Yau Lit
Encyclopedia
Chinese style name
A Chinese style name, sometimes also known as a courtesy name , is a given name to be used later in life. After 20 years of age, the zì is assigned in place of one's given name as a symbol of adulthood and respect...
Tui-hau (推孝) or Ling-kwai (令季) was a Chinese revolutionary from Shuntak, Kwangtung
Guangdong
Guangdong is a province on the South China Sea coast of the People's Republic of China. The province was previously often written with the alternative English name Kwangtung Province...
. He is one of the Four Bandits
Four Bandits
The Four Bandits, Four Outlaws or the Four Desperados was a nickname given to a group of 4 young students in Hong Kong who were keen on discussing the current issues in China, and aspired to overthrow the corrupt Qing dynasty run by the Manchus. The four bandits were Yeung Hok-ling, Sun Yat-sen,...
, together with 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...
, Chan siu-bak
Chan Siu-bak
Chan Siu-bak , born Chan Siu-man , styled Siu-bak , art-named Kwai-shek , was a Chinese revolutionary from Sanwui, Kwangtung. He was one of the Four Bandits, together with Sun Yat-sen, Yau Lit and Yeung Hok-ling.- Early life :Chan was born to a family of Christian scholars, and entered a private...
and Yeung Hok-ling
Yeung Hok-ling
Yeung Hok-ling , styled Lai-ha was a Chinese revolutionary from Cuiheng Village, Heungshan, Kwangtung. He is one of the Four Bandits, together with Sun Yat-sen, Yau Lit and Chan Siu-bak.-Biography:...
.
Early Life
Yau was born to a family of scholars. He entered a private school at the age of 5, and was educated under Luk Nam-long (陸南朗), a famous scholar in his hometown, at the age of 10. Luk influenced Yau with his strong sense of distinction between the Manchus and the HansHan 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...
.
Revolution
In 1881, the 17-year old Yau Lit travelled to ShanghaiShanghai
Shanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010...
, Incheon
Incheon
The Incheon Metropolitan City is located in northwestern South Korea. The city was home to just 4,700 people when Jemulpo port was built in 1883. Today 2.76 million people live in the city, making it Korea’s third most populous city after Seoul and Busan Metropolitan City...
, the Three Northeast Provinces
Northeast China
Northeast China, historically known in English as Manchuria, is a geographical region of China, consisting of the three provinces of Liaoning, Jilin and Heilongjiang. The region is sometimes called the Three Northeast Provinces...
and Nanking, joined the Hongmen during the journey and aspired to revolution. When he returned to Kwangtung, he entered the Canton Academy of Mathematics (廣州算學館). Later, he worked at the Mathematics Branch of Shatin Bureau, Kwangtung, and was responsible for drawing the border between China and the then France-occupied Annam. In 1892, Yau worked as a secretary at the Secretariat for Chinese Affairs
Home Affairs Bureau
Home Affairs Bureau is one of the policy bureaux of the Hong Kong Government.One of the important roles of the Home Affairs Bureau is to enhance liaison and communication with all sectors of the community including the Legislative Council and the general public.Tsang Tak-sing has been the...
of Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
.
One day, Yau visited Yeung Hok-ling
Yeung Hok-ling
Yeung Hok-ling , styled Lai-ha was a Chinese revolutionary from Cuiheng Village, Heungshan, Kwangtung. He is one of the Four Bandits, together with Sun Yat-sen, Yau Lit and Chan Siu-bak.-Biography:...
, his classmate at the Canton Academy of Mathematics, and was introduced to 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...
, a medical student from Yeung's hometown. Sun then introduced them to Chan Siu-bak
Chan Siu-bak
Chan Siu-bak , born Chan Siu-man , styled Siu-bak , art-named Kwai-shek , was a Chinese revolutionary from Sanwui, Kwangtung. He was one of the Four Bandits, together with Sun Yat-sen, Yau Lit and Yeung Hok-ling.- Early life :Chan was born to a family of Christian scholars, and entered a private...
