Sun Wen and Zhang Zuolin, Focusing on Their Partnership for the Reunification of the Republic of China

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Other Title
  • 孫文と張作霖 --民國再統一に向けての提携を中心に--
  • ソンブン ト チョウサクリン : ミンコク サイトウイツ ニ ムケテ ノ テイケイ オ チュウシン ニ
  • 孫文と張作霖 --民国再統一に向けての提携を中心に--

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Abstract

Sun Wen's reconciliation with the Beijing government in the 1920s has often been regarded as an aberration for Sun as a revolutionary. The author, however, considers it a practical policy aimed at reunifying the Republic of China. This article attempts to clarify what impelled Beijing and Sun to collaborate, and to review how they evaluated one another and what they expected from the reconciliation. Emphasizing Sun's partnership with Zhang Zuolin, who reigned supreme in Beijing after 1924, I concentrate on the relation-building process between the two. Section 1 covers the period from 1911 to 1918 when there was no room for cooperation. During this period, Sun regarded Zhang as an enemy of the revolution and the republic. However, Sun gradually discovered that Zhang would be useful in influencing the rivalries in Beijing among Duan Qirui, Cao Kun, and Wu Peifu. Section 2 adresses the international necessity for reunification of the Republic due to the end of World War I in 1918, and the changes involving the Beijing Government and Sun. In this period, Duan and Sun sought to collaborate. However, Zhang sided with Cao and Wu and won the backing of Japan, becoming the most powerful military leader Sun could find. After Duan lost Anhui-Zhili War in 1920, Sun was threatened by Cao and Wu, and seeking a military partnership, entered into secret negotiation with Zhang. Analyzing the memoir of Ning Wu, who was in charge of the negotiations and Sun's correspondences from 1922-23, I examine the relationship-building process in section 3. Sun planned joint operations with Zhang in the First Fengtian-Zhili War in 1922 but failed due to poor timing, and Zhang lost the war. However, Sun maintained the plan, built up a network of connections, and secured loans for the military from Zhang. In conclusion, Sun decided to take a conciliatory attitude toward Duan and Zhang based on the necessity of reunifying the Republic. After Duan's loss in the civil war of 1920, Sun regarded Zhang, who had greater military power, as the most significant partner. Securing war funding from Zhang provided Sun the opportunity to exercise influence on the military and political situation in the north.

Journal

  • 東洋史研究

    東洋史研究 78 (3), 512-531, 2019-12-30

    THE TOYOSHI-KENKYU-KAI : The Society of Oriental Researches, Kyoto University

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