Yat sen Sun.

孫逸仙

Born 12 Nov 1866 Hsiang-shan, China

Died 12 Mar 1925 Peking, China

Citizenship Taiwan

8 min read

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Mar 18, 2026

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TL;DR

Sun Yat-sen served as the first provisional president of the Republic of China from January to March 1912. He developed the Three Principles of the People, inspired by Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address. He died of cancer in Peking in 1925 at age 58.

Identity & family.

KIN · 9

Names, aliases, and relatives of Yat sen Sun — birth name, kin, and personal ties.

Native Name 孫逸仙

Aliases Dr. Sun Yat Sen, Sun Yat Sen

PARENTS: Madame Yang Sun Dacheng
SPOUSES: Ching Ling Soong Lu Mu chen
CHILDREN: Sun Fo Sun Wan Fumiko Miyagawa Sun Yan
SIBLINGS: Sun Mei

At a glance.

STATS

Yat sen Sun by the numbers — life, work, and family.

58 Years lived

1 Film credit

10 Books

1 Award

2 Marriages

4 Children

Who was Yat sen Sun?

BIOGRAPHY

Yat sen Sun — early life, career, personal life, and legacy.

Early life

At age 13, Sun Yat-sen joined his elder brother Sun Mei in Honolulu, where he attended ʻIolani School and Punahou School. He was born on November 12, 1866 in Hsiang-shan, Kwangtung Province, China, raised in a farming family by his father Sun Dacheng and mother Madame Yang. The Western education and Christianity he encountered there shaped his revolutionary ideals.

Career

Sun Yat-sen founded the Revive China Society in 1894 and led the Xinhai Revolution that overthrew the Qing dynasty in 1911. In January 1912, he became provisional president of the Republic of China but resigned in March to Yuan Shikai. He later established the Nationalist Party Kuomintang and served as Generalissimo of the Army and Navy from 1917 to 1918 and again from 1923 to 1925. His political philosophy, the Three Principles of the People, became the foundation of modern China.

Personal life

Sun Yat-sen’s first marriage to Lu Mu-chen was arranged when he was 18. They had three children: Sun Fo, Sun Wan, and Chin-yen who died in 1913. In 1914, he married Soong Ching-ling in Tokyo, which was controversial as he had not divorced Lu. Soong remained his companion until his death. He also had two other children, Fumiko Miyagawa and Sun Yan.

Legacy

Both mainland China and Taiwan officially proclaim Sun Yat-sen as the Father of the Nation. His Three Principles of the People influenced not only China but also other Asian nationalist movements. He has been honored on US postage stamps in 1942 and 1961. Three universities bear his name, including Sun Yat-sen University in Guangzhou.

Filmography.

FILMS · 1

Browse the complete filmography of Yat sen Sun — every film, TV show, and documentary credit, ranked by popularity.

Movie

A Page of History

1941

Awards & honors.

AWARDS · 1

Every award, honor, and recognition received by Yat sen Sun — Grammys, hall-of-fame inductions, civic honors, lifetime achievements.

Order of Merit for National Foundation

Bibliography.

BOOKS · 10

Yat sen Sun's bibliography — every authored, edited, and co-written book, ranked by edition count.

Amazon

The International Development of China

by Sun et al.
Amazon

Memoirs of a Chinese Revolutionary

by Sun et al.
Amazon

The Principle of Democracy

by Sun et al.
Amazon

Jian Guo Fang Lue

by Sun et al.
Amazon

The Triple Demism of Sun Yat-sen

by Sun et al.
Amazon

The Three Principles of the People

by Sun et al.
Amazon

Wo De Hui Yi =

by Sun et al.

Could not load more books.

Did you know?

FACTS · 12

Little-known facts about Yat sen Sun — origins, oddities, and behind-the-scenes details from a public life.

Featured on a 5¢ US postage stamp with Abraham Lincoln, issued July 7, 1942 to commemorate the fifth anniversary of resistance to Japanese aggression by the Chinese Republic.
Featured on a 4¢ US postage stamp commemorating the 60th anniversary of the founding of the Republic of China in 1901, issued October 10, 1961.
Served as the first president of the Republic of China, as provisional president between January and March 1911 and as President Extraordinary between 1921 and 1922. Also served twice as Generalissimo of the Army and Navy, between 1917-1918 and 1923-1925 until his death.
Revered by all Chinese people, both Nationalists and Communists, and officially proclaimed Father of the Nation or Father of the Fatherland. Seen as China’s answer to Augustus Caesar, George Washington, Peter the Great, and Vladimir Lenin.
Received his medical training at the Hong Kong College of Medicine, the predecessor of the University of Hong Kong.
Has three universities named after him: in Guangzhou Canton, Taiwan, and Moscow disbanded in 1931.
Baptized a Christian in Hawaii, he later supported the Soviet cause and was a personal friend of Vladimir Lenin and Joseph Stalin.
His crystal coffin was donated by Joseph Stalin but never used because by the time it was shipped to Beijing, Sun was already buried.
His Three Principles of the People nationalism, people’s livelihood, and civil rights were inspired by Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address.
Grandfather of Nora Sun.
Portrayed five times on screen by Winston Chao: in The Soong Sisters 1997, Road to Dawn 2007, 1911 2011, and in the TV series Sun Zhongshan 2001 and Tie jian dan daoyi 2010.
Great-grandfather of Leland Sun.

You wanted to know.

FAQ · 31

Quick answers to the questions readers ask most about Yat sen Sun.

When was Sun Yat-sen born?