, his classmate at the Alice Memorial Hospital. The four frequently met at Yeung Yiu Kee (楊耀記), Yeung's family shop at 24 Gough Street
Gough Street
Gough Street is a street on Sheung Wan, Hong Kong just north of the Soho area of Central. It is connected to Shing Wong Street to the west and Aberdeen Street to the east....
, to discuss a revolution against 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....
, and were collectively called the Four Bandits
Four Bandits
The Four Bandits, Four Outlaws or the Four Desperados was a nickname given to a group of 4 young students in Hong Kong who were keen on discussing the current issues in China, and aspired to overthrow the corrupt Qing dynasty run by the Manchus. The four bandits were Yeung Hok-ling, Sun Yat-sen,...
by their neighbours.
Yau was a member of the Furen Literary Society
Furen Literary Society
The Furen Literary Society, also known as the Chinese Patriotic Mutual Improvement Association, or the 'Furen Cultural Society Restoration Association ', was founded in Colonial Hong Kong in 1892 to spread ideas of revolution against the Qing Dynasty and establishing a republic in China.It was...
, which was set up to spread the idea of revolution. He introduced Yeung Kui-wan
Yeung Kui-wan
Yeung Kui-wan , was a Chinese revolutionary of the late Qing Dynasty. In 1890, Yeung started the Furen Literary Society in British colonial Hong Kong to spread ideas of revolution against the Qing Dynasty and to establish a republic in China...
, the leader of Furen, to Sun, who had already established the Revive China Society
Revive China Society
The Hsing Chung Hui or Xingzhonghui translated as the Revive China Society, Society for Regenerating China, Proper China Society was founded by Sun Yat-sen on 24 November 1894 to forward the goal of establishing prosperity for China and as a platform for future revolutionary activities...
in Honolulu, Hawaii
Honolulu, Hawaii
Honolulu is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Hawaii. Honolulu is the southernmost major U.S. city. Although the name "Honolulu" refers to the urban area on the southeastern shore of the island of Oahu, the city and county government are consolidated as the City and...
. After the Furen Literary Society was merged into the Revive China Society to set up the Hong Kong Chapter of the Revive China Society, Yau participated in plotting the Canton Uprising of 1895. The uprising failed, and 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...
was among the revolutionaries killed by Qing soldiers. Yau had to flee to Saigon.
In 1897, Yau returned to Hong Kong to found the Chung-wo Tong (中和堂) in Kowloon
Kowloon
Kowloon is an urban area in Hong Kong comprising the Kowloon Peninsula and New Kowloon. It is bordered by the Lei Yue Mun strait in the east, Mei Foo Sun Chuen and Stonecutter's Island in the west, Tate's Cairn and Lion Rock in the north, and Victoria Harbour in the south. It had a population of...
to advocate revolution; branches were later founded in Yokohama, Japan and Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia, South-East Asia, South East Asia or Southeastern Asia is a subregion of Asia, consisting of the countries that are geographically south of China, east of India, west of New Guinea and north of Australia. The region lies on the intersection of geological plates, with heavy seismic...
. Chung-wo Tong was subsequently merged into 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...
. In 1900 Yau participated in another unsuccessful uprising in Waichow
Huizhou
Huizhou , historically known as Waichow, is a city located in central Guangdong province of the People's Republic of China. Part of the Pearl River Delta, Huizhou borders the provincial capital of Guangzhou to the west, Shaoguan to the north, Heyuan to the northeast, Shanwei to the east, Shenzhen...
, and had to flee to Yokohama with Sun. In Yokohama Yau and Sun decided the government after revolution should be called the Republic of China (中華民國).
Yau focused on gaining the support from Chinese people living in Nanyang. He worked as the chief editor of the Thoe Lam Jit Poh (圖南日報), a pro-revolution newspaper circulating in Southeast Asia. He was jailed for several months in Singapore when he came to assist other revolutionaries.
