Score sheet of the National Anthem of the Republic of China

The National Anthem is the musical symbol of the country. The National Anthem of the Republic of China, through lyrics and sheet music, expresses the ambitions and hopes of both country and race.

In the 1st year of the Republic (1912), the Ministry of Education launched an open competition to select the National Anthem. Over three hundred anthems were submitted across the country, but none was deemed suitable. In the 2nd year of the Republic (1913), a number of eminent scholars were invited to compose lyrics for the National Anthem, however the lyrics of Ch’ing-yün Ko (卿雲歌) from Shang-shu ta-ch’uan (尚書大傳) was provisionally selected. In the 4th year of the Republic (1915), the National Anthem was changed to Chung-hua hsiung-li yü-chou chien (中華雄立宇宙間). In the 10th year of the Republic (1921), the Ministry of Education approved a new musical edition of Ch’ing-yün Ko as the National Anthem. However it was not popular with the public, many continued to use numerous patriotic songs as substitutes.

The lyrics of the National Anthem written by Dr. Sun Yat-sen. The lyrics were originally intended as instructions for the cadets of the Whampoa Military Academy

In the 17th year of the Republic (1928), after the victory of the Northern Expedition (國民革命軍北伐 1926-1928), Tai Chi-t’ao (戴季陶 1891-1949), a member of the Central Committee of the Chinese Kuomintang (Chinese Nationalist Party 中國國民黨), proposed that the instructions given by Dr. Sun Yat-sen (國父孫中山先生 1866-1925), Father of the Republic of China, on 16 June in the 13th year of the Republic (1924) to the cadets of the Whampoa Military Academy, be adopted as the lyrics for the Party Anthem of the Chinese Kuomintang. The instructions of Dr. Sun were:

“San Min Chu I (The Three Principles of the People), our aim shall be to found a free land. World peace be our stand. Lead on comrades, vanguards ye are. Hold fast your aim, by sun and star. Be earnest and brave, your country to save, one heart, one soul, one mind, one goal!”

An open competition to select the sheet music for the Party Anthem was organized. There were one hundred and thirty nine submissions, the composition by Ch’eng Mao-yün (程懋筠 1900-1957) was awarded first prize.

In the 19th year of the Republic (1930), the National Government decreed that before the confirmation of the National Anthem, the Party Anthem would be used in its place.

An open competition was then launched to select the National Anthem, ten were chosen out of over two thousand submissions, yet there was no final decision. In the 25th year of the Republic (1936), another open competition was launched, there were over three thousand submissions. All those anthems submitted in the 19th and 25th years were carefully studied by the The Committee on the Study and Compilation of the National Anthem (國歌編製研究委員會).

On 3 June in the 26th year of the Republic (1937), the Central Standing Committee of the Chinese Kuomintang passed the resolution to implement the Party Anthem as the National Anthem. After twenty six years of studies and deliberations, the National Anthem of the Republic of China was finally settled.

Since the 26th year of the Republic (1937), the National Anthem of the Republic of China has inspired and motivated the military and the civilians of the whole country, to be united and determined, through the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (抗日戰爭 1937-1945) and the National Mobilization for the Suppression of Communist Rebellion (全國總動員戡平共匪叛亂 1947-1991). At all times, the National Anthem reminds us to abide by The Three Principles of the People, to rebuild China, to strive for humanity, to advance towards the Confucian World of Universal Harmony (大同世界).