Five Races Under One Union
Encyclopedia
Five races under one union was one of the major principles upon which the Republic of China
was originally founded in 1911 at the time of the Xinhai Revolution
.
: the Han
(red); the Manchu
s (yellow); the Mongols
(blue); the Muslims
, known at the time as the "Hui" (white); and the Tibetans
(black).
The term "Muslim" in this context (including the term 回, huí, in Chinese) primarily referred to the Muslim Turkic peoples
in Western China, since the term "Muslim Territory" (回疆; "Huijiang") was an older name for Xinjiang
during the Qing Dynasty
. The meaning of the term "Hui people" gradually shifted to its current sense
—a group distinguished from the Han Chinese
by little other than their Muslim
faith and distant foreign ancestry during the period of roughly 1911–49 in the Republic of China
.
, the Qing dynasty transitioned to the Republic of China
. There were a number of competing flags that could have been used by the revolutionaries
. The military units of Wuchang wanted the 9-star flag with Taijitu
. Sun Yat-sen
considered the Blue Sky and White Sun flag to honor Lu Hao-tung
.
Despite the general target of the uprisings to be the manchus, Sun Yat-sen, Song Jiaoren
and Huang Xing
unanimously advocated racial integration
to be carried out on the frontiers hence the different colors used for the flag. The general idea is that all of the non-Han
races were Chinese also despite the non-Han portion making up a very small percentage of the population.
The "five ethnic groups under one union" flag was no longer used after the Northern Expedition.
A variation of this flag was adopted by Yuan Shikai's empire and the Japanese puppet state
of Manchukuo
(Flag of Manchukuo
). In Manchukuo, similar slogan (五族協和) was used, but the five races are changed into Japanese
(red), Han Chinese (blue), Mongols (white), Koreans
(black) and Manchus (yellow).
Republic of China (1912–1949)
In 1911, after over two thousand years of imperial rule, a republic was established in China and the monarchy overthrown by a group of revolutionaries. The Qing Dynasty, having just experienced a century of instability, suffered from both internal rebellion and foreign imperialism...
was originally founded in 1911 at the time of the Xinhai Revolution
Xinhai 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...
.
Description
This principle emphasized the harmony of the five major ethnic groups in China as represented by the colored stripes of the Five-Colored Flag of the RepublicFlag of the Republic of China
The Flag of the Republic of China is red with a navy blue canton bearing a white sun with 12 triangular rays. In Chinese, the flag is commonly described as Blue Sky, White Sun, and a Wholly Red Earth to reflect its attributes....
: the Han
Han Chinese
Han Chinese are an ethnic group native to China and are the largest single ethnic group in the world.Han Chinese constitute about 92% of the population of the People's Republic of China , 98% of the population of the Republic of China , 78% of the population of Singapore, and about 20% of the...
(red); the Manchu
Manchu
The Manchu people or Man are an ethnic minority of China who originated in Manchuria . During their rise in the 17th century, with the help of the Ming dynasty rebels , they came to power in China and founded the Qing Dynasty, which ruled China until the Xinhai Revolution of 1911, which...
s (yellow); the Mongols
Mongols
Mongols ) are a Central-East Asian ethnic group that lives mainly in the countries of Mongolia, China, and Russia. In China, ethnic Mongols can be found mainly in the central north region of China such as Inner Mongolia...
(blue); the Muslims
Islam in China
Throughout the history of Islam in China, Chinese Muslims have influenced the course of Chinese history. Chinese Muslims have been in China for the last 1,400 years of continuous interaction with Chinese society...
, known at the time as the "Hui" (white); and the Tibetans
Tibetan people
The Tibetan people are an ethnic group that is native to Tibet, which is mostly in the People's Republic of China. They number 5.4 million and are the 10th largest ethnic group in the country. Significant Tibetan minorities also live in India, Nepal, and Bhutan...
(black).
The term "Muslim" in this context (including the term 回, huí, in Chinese) primarily referred to the Muslim Turkic peoples
Turkic peoples
The Turkic peoples are peoples residing in northern, central and western Asia, southern Siberia and northwestern China and parts of eastern Europe. They speak languages belonging to the Turkic language family. They share, to varying degrees, certain cultural traits and historical backgrounds...
in Western China, since the term "Muslim Territory" (回疆; "Huijiang") was an older name for Xinjiang
Xinjiang
Xinjiang is an autonomous region of the People's Republic of China. It is the largest Chinese administrative division and spans over 1.6 million km2...
during the Qing Dynasty
Qing Dynasty
The Qing Dynasty was the last dynasty of China, ruling from 1644 to 1912 with a brief, abortive restoration in 1917. It was preceded by the Ming Dynasty and followed by the Republic of China....
. The meaning of the term "Hui people" gradually shifted to its current sense
Hui people
The Hui people are an ethnic group in China, defined as Chinese speaking people descended from foreign Muslims. They are typically distinguished by their practice of Islam, however some also practice other religions, and many are direct descendants of Silk Road travelers.In modern People's...
