook (洪全福) and the Triad, plotted another uprising in Canton. They called for the establishment of the State of Great Ming Heavenly Kingdom (大明順天國), a democratic state with an elected sage and talent as the president, and persuaded Yung Wing
to serve as the provisional president of the state. According to plan, they would destroy the Emperor's Temple (萬壽宮) with explosives on 28 January 1903, killing all the officials there, and then occupy the city of Canton
. Despite the financial sponsor from Li Ki-tong (李紀堂), the plot was leaked to the Qing government by a betraying informant.
As a newspaper person, Tse wrote the first declaration of the Revive China Society, with an open letter to Guangxu Emperor
in English. He also published The Situation in the Far East (時局全圖) to warn the patriots against the Western powers' ambition to partition China. In November 1903, Tse co-founded the South China Morning Post
with Alfred Cunningham.
in 1911, Tse was not involved in the Republic of China Government. He died on 4 April 1938 and was buried in Hong Kong.
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...
Sing-on (聖安), 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 Hong-yu (康如) was a Chinese revolutionary of the late Qing Dynasty. Tse was the first Chinese to fly an airship
Airship
An airship or dirigible is a type of aerostat or "lighter-than-air aircraft" that can be steered and propelled through the air using rudders and propellers or other thrust mechanisms...
, China in 1899. His book The Chinese Republic: Secret History of the Revolution (中華民國革命秘史), published in 1924 by the South China Morning Post
South China Morning Post
The South China Morning Post , together with its Sunday edition, the Sunday Morning Post, is an English-language Hong Kong newspaper, published by the SCMP Group with a circulation of 104,000....
, of which he was co-founder, is an important source of studies on the anti-Qing revolution.
Early Life
Born in Sydney, Australia to a patriotic Chinese, Tse Yat-cheong (謝日昌), Tse Tsan-tai was baptised James See on 1 November, 1879. In 1887, Tse moved to Hong KongHong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
with his family and was educated at the Government Central School (now the Queen's College). Later, Tse worked as a secretary in the Public Works Department of the Government of Hong Kong
Government of Hong Kong
The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China, commonly the Hong Kong Government, is led by the Chief Executive as Head of the Government, who is also the head of the Hong Kong SAR...
for nearly 10 years.
As a revolutionary
On March 13, 1892, Tse, together with Yeung Kui-wanYeung Kui-wan
Yeung Kui-wan , was a Chinese revolutionary of the late Qing Dynasty. In 1890, Yeung started the Furen Literary Society in British colonial Hong Kong to spread ideas of revolution against the Qing Dynasty and to establish a republic in China...
and others, started the Furen Literary Society
Furen Literary Society
The Furen Literary Society, also known as the Chinese Patriotic Mutual Improvement Association, or the 'Furen Cultural Society Restoration Association ', was founded in Colonial Hong Kong in 1892 to spread ideas of revolution against the Qing Dynasty and establishing a republic in China.It was...
in Pak Tse Lane, Sheung Wan
Sheung Wan
Sheung Wan is an area in Hong Kong, located in the north-west of Hong Kong Island, between Central and Sai Ying Pun. Administratively, it is part of the Central and Western District...
, with the guiding principle of "Ducit Amor Patriae" (盡心愛國 in Chinese, literally "Love your country with all your heart"). The society released books and papers discussing the future of China and advocating the overthrow of the Qing government and the establishment of a republic
Republic
A republic is a form of government in which the people, or some significant portion of them, have supreme control over the government and where offices of state are elected or chosen by elected people. In modern times, a common simplified definition of a republic is a government where the head of...
in China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
. The Furen Literary Society was merged into the Hong Kong Chapter of 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 1895, with Yeung and 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...
as the president and secretary of the society respectively. When Yeung and Sun fled overseas after the unsuccessful First Guangzhou Uprising, Tse remained in Hong Kong.
After Yeung was assassinated by Qing agents in 1901, Tse strove for his burial in the Hong Kong Cemetery
Hong Kong Cemetery
Hong Kong Cemetery, formerly Hong Kong Cemetery and before that Hong Kong Colonial Cemetery, is one of the early Christian cemeteries of Hong Kong during its colonial era . It is located beside the racecourse at Happy Valley, along with the Jewish Cemetery, Hindu Cemetery, Parsee Cemetery, St...
, albeit with a nameless gravestone. Determined to revenge his friend, Tse, together with his father, his brother, Hung Chuen-fook (洪全福) and the Triad, plotted another uprising in Canton. They called for the establishment of the State of Great Ming Heavenly Kingdom (大明順天國), a democratic state with an elected sage and talent as the president, and persuaded Yung Wing
Yung Wing
Yung Wing . Born in Zhuhai in Guangdong province, he studied in Robert Morrison's missionary schools as a boy where Tong King-sing was a classmate.-Biography:...
to serve as the provisional president of the state. According to plan, they would destroy the Emperor's Temple (萬壽宮) with explosives on 28 January 1903, killing all the officials there, and then occupy the city of Canton
Guangzhou
Guangzhou , known historically as Canton or Kwangchow, is the capital and largest city of the Guangdong province in the People's Republic of China. Located in southern China on the Pearl River, about north-northwest of Hong Kong, Guangzhou is a key national transportation hub and trading port...
. Despite the financial sponsor from Li Ki-tong (李紀堂), the plot was leaked to the Qing government by a betraying informant.
As a newspaper person, Tse wrote the first declaration of the Revive China Society, with an open letter to Guangxu Emperor
Guangxu Emperor
The Guangxu Emperor , born Zaitian of the Aisin-Gioro clan, was the eleventh emperor of the Manchurian Qing Dynasty, and the ninth Qing emperor to rule over China. His reign lasted from 1875 to 1908, but in practice he ruled, under Empress Dowager Cixi's influence, only from 1889 to 1898...
in English. He also published The Situation in the Far East (時局全圖) to warn the patriots against the Western powers' ambition to partition China. In November 1903, Tse co-founded the South China Morning Post
South China Morning Post
The South China Morning Post , together with its Sunday edition, the Sunday Morning Post, is an English-language Hong Kong newspaper, published by the SCMP Group with a circulation of 104,000....
with Alfred Cunningham.
After the revolution
After the Xinhai RevolutionXinhai 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...
in 1911, Tse was not involved in the Republic of China Government. He died on 4 April 1938 and was buried in Hong Kong.