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Photo exhibition reveals overseas Chinese's contribution to Xinhai Revolution

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South China's Guangdong province was one of the most important provinces during the Xinhai Revolution, which finally led to the overthrow of China's last imperial dynasty, the Qing.

This photo taken on Wednesday, September 21, 2011 shows a bronze figure of Sun Yat-sen, leader of Xinhai Revolution, at the Guangdong Overseas Chinese Museum in Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong province. [Photo: CRIENGLISH.com/Zhang Xu]

As part of a series of activities being held in the province to mark the centenary of the Xinhai Revolution, the Guangdong Overseas Chinese Museum is holding a photo exhibition of the Xinhai Revolution highlighting the contributions made from Chinese citizens who were abroad at that time.

Through historic photos, documents and original artifacts, the exhibition shows historical evidence that overseas Chinese established revolutionary organizations, published newspapers and magazines, collected money for the revolution and joined the uprisings during the Xinhai Revolution.

Du Ziming, whose grandfather's only brother is Du Fengshu, a Chinese citizen who lived in Singapore and was one of the 72 Martyrs of Huanghuagang Uprising in April 1911 during the Xinhai Revolution, is attending the exhibition's opening ceremony with his wife Liang Li'e. Du Fengshu's descendants have just donated Du Fengshu's relics including a ceramic rice jar and a red wooden desk to the Guangdong Overseas Chinese Museum.

"We believe the museum will preserve them better. We hope Du's heroic story will be passed down from generation to generation and more people will get to know Du's contribution to Xinhai Revolution." Liang Li??e says.

Wu Ruicheng, a director with Guangdong Overseas Chinese Affairs Office, notes that overseas Chinese played a very important role in the Xinhai Revolution.

First, they were the revolution's direct organizers; many revolutionary organizations including the Revive China Society and the Revolutionary Alliance were founded outside China. Then, overseas Chinese were the revolution's direct supporters. Xinhai Revolution leader Sun Yat-sen considered Chinese citizens living overseas as the mother of the revolution, because they were the ones who provided much of the financing. It's believed that overseas Chinese donated around ten million Hong Kong dollars to the revolution. In addition to this, many overseas Chinese were direct participants in the revolution. Many overseas Chinese returned to China to join the revolution. For example, among the 72 Martyrs of Huanghuagang Uprising, there were more than 20 overseas Chinese.

Wu says, "We will never forget what the overseas Chinese did during the Xinhai Revolution. We should pay more attention to the descendants of Xinhai Revolution to make sure that they feel that their forefathers' contributions are not in vain. Thanks to their contribution, China is now becoming more and more powerful."

Chinese-Australian Chen Heshui says he learned a lot after visiting the exhibition.

"I have lived in Australia for 30 years and I didn't know much about the relationship overseas Chinese people had with the Xinhai Revolution. Now I've learned that many overseas Chinese joined the Xinhai Revolution and they not only financed the revolution but also sacrificed a lot for the revolution. I am greatly touched by their efforts and have gained a lot from this." Chen says.

Yang Wenkai, the president of a Chinese newspaper Chubun in Japan, thinks that the Xinhai Revolution and Sun Yat-sen's efforts connected Chinese people on both sides of the Taiwan Straits.

"The celebration of the Xinhai Revolution is one of the best things you can do to honor Sun's will and encourage patriotism. As members of the overseas Chinese media, we should keep Sun Yat-sen's instructions in mind, honor his spirit, and seize the historical opportunity to contribute to China's reunification!" Yang says.

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