Song Shijie
Encyclopedia
Song Shijie 宋世傑 was a Chinese
revolutionary
during the final years of the empire
and into the early Republic of China
.
Born in Datong
, Shanxi
province, his father Song An was a military cook. Song started studying martial arts in 1885 and eventually opened his own school. When he saw different problems of the Qing Dynasty
, he helped the poor to confront corrupt officials. He was brought into court several times on account of his agitation, but always released due to his extreme popularity in Shanxi.
Song joined the Tongmenghui
or Revolutionary Alliance in 1910. After the Wuchang Uprising
in 1911, he led a team of soldiers to occupy Datong
, taking control of the city, although its chief military official Wang Desheng escaped. Song was elected chief general of the Datong Military Government by the revolutionaries on 1 December 1911. He joined the Kuomintang
when it was formed in 1912.
With the changing political winds of the revolution, Song was placed in a difficult position and didn't support Yuan Shikai
in his consolidation of power. As a result, Song was sentenced to death by Yen Hsi-shan and executed in Datong in 1914.
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
revolutionary
Revolutionary
A revolutionary is a person who either actively participates in, or advocates revolution. Also, when used as an adjective, the term revolutionary refers to something that has a major, sudden impact on society or on some aspect of human endeavor.-Definition:...
during the final years of the empire
Emperor of China
The Emperor of China refers to any sovereign of Imperial China reigning between the founding of Qin Dynasty of China, united by the King of Qin in 221 BCE, and the fall of Yuan Shikai's Empire of China in 1916. When referred to as the Son of Heaven , a title that predates the Qin unification, the...
and into the early 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...
.
Born in Datong
Datong
Datong is a prefecture-level city in northern Shanxi Province of North China, located a few hundred kilometres west by rail from Beijing with an elevation of...
, Shanxi
Shanxi
' is a province in Northern China. Its one-character abbreviation is "晋" , after the state of Jin that existed here during the Spring and Autumn Period....
province, his father Song An was a military cook. Song started studying martial arts in 1885 and eventually opened his own school. When he saw different problems of 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....
, he helped the poor to confront corrupt officials. He was brought into court several times on account of his agitation, but always released due to his extreme popularity in Shanxi.
Song joined the Tongmenghui
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...
or Revolutionary Alliance in 1910. After the Wuchang Uprising
Wuchang 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...
in 1911, he led a team of soldiers to occupy Datong
Datong
Datong is a prefecture-level city in northern Shanxi Province of North China, located a few hundred kilometres west by rail from Beijing with an elevation of...
, taking control of the city, although its chief military official Wang Desheng escaped. Song was elected chief general of the Datong Military Government by the revolutionaries on 1 December 1911. He joined the Kuomintang
Kuomintang
The Kuomintang of China , sometimes romanized as Guomindang via the Pinyin transcription system or GMD for short, and translated as the Chinese Nationalist Party is a founding and ruling political party of the Republic of China . Its guiding ideology is the Three Principles of the People, espoused...
when it was formed in 1912.
With the changing political winds of the revolution, Song was placed in a difficult position and didn't support Yuan Shikai
Yuan Shikai
Yuan Shikai was an important Chinese general and politician famous for his influence during the late Qing Dynasty, his role in the events leading up to the abdication of the last Qing Emperor of China, his autocratic rule as the second President of the Republic of China , and his short-lived...
in his consolidation of power. As a result, Song was sentenced to death by Yen Hsi-shan and executed in Datong in 1914.