Wuchang Uprising

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Wuchang uprising
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Not to be confused with Battle of Wuchang or Battle of Wuhan.

Wuchang Uprising
Part of the
Wuchang, Hubei, China
Result

Tongmenghui victory

  • Start of the
    Xinhai Revolution
Belligerents Qing dynasty Qing Empire Tongmenghui
Hubei Military GovernmentCommanders and leaders Qing dynasty Ruicheng
Qing dynasty Zhang Hu Huang Xing
Xiong Bingkun
Li YuanhongStrength 10,000 troops 2,000 troopsCasualties and losses ~4,000 killed ~1,000 killed
Wuchang Uprising
Hanyu Pinyin
Wǔchāng Qǐyì

The Wuchang Uprising was an armed rebellion against the ruling

Xinhai Revolution that successfully overthrew China's last imperial dynasty. It was led by elements of the New Army, influenced by revolutionary ideas from Tongmenghui.[1] The uprising and the eventual revolution directly led to the downfall of the Qing dynasty with almost three centuries of imperial rule, and the establishment of the Republic of China (ROC), which commemorates the anniversary of the uprising's starting date of 10 October as the National Day of the Republic of China
.

The uprising originated from popular unrest about a railway crisis, and the planning process took advantage of the situation.[2] On 10 October 1911, the New Army stationed in Wuchang launched an assault on the residence of the Viceroy of Huguang. The viceroy Ruicheng quickly fled from the residence, and the revolutionaries soon took control of the entire city.[3]

Background

Tongmenghui

In 1895, China was decisively defeated by Japan in the

Qing government, many revolutionary groups began emerging across the country. In 1905, revolutionary leaders such as Sun Yat-sen and Song Jiaoren met in Tokyo to discuss a merger between different revolutionary groups. A new group known as Tongmenghui was formed after this meeting.[4]

Railway Protection Movement

Main article: Railway Protection Movement

After the

Canton-Hankou Railway and Sichuan-Hankou Railway were under the oversight of Guangdong, Hunan, Hubei and Sichuan.[6] Faced with ongoing financial struggles, partly due to ongoing indemnity payments from the Boxer Protocol, the Qing court turned to Sheng Xuanhuai in 1910, a "classic bureaucratic capitalist", and adhered to his policy of securing foreign loans through the nationalization of all railway lines.[7] This policy was met with stiff resistance, particularly in Sichuan, and the resistance quickly turned into a movement known as the Sichuan Railway Protection Movement. In response, the Qing court suppressed the unrest by force, contributing to the declining popularity of its government.[2] By August 11 there were massive strikes and rallies in Chengdu. On 7 September the Viceroy of Sichuan, Zhao Erfeng, was asked to "intervene vigorously", and he ordered the arrest of key leaders in the Railway Protection League, then ordered troops to open fire on the protesters.[8] Subsequent fighting around Chengdu prompted the diversion of troops to Sichuan from central China, which later became an important factor in the Wuchang Uprising's success.[9]
: 287 

Meanwhile, inaction toward nationalization of railway lines in both Hunan and Hubei were criticized by the local press. Confidence in the Qing government among the populace continued to deteriorate in response to the escalation of the railway crisis.[10]

Uprising

Wuchang military nine-star flag, with the Taijitu symbol in the middle
Flag of the uprising in Wuhan.

Prelude

There were two revolutionary groups in the Wuhan area, the Literary Society (文學社) and the Progressive Association (共進會). These groups, led by Jiang Yiwu (蔣翊武) and Sun Wu (孫武) respectively, worked closely together as commander and chief of staff of the revolutionary efforts in Wuhan.

Russian concession in Hankou, one of the devices exploded unexpectedly, inflicting serious injuries on Sun. When he was hospitalized, the hospital staff discovered his identity and alerted the Qing authorities.[13]

New Army mutiny

With their identities revealed, the revolutionaries in the New Army stationed in Wuchang were facing imminent arrest by the Qing authorities. The decision was made by Jiang Yiwu of the Literary Society to immediately launch the uprising, but the plot was leaked to the Viceroy of Huguang, and he ordered a crackdown of the revolutionaries, arresting and executing several prominent members.[13]

On the evening of 10 October, Wu Zhaolin (吴兆麟) as provisional commander led the revolutionary elements of the New Army staged a mutiny against the Qing garrison in Huguang, capturing the residence of the Viceroy in the process along with securing strategic points in the city after intense fighting.[13] As the Viceroy escaped, the Qing garrison fell into disarray. Between the night of 10 October and noon of 11th, "more than 500 Manchu soldiers were killed" with "over 300 captured".[14]

Establishment of Hubei military government

On 11 October, the mutineers established a military government representing the Hubei province, and persuaded one of the high-ranking officers in the New Army,

Hanyang in the process.[15]

Battle of Yangxia

Main article: Battle of Yangxia
Beiyang Army on the way to Hankou, 1911.

In response to the uprising, the Qing government called for the help of Yuan Shikai and the Beiyang Army to march toward Wuchang. For the revolutionaries, Huang Xing would arrive at Wuhan in early November to take over the command. Positions of revolutionary forces in Wuhan were subsequently attacked by the Beiyang Army, and the imperial troops were soon able to recapture Hankou on 1 November and Hanyang on 27 November. The offensive was halted after the capture of these two positions, as Yuan Shikai began to secretly negotiate with the revolutionaries.[16][17]

Aftermath

Main article:
Xinhai Revolution
Sun Yat-sen's statue at the First Uprising Plaza of Wuhan in front of the former Hubei military government building

The Wuchang Uprising took many revolutionary leaders by surprise; Huang Xing and Song Jiaoren were unable to reach Wuchang in time.

Southern and Central China agreed to secede from the Qing government by the end of December, 1911.[19]

As part of the resolution of the uprising, the Qing government agreed to a general amnesty for political prisoners.[20]: 44  Wang Jingwei was among those released.[20]: 44 

In the same month, Sun returned to China to participate in the

Aisin Gioro Puyi, the Xuantong emperor, announced the abdication of the Qing throne, marking the end of the dynasty.[23]

References

Citations

  1. ^ Esherick & Wei 2013, p. 122.
  2. ^ a b Esherick & Wei 2013, p. 89.
  3. ^ Esherick & Wei 2013, p. 140–41.
  4. ^ Bergère & Lloyd 1998, p. 99.
  5. ^ Esherick & Wei 2013, p. 90.
  6. ^ Esherick & Wei 2013, p. 96.
  7. ^ Esherick & Wei 2013, p. 99.
  8. ^ Esherick & Wei 2013, p. 98.
  9. ISBN 978-1-4780-1121-7
    .
  10. ^ Esherick & Wei 2013, p. 13.
  11. ^ Esherick & Wei 2013, p. 140.
  12. ^ Esherick & Wei 2013, p. 165.
  13. ^ a b c d Esherick & Wei 2013, p. 107.
  14. ^ a b Esherick & Wei 2013, p. 141.
  15. ^ a b c Bergère & Lloyd 1998, p. 204.
  16. ^ a b Bergère & Lloyd 1998, p. 205.
  17. ^ Bergère & Lloyd 1998, p. 218.
  18. ^ a b Bergère & Lloyd 1998, p. 207.
  19. ^ Esherick & Wei 2013, p. 184.
  20. ^
    ISBN 978-0-472-05650-7
    .
  21. ^ Bergère & Lloyd 1998, p. 208.
  22. ^ Bergère & Lloyd 1998, p. 209.
  23. ^ Bergère & Lloyd 1998, p. 219.

Sources

External links
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