The national anthem of the Republic of China, also unofficially known as Sān Mín Zhǔyì ('The Tridemism'), was originally created by a Sūn Yìxiān speech in 1924 and was set to music by Chéng Màoyún a few years later when the Guómíndǎng adopted new a new flag and emblem. The anthem was later adopted for the Republic of China in 1937, then officially in 1943. A bit later, when the Japanese surrendered, this song became official in the island of Taiwan. When the communists took control of the mainland in 1949, repelling the nationalists to Taiwan, this anthem became banned in the mainland but continues to be in use in Taiwan to this day alongside the national banner anthem.
National Anthem of the Republic of China
Genesis
The text of San Min Chu-i was created through a collaboration of four Kuomintang members: Hu Hanmin (胡漢民), Dai Jitao (戴季陶), Liao Zhongkai (廖仲愷) and Shao Yuanchong (邵元沖).
The text was first presented on July 16, 1924, during Sun Yat-sen's opening speech at the Whampoa Military Academy.
After the success of the Northern Campaign, the KMT decided to use the lyrics as the party anthem and therefore publicly solicited suggestions for the musical accompaniment. The melody by Cheng Mao-yun (程懋筠) won the competition among 139 participants.
On March 24, 1930, several KMT party members proposed that San Min Chu-i be declared the official national anthem. However, there was strong opposition to having one party symbol represent the whole country. Therefore, the Committee for Research and Preparation of the National Anthem (國歌編製研究委員會 / 国歌编制研究委员会, Guógē Biānzhì Yánjiū Wěiyuánhuì) was established. However, this endorsed the proposal to use the Party Song as the national anthem. On June 3, 1937, the Central Bureau (中央常務委員會 / 中央常务委员会, Zhōngyáng Chángwù Wěiyuánhuì) endorsed the proposal, and in 1943 San Min Chu-i became the official national anthem of the Republic of China.
San Min Chu-i was voted the world's best national anthem at the 1936 Summer Olympics.
Text
| Chinese | Translation | |
| 三民主義，吾黨所宗， | Sānmín Zhǔyì, wú dǎng suǒ zōng, | The three people's principles, the goal of our party. |
National Anthem of the Republic of China (Taiwan)