Sun Yat-sen was born on November 12, 1866. He was born in Hsiang-shan, Kwangtung Province, China.
Where was Sun Yat-sen born?

He was born in Hsiang-shan, Kwangtung Province, China. This is now part of Zhongshan City in Guangdong.
When did Sun Yat-sen die?

He died on March 12, 1925. He was 58 years old at the time of his death.
How old was Sun Yat-sen when he died?

He was 58 years old when he passed away. He died in 1925.
Where did Sun Yat-sen die?

He died in Peking, China. At the time, Peking was the capital of the Republic of China.
What was the cause of Sun Yat-sen's death?

He died from cancer. He had been ill for some time before his death on March 12, 1925.
What is Sun Yat-sen's name in Chinese?

His native Chinese name is 孫逸仙. He is often referred to as Sun Yat-sen or Dr. Sun Yat-sen.
What nationality was Sun Yat-sen?

He held citizenship of Taiwan. He is considered a founding father of the Republic of China, which is now based in Taiwan.
Who were Sun Yat-sen's parents?

His father was Sun Dacheng and his mother was Madame Yang. They were farmers in Hsiang-shan.
Who was Sun Yat-sen married to?

He was married to Lu Mu-chen and later to Soong Ching-ling. His marriage to Soong in 1914 was controversial as he had not divorced Lu.
Did Sun Yat-sen have children?

Yes, he had four children: Sun Fo, Sun Wan, Fumiko Miyagawa, and Sun Yan. His first wife Lu Mu-chen was the mother of Sun Fo and Sun Wan.
Did Sun Yat-sen have any siblings?

Yes, he had one brother named Sun Mei. Sun Mei helped support Sun Yat-sen’s early education in Hawaii.
Where did Sun Yat-sen go to school?

He attended several schools including Queen’s College in Hong Kong, Punahou School and ʻIolani School in Hawaii, and the Hong Kong College of Medicine for Chinese now part of the University of Hong Kong.
What awards did Sun Yat-sen receive?

He received the Order of Merit for National Foundation. This award recognizes his contributions to the founding of the Republic of China.
Why did Sun Yat-sen use the name Dr. Sun Yat Sen?

He used the title Dr. because he earned a medical degree from the Hong Kong College of Medicine for Chinese. He practiced medicine briefly before becoming a revolutionary.
What is Sun Yat-sen's most famous political philosophy?

His Three Principles of the People: nationalism, people’s livelihood, and civil rights. These principles were inspired by Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address.
How many times has Sun Yat-sen been portrayed by actor Winston Chao?

Winston Chao has portrayed Sun Yat-sen five times in films and TV series, including The Soong Sisters 1997 and 1911 2011.
Who donated Sun Yat-sen's crystal coffin?

The crystal coffin was donated by Soviet leader Joseph Stalin. However, it was never used because Sun was already buried by the time it arrived in Beijing.
What is the significance of Sun Yat-sen being on US postage stamps?

He appeared on two US stamps: a 5-cent stamp in 1942 with Abraham Lincoln, and a 4-cent stamp in 1961 commemorating the Republic of China’s founding. These honors reflect his international recognition.
What are the universities named after Sun Yat-sen?

There are three universities: Sun Yat-sen University in Guangzhou, National Sun Yat-sen University in Taiwan, and Moscow Sun Yat-sen University disbanded in 1931.
Was Sun Yat-sen a Christian?

Yes, he was baptized a Christian in Hawaii. Despite this, he supported the Soviet cause and was friends with Vladimir Lenin and Joseph Stalin.
What is Sun Yat-sen's role in the Xinhai Revolution?

He led the Xinhai Revolution in 1911, which overthrew the Qing dynasty and established the Republic of China. He became its first provisional president.
How many times did Sun Yat-sen serve as Generalissimo?

He served as Generalissimo of the Army and Navy twice: from 1917 to 1918 and from 1923 until his death in 1925.
What happened to Sun Yat-sen's daughter Chin-yen?

His daughter Chin-yen, the elder of his two daughters with Lu Mu-chen, died in 1913. She predeceased him.
Who are Sun Yat-sen's grandchildren?

His grandchildren include Nora Sun and Leland Sun. Nora Sun is the daughter of Sun Fo, and Leland Sun is a great-grandson.
Why is Sun Yat-sen called the Father of the Nation?

He is officially proclaimed the Father of the Nation in both mainland China and Taiwan for his central role in founding the Republic of China and his enduring political philosophy.
What inspired Sun Yat-sen's Three Principles of the People?

He was inspired by Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address, particularly the phrase of the people, by the people, for the people. He adapted this into nationalism, civil rights, and people’s livelihood.
Did Sun Yat-sen divorce his first wife?

No, he never divorced his first wife Lu Mu-chen. His marriage to Soong Ching-ling in 1914 was controversial for this reason.
How many children did Sun Yat-sen have with Lu Mu-chen?

He had three children with Lu Mu-chen: two daughters Chin-yen and Sun Wan and a son, Sun Fo.
What is Sun Yat-sen's connection to Hawaii?

He lived in Hawaii as a teenager, attending ʻIolani School and Punahou School. He was also baptized a Christian there.
How is Sun Yat-sen remembered in China and Taiwan?

He is revered as a national hero in both mainland China and Taiwan. Statues of him are common, and his image appears on currency in Taiwan.

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If something's wrong in a profile, Daniel will find it. With 7 years of research experience, he's developed an almost unreasonable eye for inaccurate career timelines, misattributed credits, and dates that don't quite add up. He doesn't publish anything he can't verify. The profiles on Famousy are as accurate as they are largely because of work you'll never see his name on.

Published on March 18, 2026

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