Group photo of Lu Haodong (first from right) and his family

Lu Haodong (1867~1895), also known as Zhonggui and Xianxiang, was from Cuiheng Village and born in Shanghai. His father Lu Huaixin did business and served as a broker at a foreign firm in Shanghai, and his mother Wang was from Wangwu Village, Pansha Xiang beside Cuiheng Village.

His father died of illness in Shanghai when Lu Haodong was 11. In 1878, Lu Haodong returned to his hometown Cuiheng Village for the first time when he escorted his father’s coffin with his mother. After burying his father, Lu Haodong settled in Cuiheng Village with his mother, and soon studied at a local private school at Feng’s Ancestral Temple, where he and Sun Yat-sen became classmates. They had similar interests and personalities, and became lifelong friends. They often slept and dined together in their youth, and often discussed domestic political corruption. They even damaged the god statues at the Beiji Hall, which was of coursestrongly objected by villagers. Then, Sun Yat-sen left for Hong Kong for study, while Lu Haodong later went to Shanghai.

After arriving in Shanghai, Lu began to learn telegraphy and English, and was later enrolled by the Wuhu Telegraph Office as a translator, where he was soon promoted to foreman. In 1889, 22-year-old Lu returned to Cuiheng Village as required by his mother, and married Li Zhuqing, a daughter of Li Jixing – a scholar in Pushan Village, Lanbian Xiang in the same county. Afterwards, he founded Xingli Silkworm Company with You Lie, Zhou Zhaoyue, etc. in Shunde, where Sun Yat-sen visited the company with Chen Shaobai many times, and wrote the couplet “Developoneself, benefit alll” for him.

In 1893, Sun Yat-sen opened Dongxi Pharmacy in Xianji, Xiguan, Guangzhou, and shifted gradually from treating the people to treating the country, where he practiced medicine for one or two hours, and dealt with revolutionary activities for 7-8 hours a day. Sun Yat-sen was in close contacts with Lu Haodong, Zheng Shiliang, Chen Shaobai, navy generals Cheng Biguang, Cheng Kuiguang and Cheng Yaochen, and other fellow townsmen. In early 1894, Sun Yat-sen drafted theStatement to Li Hongzhan at his study in Cuiheng Village. In the spring and summer of the same year, Sun and Lu went to Beijing carrying theStatement to Li Hongzhan, but Li Hongzhang did not have time to meet them because he was handling the diplomatic and army withdrawal matters with Japan arising from the Korean issue, let alone reading theLetter. After a frustratedfailure to submit the Letter, they traveled in Beijing and Tianjintolook into theactual situation of Qing government, and later went to Wuhan to observe the condition along the Yangtze River. He saw that the rule of the Qing government in Beijing was much filthier in Guangzhou, which made them clearly realize that the corrupt Qing government was incurable.

On November 24, 1894, Sun Yat-sen organized China’s first democratic revolutionary group – the Revive China Society – in Honolulu. In January 1895, Sun Yat-sen left Honolulu, arrived in Hong Kong via Yokohama, and then met Yang Quyun, and his good friends Zheng Shiliang, Lu Haodong, Chen Shaobai, Huang Yongshang, etc. He planned to contact more revolutionists to expand the Revive China Society for promoting the revolution. In February 1895, the Revive China Society was founded in Hong Kong. In late March 1895, Sun Yat-sen established a branch of the Revive China Society in Guangzhou with Lu Haodong, Zheng Shiliang, etc., and rented Wang’s Book Shed (located at today’s Guangzhou Youth Palace) in Shuangmendi as the venue under the mask of the Agricultural Association. They also organized a branch at Zhang’s Mansion in Xianxialan out of the east gate of Guangzhou, where Lu Haodong was resident to receive revolutionists and store armaments. Lu Haodong sold off his family properties to raise funds for the revolution, and designed the blue sky flag with a white sun as the mark of this uprising.

However, the revolutionists’ move had drawn the attention of the Hong Kong colonial authorities and the Guangdong local government, and the Guangzhou Uprising that had been planned for more than half a year was aborted. After receiving the message of the uprising, Guangdong and Guangxi Governor Tan Zhongling transferred over 1,500 soldiers to Guangzhou for defense, and searched their offices (Wang’s Book Shed, Xianxialan, etc.). Knowing this, Lu notified the revolutionists to escape immediately. He had already gone elsewhere with Sun Yat-sen, but he suddenly recalled that the list of party members was at the Shuangmendi office. Although the others persuaded him not to go, he said, “The list is very important andshouldnot be found by the Qingofficials; otherwise, notonlyall of us but also the party will besuffered. I must destroy it to protect our companions even thoughmy life will be in risk.” He then returned to the Shuangmendi office regardless of danger, and was arrested after burning the list.

After being arrested, Lu was righteous and unflinching, refused to cough out his companions despite of cruel torture, and wrote an impassioned confession, saying: “Although our uprising failed, I feel relieved. You can kill me, butnot all of us, not even our successors.” On November 7, 1895, Lu died a heroic death. It was said that Lu’s righteousness even impressed the government officials, who put on a long gown for him before the execution. Although the Guangzhou Uprising failed, the blood of Lu and other martyrs marked a magnificent opening of the Chinese democratic revolution.

Sun Yat-sen grieved about Lu’s death. When reviewing the Guangzhou Uprising, he said, “The uprising was prepared for carefully for more than half a year and received muchresponse,and could have been highly successful. However, over 600 pistols were seized by the customs due to improper transport, and the secret was then divulged. Our party’s backbone member Lu also sacrifice, who was the first person sacrificed for the republican revolution in China’s history.” He praised Lu for his heroic death and noble spirit,and called him a model ofothers. WheneverSun Yat-sen missed Lu,he felt a strongemotion burst out andsaid“Lu’s spirit is always on my mind, day and night”.