The Memorial Hall of Dr. Sun Yat-sen demonstrates “the sign of the times” in Hong Kong

The testament of Dr. Sun Yat-sen extensively spread in the period of the Republic of China

(Reported and edited by our agency news from Dagong Newspaper, Hong Kong) “For forty years I have been devoting myself to the cause of the National Revolution with but one end in view, the elevation of China to a position of freedom and equality among all other nations....... The work of the Revolution is not yet done. Let all our comrades follow my Plans for National Reconstruction, Fundamentals of National Reconstruction, Three Principles of the People, and The Manifesto of the First National Convention of the Chinese Nationalist Party, and strive on for their consummation. ......” The testament of Dr. Sun Yat-sen was extensively recited and disseminated in the period of the Republic of China, serving as the basis of Kuomingtang to cohere the society. Behind the funeral after the death of Mr. Sun Yat-sen, the building of Dr. Sun Yat-sen’s Mausoleum, the portrait of deceased Sun Yat-sen as well as his testament is hidden a great significance of times and politics. .

The exhibition of the Testament of Dr. Sun Yat-sen on the spot
On the occasion of the 80th anniversary of Sun Yat-sen’s burial in Sun Yat-sen’s Mausoleum, an exhibition entitled “The sign of the times – Dr. Sun Yat-sen’s Mausoleum on June 1, 1926” is being held at Sun Yat-sen Museum. Through one hundred and eighty historical pictures and cultural relics, this exhibition makes an introduction to the public memorial ceremony held in the Central Park after Sun Yat-sen had passed away in Beijing in 1925, the move of the coffin from Beijing to Nanjing for burial in 1929, the building of Sun Yat-sen’s Mausoleum, as well as the grand funeral held in Nanjing on June 1, 1926, so as to explore the profound significance behind the funeral.
Of the cultural relics exhibited, there is the “Testament of Dr. Sun Yat-sen”. As remarked by Weng Yi, curator of Hong Kong Museum of History (Collection and Dr. Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall), “After Dr. Sun Yat-sen had passed away, the Chinese Nationalist Party energetically publicized his testament, as well as promoted the worship to him, so as to cohere the society with his testament. After Sun had died in March 1925, the Chinese Nationalist Party would have his testament recited first of all at every meeting, with all the people present standing and listening to it solemnly. In 1926, Nationalist Party held “The week for commemorating our premier” on every Monday, with its procedures including standing solemnly, making three bows to the portrait of Sun Yat-sen, and reading “The testament of our premier” deferentially. At that time, the portrait of the premier was hung in all societies, schools and public institutions. An oath would be made in front of the portrait of the premier at the wedding or inauguration.”  
At the exhibition, a letter copied by Dai Chenggong (a granddaughter of Dr. SunYat-sen) and written by Dai Ensai (the father of Dai Chenggong ) to his wife Sun Wan is exhibited. According to this letter written on March 11, 1925, the day before Dr. Sun-Yatsen passed away, Dr. SunYat-sen had felt uncomfortable all night as his illness worsened, and the doctor said that he could not live more than one day. These letter-papers were daubed with black borders in pen so as to mourn over Dr. Sun Yat-sen.
Most of the pictures in the exhibition come from the Memorial Hall of Dr. SunYat-sen in Nanjing. According to these pictures, Dr. Sun Yat-sen went northward to consult with Feng Yuxiang (a warlord) over national affairs at the latter’s invitation in 1924. However, as soon as he arrived in Tianjin, Sun became seriously ill. Through the diagnosis and treatment of Xiehe Hospital, Sun had contracted liver cancer. In spite of the strenuous treatment of many famous Chinese and foreign doctors, Sun passed away in his temporary residence in Tieshizi Lane on March 12, 1925.
After Sun had passed away, his coffin was moved from Xiehe Hospital to the Altar of Land and Grain in the Central Park (the present Zhongshan Park) for a public memorial service. More than 740 thousand people went there to condole over Sun. Thereafter, the coffin of Dr. Sun Yat-sen was ensconced temporarily in Biyun Temple, Fragrant Hill, Beijing until the Northern Expedition was completed and China was reunified in 1928, when the Chinese Nationalist Party decided to transport the coffin of Sun Yat-sen from Beijing to Nanjing for interment in strict accordance with his last wish. 

The process of building Dr. Sun Yat-sen’s Mausoleum
As early as in 1912, Sun expressed his wish to be buried in Nanjing after his death while hunting in the Purple Mountain. Just before his death, he reiterated, “I wish that after my death I could be buried at the foot of the Purple Mountain in Nanjing, because Nanjing was where the Provisional Government of the Republic of China was established, and we should never forget Revolution of 1911.” After Sun had passed away, an Office of Preparation for Burial-related Affairs was established, organizing the construction of Dr. Sun Yat-sen’s Mausoleum as well as affairs concerning his interment. While choosing the tomb site and determining the land for the mausoleum area, this Office of Preparation for Burial-related Affairs sought for the design drawings of this mausoleum from the architects and artists at home and abroad by offering a reward. The outstanding pattern in the shape of an alarm bell designed by Lu Yanzhi, a young architect of only 33 years old, was awarded the first prize.
As revealed by Liu Donghua, vice head of the Memorial Hall of Dr. Sun Yat-sen in the Administration of Dr. Sun Yat-sen’s Mausoleum, Lu Yanzhi designed the pattern according to the terrain of the mountain, and the picture of alarm bell coincided with the terrain, as if awakening people to struggle for national prosperity.
This mausoleum was built in three steps. From 1926 when the project was started to the end of 1931 when it was completed, this project involved six years and a fund of more than 2.2 million yuan (RMB). The date of interment was finally fixed on June 1, 1929. In order to enable people to understand the major significance of the interment of Sun Yat-sen, the government of the Nationalist Party specially organized a train for publicizing the welcome of the coffin along the way. At the ceremony of interment, several hundred thousand citizens in Nanjing respectfully sent off the coffin on both sides of the roads. Everywhere on both sides of the steps of Dr. Sun Yat-sen’s Mausoleum stood people sending off the coffin. Since then, this great man of a generation has been sleeping forever at the foot of the Purple Mountain, Nanjing.
This exhibition is sponsored jointly by the Department of Leisure and Cultural Services of Hong Kong and the Administration of Dr. Sun Yat-sen ’s Mausoleum, as well as planned jointly by the Memorial Hall of Dr. Sun Yat-sen in Hong Kong and the Memorial Hall of Dr. Sun Yat-sen in Nanjing. This exhibition will be held in the Memorial Hall of Dr. Sun Yat-sen at No. 7, Castle Road, Central, Hong Kong from today to March 17 next year. The duration of openness is from 10 am to 6 pm from Monday to Wednesday, and from Friday to Saturday, as well as from 10 am to 7 pm on Sundays and public holidays. The hall will not be open on Thursdays (except November 12 ( the birthday of Dr. Sun Yat-sen), March 12 (the day of his death) and public holidays). The admission fee is ten yuan (RMB). Admission is free on Wednesdays, November 12 and March 12.