Following 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, Yau went to Yunnan
Yunnan
Yunnan is a province of the People's Republic of China, located in the far southwest of the country spanning approximately and with a population of 45.7 million . The capital of the province is Kunming. The province borders Burma, Laos, and Vietnam.Yunnan is situated in a mountainous area, with...
to persuade his old friend Cai E
Cai E
Cai E or Tsai Ao was a Chinese revolutionary leader and warlord. He was born Cai Genyin in Shaoyang, Hunan, and his courtesy name was Songpo...
to join 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...
.
After the revolution
In 1912, The Republic of ChinaRepublic 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...
was established in Nanking as the first democratic republic in East Asia. Soon afterwards, Zhang Xun
Zhang Xun (Republic of China)
Zhang Xun was a Qing-loyalist general who attempted to restore the abdicated emperor Puyi in 1917. He supported Yuan Shikai during his time as president....
, a general who remained loyal to Qing, attacked Nanking. Fearing Nanking would be captured, Yau Lit initiated the Chung-wo North Expedition Army (中和北伐軍) to protect the capital city. Emperor Puyi of Qing abdicated after the failure of Zhang's attack.
Yau was invited to Peking by President 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...
to dicsuss national issues, but escaped to Tientsin when he discovered Yuan was only using him to restrain 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...
. When Yuan declared himself the Emperor of China, Guan Renfu (關仁甫) of Chung-wo Tong was one of the National Protection Armies
National Protection War
The National Protection War , also known as the anti-Monarchy War, was a civil war that took place in China between 1915 and 1916. The cause of this war was Yuan Shikai's proclamation of himself as Emperor. Only three years earlier, the last Chinese dynasty, the Qing Dynasty, had been overthrown...
against Yuan. Yuan died and the Republic of China was restored.
When Sun Yat-sen established the Government in Canton in 1921, the Three Bandits were appointed as Sun's consultants. Seeing himself at odds with Chan Siu-bak
Chan Siu-bak
Chan Siu-bak , born Chan Siu-man , styled Siu-bak , art-named Kwai-shek , was a Chinese revolutionary from Sanwui, Kwangtung. He was one of the Four Bandits, together with Sun Yat-sen, Yau Lit and Yeung Hok-ling.- Early life :Chan was born to a family of Christian scholars, and entered a private...
and his suggestions opposed by Hu Hanmin
Hu Hanmin
Hu Hanmin was one of the early leaders of Kuomintang , and a very important right-winger in Kuomintang.-Biography:Hu Hanmin was qualified as juren at 21 years of age. He studied in Japan since 1902, and joined Tongmenghui as an editor of 《Minbao》 in 1905. From 1907-1910, he participated in...
, Yau returned to Hong Kong to set up a school teaching Confucius values. He also co-founded the Hong Kong Chinese Herbalist Association to promote traditional Chinese medicine
Traditional Chinese medicine
Traditional Chinese Medicine refers to a broad range of medicine practices sharing common theoretical concepts which have been developed in China and are based on a tradition of more than 2,000 years, including various forms of herbal medicine, acupuncture, massage , exercise , and dietary therapy...
.
Later life
In 1936, when China had been reunified by Chiang Kai-shekChiang Kai-shek
Chiang Kai-shek was a political and military leader of 20th century China. He is known as Jiǎng Jièshí or Jiǎng Zhōngzhèng in Mandarin....
, Yau visited Nanking and died there at the age of 72.
Descendents
His descendents modified the surname to "尤" (still romanised as "Yau"). Carrie Yau Tsang Ka-lai (尤曾嘉麗), former Permanent Secretary for Home AffairsHome Affairs Bureau
Home Affairs Bureau is one of the policy bureaux of the Hong Kong Government.One of the important roles of the Home Affairs Bureau is to enhance liaison and communication with all sectors of the community including the Legislative Council and the general public.Tsang Tak-sing has been the...
of Hong Kong, was Yau Lit's great granddaughter-in-law.