Many believe that Yuan Shikai put forward idea of ​​a five-race republic to "hack" Sun Yat-sen. It is true that Sun Yat-sen used "drive out Tatars and restore China" as an anti-Qing slogan in early days, but as revolutionary situation developed, Sun Yat-sen gradually changed his ideas and gradually adopted concept of a "republic of five ethnic groups". Through negotiations between North and South, Yuan Shikai also agreed to idea of ​​a five-ethnic republic. As a representative of traditional forces, Yuan Shikai was against republican system at heart, so why did he have idea of ​​a “republic of five races”?

The idea of ​​a republic of five ethnic groups appeared at end of Qing Dynasty. The reason why it arose during this period is inseparable from national danger of that time. Since modern times, Western powers have constantly invaded China and tried to destroy Qing Dynasty. And Japan is even more insidious, trying to create conflicts between Manchus and Hans in order to split China. Naito Konan suggested that "after Yashan, there will be no China, and after fall of Ming dynasty, there will be no China." Later, fake books such as Yangzhou City Diary were released by Japan to agitate anti-Qing movement in China. Before Sino-Japanese War of Sino-Japanese War, Japan once widely circulated "Letter to Heroes of Eighteen Provinces", advocating that entry of Manchu Qing into customs would mean destruction of country and extinction of species.

Japan's demagoguery really caused a great resonance in China: many revolutionaries aimed to overthrow rule of Qing dynasty and even advocated creation of a republic of eighteen provinces in China. Sun Yat-sen's idea of ​​"driving out Tatars and restoring China" meant that he wanted to learn from Zhu Yuanzhang and drive Manchus to northeast. Faced with slogan of Revolutionary Party, Liang Qichao and other constitutionalists raised objections. Liang Qichao believed that all people of Qing Dynasty belonged to Chinese nation. He said: “Small nationalists, Han nationality, are same for other nationalities in country. own tribes in country, same with foreign tribes... He Han, He Man, He Mongolia, He Hui, He Miao and He Zang form a big nation.” twenty-one provinces of today's China, as well as Inner and Inner Mongolia, Hui and Tibet are not. are citizens of same country.

Liang Qichao

It can be said that constitutionalists are supporters of idea of ​​a "Republic of Five Races". In his debates with constitutionalists, Sun Yat-sen gradually became aware of limitations of his own thinking. In 1906, Sun Yat-sen said that "the national revolution must destroy Manchu nation. This is a big mistake." "We do not hate Manchus, but Manchus who hate Han people. Revolution, Manchus will not come. There is absolutely no reason to take revenge for being hindered." Obviously, Sun Yat-sen's ideas have changed, but Sun Yat-sen's thought about "big Han doctrine" has not changed completely.

Sun Yat-sen

In 1911, Revolution of 1911 broke out, and situation in China underwent a fundamental change. As rule of Qing Dynasty quickly disintegrated throughout country, surrounding ethnic groups sought to become independent under influence of imperialism. For example, Mongolian princes and ministers were very outraged by 1911 revolution when they heard slogan "drive out Tatars". At this time, Tsarist Russia instigated independence of Mongolia, and Jebtsundamba declared independence in December 1911. In Tibet, people were in a panic, there were rumors everywhere that Han and Fan were killing each other, and soon there was a conflict between army stationed in Tibet and local military forces in Tibet. The British authorities seized opportunity to provoke independence of Tibetan local government. And Japan is also actively promoting independence of Northeast and Inner Mongolia. At this time, China is really dangerous.

Uchan uprising

At this time, Sun Yat-sen realized his narrowness and fully accepted idea of ​​a "republic of five races." All subjects of country must be masters of republic, i.e., they all have right to participate in state. At end of 1911, Sun Yat-sen and Yuan Shikai negotiated, and both sides reached "Terms for Treatment of Manchus, Mongols, Hui and Tibetans", which made idea of ​​a "republic of five ethnic groups". This became a consensus between north and south. In 1912, Republic of China was established, and Sun Yat-sen issued a declaration: “Unify Han, Manchu, Mongolian, Hui and Tibetan regions as one country, that is, uniting Han, Manchu, Mongolian, Hui and Tibetan ethnic groups as one person. , is called unity of nation".

Thereafter, Qing Emperor abdicated and issued a letter of renunciation, transferring all territorial sovereignty of Qing Dynasty to Republic of China, so ROC could legally inherit lands of Qing Dynasty. Since then, local governments of Tibet and Mongolia have expressed their support for Republic of Five Ethnic Groups, frustrating attempts by Japan, Tsarist Russia and Great Britain to split China.