—a group distinguished from the Han Chinese
Han Chinese
Han Chinese are an ethnic group native to China and are the largest single ethnic group in the world.Han Chinese constitute about 92% of the population of the People's Republic of China , 98% of the population of the Republic of China , 78% of the population of Singapore, and about 20% of the...
by little other than their Muslim
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
faith and distant foreign ancestry during the period of roughly 1911–49 in the Republic of China
Republic of China
The Republic of China , commonly known as Taiwan , is a unitary sovereign state located in East Asia. Originally based in mainland China, the Republic of China currently governs the island of Taiwan , which forms over 99% of its current territory, as well as Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu and other minor...
.
History
After the Wuchang UprisingWuchang Uprising
The Wuchang Uprising began with the dissatisfaction of the handling of a railway crisis. The crisis then escalated to an uprising where the revolutionaries went up against Qing government officials. The uprising was then assisted by the New Army in a coup against their own authorities in the city...
, the Qing dynasty transitioned to the Republic of China
Republic of China
The Republic of China , commonly known as Taiwan , is a unitary sovereign state located in East Asia. Originally based in mainland China, the Republic of China currently governs the island of Taiwan , which forms over 99% of its current territory, as well as Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu and other minor...
. There were a number of competing flags that could have been used by the revolutionaries
Tongmenghui
The Tongmenghui, also known as the Chinese United League, United League, Chinese Revolutionary Alliance, Chinese Alliance and United Allegiance Society, was a secret society and underground resistance movement formed when merging many Chinese revolutionary groups together by Sun Yat-sen, Song...
. The military units of Wuchang wanted the 9-star flag with Taijitu
Taijitu
Taijitu is a term which refers to a Chinese symbol for the concept of yin and yang...
. 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...
considered the Blue Sky and White Sun flag to honor Lu Hao-tung
Lu Hao-tung
Lu Hao-tung , born Lu Chung-gui , courtesy name Hsien-hsiang , was the first "revolutionary martyr" of the Republic of China...
.
Despite the general target of the uprisings to be the manchus, Sun Yat-sen, Song Jiaoren
Song Jiaoren
Song Jiaoren was a Chinese republican revolutionary, political leader and a founder of the Kuomintang . He was assassinated in 1913 after leading his Kuomintang party to victory in China's first democratic elections...
and Huang Xing
Huang Xing
Huang Xing or Huang Hsing , was a Chinese revolutionary leader, militarist, and statesman, was the first army commander-in-chief of the Republic of China. As one of the founders of the Kuomintang and the Republic of China, his position was next to Sun Yat-sen. Together they were known as...
unanimously advocated racial integration
Racial integration
Racial integration, or simply integration includes desegregation . In addition to desegregation, integration includes goals such as leveling barriers to association, creating equal opportunity regardless of race, and the development of a culture that draws on diverse traditions, rather than merely...
to be carried out on the frontiers hence the different colors used for the flag. The general idea is that all of the non-Han
Han Chinese
Han Chinese are an ethnic group native to China and are the largest single ethnic group in the world.Han Chinese constitute about 92% of the population of the People's Republic of China , 98% of the population of the Republic of China , 78% of the population of Singapore, and about 20% of the...
races were Chinese also despite the non-Han portion making up a very small percentage of the population.
The "five ethnic groups under one union" flag was no longer used after the Northern Expedition.
A variation of this flag was adopted by Yuan Shikai's empire and the Japanese puppet state
Puppet state
A puppet state is a nominal sovereign of a state who is de facto controlled by a foreign power. The term refers to a government controlled by the government of another country like a puppeteer controls the strings of a marionette...
of Manchukuo
Manchukuo
Manchukuo or Manshū-koku was a puppet state in Manchuria and eastern Inner Mongolia, governed under a form of constitutional monarchy. The region was the historical homeland of the Manchus, who founded the Qing Empire in China...
(Flag of Manchukuo
Flag of Manchukuo
The flag of the now-defunct Empire of Manchukuo had a mustard yellow field with four horizontal stripes of different colors in the upper-left corner. The colors of the flag were based on the colors on the Five Races Under One Union flags used by the Peking-based Beiyang government and the Empire of...
). In Manchukuo, similar slogan (五族協和) was used, but the five races are changed into Japanese
Yamato people
is a name for the dominant native ethnic group of Japan. It is a term that came to be used around the late 19th century to distinguish the residents of the mainland Japan from other minority ethnic groups who have resided in the peripheral areas of Japan, such as the Ainu, Ryukyuan, Nivkh, Ulta, as...
(red), Han Chinese (blue), Mongols (white), Koreans
Korean people
The Korean people are an ethnic group originating in the Korean peninsula and Manchuria. Koreans are one of the most ethnically and linguistically homogeneous groups in the world.-Names:...
(black) and Manchus (yellow).