🎤 The National Anthem of the Republic of China: Lyrics
The Three Principles of the People, our Party’s foundation, To establish the Republic, to advance to Great Harmony. Oh! Ye vanguards, for the people’s benefit, Night and day tirelessly, the Principle you follow. Vow to be diligent, vow to be brave, must be trustworthy, must be loyal, With one heart and one virtue, to carry through to the very end.
📜 Interpretation of The National Anthem’s Lyrics
These lyrics originated from the “Premier’s Admonition” delivered by Sun Yat-sen at the opening ceremony of the Whampoa Military Academy in $1924$. Their meaning aims to elaborate on the spirit of the Three Principles of the People and the goals for national endeavor:
- The Three Principles of the People, our Party’s foundation: The Three Principles of the People are the supreme principles jointly adhered to by our entire Party (the KMT, later broadened to all citizens).
- To establish the Republic, to advance to Great Harmony: To use the Three Principles of the People to establish and construct the Republic of China, and thereby promote the realization of the Great Harmony (an ideal society).
- Oh! Ye vanguards, for the people’s benefit: Ah! You all, worthy aspirants! You must serve as models and exemplary figures for all the people.
- Night and day tirelessly, the Principle you follow: From morning till night, do not slacken; at all times, follow and put the Three Principles of the People into practice.
- Vow to be diligent, vow to be brave, must be trustworthy, must be loyal: Vow to be diligent and hardworking, and to bravely forge ahead. You must keep your promises and staunchly maintain loyalty.
- With one heart and one virtue, to carry through to the very end: Everyone must be united in purpose, possessing a common morality and ideal. From beginning to end, you must thoroughly implement and persevere without fail.
🏛️ The National Anthem of the Republic of China: Introduction and Evolution
The current National Anthem of the Republic of China is the version that was formally adopted in $1937$ and has been used ever since. Because the first line of the lyrics is “The Three Principles of the People,” it is sometimes informally referred to as the “Three Principles of the People Song.”
- Source of Lyrics: The lyrics were originally titled “Admonition of the Whampoa Military Academy” or “The Premier’s Admonition,” a speech delivered by the National Father, Sun Yat-sen, to the faculty and students of the Army Officer Academy (Whampoa Military Academy) on June $16$, $1924$.
- Selection of Music: The song had lyrics first, then music. In late $1928$, the Kuomintang designated this admonition as the Party Anthem and solicited compositions. Cheng Maoyun’s work was ultimately selected.
- Establishment of National Anthem Status: In $1930$, the Nationalist Government decided to provisionally use the “Kuomintang Party Anthem” as the National Anthem. Although attempts were made afterward to solicit a new national anthem composition, none were selected, and the song was thus formally established as the National Anthem of the Republic of China in $1937$.