Century-of-Change-China-exhibit-catalog-1911-to-2011

Sun Yat-Sen Li Ji CaLLigraphY guangzhou, 1924
payson J. treat papers, hoover institution archives
孫中山所書寫之禮記禮運大同篇
Sun Yat-sen, the first president of a republican China, was an accomplished calligrapher. this piece, a passage from the Confucian classic Li Ji (Book
of rites), includes Sun Yat-sen's signature quote, "tian xia wei gong," meaning "all is equal under heaven." this motto expresses the notion of universal
harmony or great commonwealth and frequently appears inscribed on the gates of Chinatowns all over the world.
Introduction and Acknowledgments
The year 2011 marks the one-hundredth anniversary of the Chinese Revolution, also known as the Xinhai
Revolution (1911). The revolution was triggered by corruption in the Qing imperial court, the government's
inability to restrain the interventions of foreign powers, and the majority Han Chinese’s resentment of a government
dominated by the Manchu ethnic minority. On October 10, 1911, the revolution began with an uprising in
Wuchang, the capital city of Hubei Province on the Yangtze River. Within months, the revolution had overthrown
268 years of Manchu autocracy—ending more than two thousand years of feudal monarchies and establishing one
of Asia's first republics, the Republic of China.
The collapse of the imperial order, however, did not guarantee a smooth transition to a full-fledged democracy. In the
century following, China underwent frequent and drastic upheavals in its military, politics, economics, social structure,
and ideologies and continued to confront the threatening external challenges that had never ceased to exist.
In April 2011, the Hoover Institution commemorated the hundredth anniversary of the 1911 revolution and the
founding of the Chinese republic with a new exhibition, A Century of Change: China 1911–2011. Drawing on the
rich holdings of the Hoover Library and Archives, the exhibit offers a unique insight into those momentous events
in Chinese history and the ensuing tumultuous century. More significantly, the exhibit demonstrates how, in keeping
with the Institution’s mission, defined as the study of war, revolution, and peace, the Hoover Library and Archives
continue to thrive and play a pioneering role in the world’s modern China collection and research.
Many individuals have contributed their assistance, time, skills, generosity, and positive energy to create A Century
of Change: China 1911–2011.
Chief among them are Rachel Bauer, Brandon Burke, Rae Chang, Elizabeth Chiang, Sarah Farber, Jimmy James
Fayne, Rayan Ghazal, Cissie Hill, David Jacobs, Lyalya Kharitonova, Tai-chun Kuo, Tim Laverne, Ramon Myers,
George Nash, Jennifer Navarrette, Janel Quirante, Russell Rader, Jim Sam, Ellen Santiago, Maciej Siekierski,
Stephanie Stewart, Celeste Szeto, Mark Tam, Adam Tow, and Tin Tin Wisniewski.
Enormous credit goes to Nick Siekierski (outreach and exhibits coordinator), who provided expert ideas and insights
in the production, installation, and design of the exhibit cases and publicity materials.
A never-ending thank you to Linda Bernard (deputy archivist) who diligently read/reread and formatted texts, rendered
support, and, in particular, contributed her contagious gung-ho enthusiasm throughout the months of the project.
Exhibit texts have greatly benefited from Ann Wood’s (institutional editor) keen critical eye. For their thoughtful
comments, we would also like to thank Brad Bauer, Lisa Miller, and Don Young. Wang Li is gratefully thanked for
translating the English text into Chinese.
Special thanks goes to Richard Sousa (director, Hoover Library and Archives), without whose vision and support
this exhibit would not have been possible.
Lisa Nguyen and Hsiao-ting Lin
A Century of Change: China 1911–2011
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