Revolution Need Courage And the Spirit Of Self-Sacrifice

Junyang Wang

Professor Luo

CHI 331

10/November/2013

Revolution Need Courage And The Spirit Of Self-Sacrifice

   China used to be one of the most powerful country in the world, this old country had five thousand years splendid civilization. However, because of the closed-door policy of the Qing dynasty, China became more and more weak and behind the times. During the 19th century, western powers invaded China. In order to save the nation, many capable Chinese people started a series of revolution movement, China entered a period of great change. Chairman Mao once said “revolution is not a dinner party, or writing an essay, or painting a picture”.(Quotations from Chairman Mao). I highly agree with his opinion, revolution always bloody and cruel. The victory of the revolution always need a lot of pioneers pay with their lives. Therefore, revolution need courage and the spirit of self-sacrifice , without those dauntless pioneers, there wouldn't be today of Chinese People.

   Hundred Days of Reform is a famous and significant revolution movement in the history of Chinese revolution. Leaders of this reform advocated to learn science and technology from the western countries and reforming the education system to develop agricultural, industrial and commercial. However, this reform damaged the interests of the ruling class, so It finally failed. In this reform, there was one person that I must mention, his name is Tan Sitong, he was a leader of Hundred Days of Reform. After reform was failed, Qing government ordered the soldiers to arrest all the leaders of Hundred Days of Reform. Tan Sitong’s friend Wang Wu advised Tan to go to Japan to avoid arrest. However, Tan had already decided to die for the revolution, so he rejected his friend’s advice. He thought revolution always need people to sacrifice, he was willing to be the first one. I think Tan Sitong is a real hero. He refused to live and willing to die for the evolution, I really admire this kind of courage and self sacrifices. Tan’s died hit a nerve with the Chinese people. After he died, more and more people supported and joined the team of revolution. Tan used his courage and life to promote the process of revolution.

   If we said Hundred Days of Reform is the foundation of the China’s revolution, then the Second Sino-Japanese War brought it to a climax. The Second Sino-Japanese War brought destructive disaster to Chinese people, tens of thousands of people died in the war. In that period of time, thousands of fearless Chinese people pushed Chinese revolution to a new high. Yan Geling’s “The Flowers of War” is a really good fiction about how did Chinese people against invader and how did some prostitutes dedicated to the revolution so bravely. In this fiction, the female character Yumo once said “ we will go with Japanese, the school girls will stay behind”.(“The Flowers of War” P 230). Yumo and other prostitutes knew what will happen If they went to Japanese party, but they still insist went with Japanese because in this way they could save those school girls. They were so brave and dedicated. They sacrificing their own lives to save that young girls, they made contribute to the revolution with their own way. Their power is limited, but in a way they fought with enemy like real soldiers.

   A successful revolution need brave pioneers to endeavor and even sacrifice themselves. During the revolution movement, everyone has the right and obligation to support the revolution. Just like the Second Sino-Japanese War, every Chinese people has the right and obligation to save our nation. Therefore, bloodshed and sacrifice are inescapability. However, some people may ask “Why does revolution must need courage and sacrifices? What If I just keep myself safe and don’t join the revolution groups?” This is such a good question, famous writer Lao She gave us the answer. Lao She’s play “Tea House” showed us those all kinds of people's life during the revolution years. Wang Lifa, who is a main character in this play. He is the boss of the Tea House. He basically is a honest and virtuous person, he focused on his own work, he tried not to offend people. He once said to patriotic youth Qin Zhongyi “You are going to let go of all your property, for the sake of society, with no concern for yourself?”(Tea House P 37). From his words, we can say he don’t want to get involved in the revolution, he didn’t have courage and  spirit of self-sacrifice  to take part in revolution, he thought he can live a good life by relying on his philosophy of life. However, his philosophy of life didn’t help him live a good life, or even couldn’t give him a full meal. During warlord years, policeman always exploit him. For example, policeman said “You have been ordered to provide eighty catties of hardtack by noon today. The garrison troops can’t go out to fight until they have some dry provisions, eh? You have your excuess, but I have my orders. Thinks it over and see what you can do”.( Tea House P63). In the face of such oppression, Wang Lifa still chose swallowing his pain because he was too timid, he still afraid of taking part in revolution, still saving hope for the dark society. Finally, he lost his Tea House. He finally recognized the hellish society, then let his children to go to the liberated areas. He killed himself to accuse the dark society. If Wang Lifa had courage and the spirit of self-sacrifice , chose joined revolution at the beginning, his life may be completely different.



   There is a famous adage of China “ A fire on the city gate brings disaster to the fish in the moat”. This adage means when our nation suffer disaster, every citizen will inevitably be affected. Therefore, everyone need to be brave to working for the revolution, to save the nation. Revolution always bloody and cruel, so it needs courage and self sacrifices. Because of this fearless revolutionary martyrs, we got today’s China.

Work Cited 

1. Lao She, “Tea House”, Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2004

2. Yan Geling, “The Flowers of War” ,China Book International, 2006.

3. Mao Zedong, “Quotations from Chairman Mao”, 1960

4. J.A.G.Roberts, A Concise History of China, Harvard University Press, 1999, print.