Overview of Republic of China History#

Against the backdrop of the turbulent Republic of China era, historical figures had intricate connections with each other.

By Region#

• Fengtian Clique (Northeast)

• Zhili Clique (Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region)

• Anhui Clique (Huai River area)

• Two Hu (Huang Xing, Song Jiaoren)

• Two Guang (Sun Yat-sen, Li Zongren)

• Jiangsu-Zhejiang (Chiang Kai-shek, Zhang Jingjiang)

By Military Forces#

• Beiyang (mostly studied in Japan, emphasized Chinese traditions)

  • Fengtian Clique

  • Zhili Clique

  • Anhui Clique

• Republican (complex factions, fought openly and secretly but considered the bigger picture)

  • Kuomintang (initially supported by Soviet Russia against Beiyang, later turned to British-American forces)

  • Northern Expedition Army

  • The Whampoa Military Academy's army, composed of officers trained at Whampoa, became the First Army of the National Revolutionary Army, commanded by Chiang Kai-shek.

  • The "Nation-Building Hunan Army" became the Second Army of the National Revolutionary Army

  • The "Nation-Building Yunnan Army" became the Third Army of the National Revolutionary Army

  • The "Nation-Building Guangdong Army" became the Fourth Army of the National Revolutionary Army

  • The Fujian Army became the Fifth Army of the National Revolutionary Army.

  • Hunan + Guangdong combined to form the Sixth Army of the National Revolutionary Army, commanded by Cheng Qian.

  • The Guangxi New Guangxi Clique army became the Seventh Army of the National Revolutionary Army, commanded by Li Zongren

  • Tang Shengzhi's Hunan troops, defeated by Wu Peifu, joined the National Government and were reorganized as the Eighth Army of the National Revolutionary Army

  • 5 Major Groups

  • The First, Second, Third, and Fourth Group Armies, commanded by Chiang Kai-shek, Feng Yuxiang, Yan Xishan, and Li Zongren respectively

  • Northeast Army

  • Communist Party (the target of Soviet support after losing control over the Kuomintang)

By Background#

• Studied in Japan

  • Close neighbors, convenient, cheap, easy to integrate

  • Trained many military officers

  • Sheltered many revolutionaries

  • Japan's constitutional monarchy influenced the political views of overseas students; in 1949, more Japanese-educated students chose to stay on the mainland

• Studied in Europe and America

  • Crossed oceans, mainly students from wealthy families

  • Trained many intellectuals

  • Mainly the choice of politicians who traveled after political setbacks

  • The democratic republican system of Europe and America influenced the political views of overseas students; in 1949, more European and American-educated students chose to go to Taiwan

• Went to Southeast Asia

  • Those who went to Southeast Asia generally did so to make a living, out of necessity

  • Because there were no good schools or powerful countries, those who went to Southeast Asia mostly did not achieve great fame