Hu Han-min

Hu Han-min

(ho͞o hän-mĭn), 1879–1936, Chinese statesman. While studying law in Japan (1905) he was associated with Sun Yat-sen in revolutionary activities. After the revolution of 1911, Hu opposed Yüan Shih-k'ai and served Sun Yat-sen. His position in the Kuomintang and the Guangzhou government was such that he was considered a likely successor to Sun. However, he was forced to withdraw from political life in 1925 when his cousin was implicated in the murder of one of his rivals. He served the Nationalist government as president of the Legislative Yüan (1928–31). He led a Kuomintang faction opposed to Chiang Kai-shek, and his arrest by Chiang in 1931 led to a secessionist movement. Civil war was averted only by the need to unite following the Japanese takeover of Manchuria. After his release, Hu devoted himself to interpreting the political thought of Sun Yat-sen.