Sun Yixian was born on November 12, 1866, in Cuiheng Village, Xiangshan County (now Zhongshan City), Guangdong Province. He came from a modest family of farmers and scholars. Sun showed exceptional academic talent at a young age and pursued his education in missionary schools in Hong Kong and Honolulu, Hawaii.
During his studies abroad, Sun Yixian became exposed to Western political philosophy, particularly the ideas of republicanism and nationalism, and he began to develop his own revolutionary thoughts. He founded the Revive China Society in 1894 and later organized the Xingzhonghui (Revive China Society) in Honolulu in 1905, aiming to overthrow the Qing dynasty and establish a republic in China.
In 1911, Sun Yixian led the Wuchang Uprising, which sparked the Xinhai Revolution and resulted in the overthrow of the Qing dynasty. The Republic of China was proclaimed on January 1, 1912, with Sun Yixian as its first provisional president.
However, Sun's presidency was short-lived as he resigned a few months later to Yuan Shikai, who became the first formal president of the Republic of China. Sun Yixian subsequently reorganized his political party as the Kuomintang (KMT) and continued to work towards his vision of a modern and democratic China.
Sun Yixian played a pivotal role in shaping China's political landscape during the early 20th century. His Three Principles of the People (Sanmin Zhuyi), which emphasized nationalism, democracy, and social welfare, became the ideological foundation of the Kuomintang and influenced Chinese politics for decades to come.
Sun Yixian died on March 12, 1925, in Beijing at the age of 58. He is revered as one of the most influential figures in Chinese history and his legacy continues to inspire Chinese people today.