Chapter 27 Chapter 26 Miyazaki Toten - A Japanese Friend Supporting the Chinese Revolution

At the beginning of the 20th century, Japan became an important base for the activities of the Chinese bourgeois revolutionaries. In 1905, led by Sun Yat-sen, the Revolutionary Political Party Tongmenghui with students studying in Japan as the backbone was established in Tokyo, and the official publication "Minbao" was founded.The activities of the Chinese revolutionaries have won the sympathy and support of many Japanese people. Miyazaki Toten is the most sincere Japanese friend who supports the Chinese revolution.He not only had a deep friendship with Chinese revolutionaries such as Sun Yat-sen, Huang Xing, Song Jiaoren, but also founded the "Revolutionary Review", cooperated closely with "Minbao", and fought side by side, showing the revolutionary friendship between the people of China and Japan. It is a commendable story in the history of Sino-Japanese cultural exchanges.

Miyazaki Tozo (1871-1922 A.D.), formerly known as Huzang, was called Miyazaki Toten because of his alias Bailangan Taotian.He was born in 1871 in a low-level samurai family in Kumamoto Prefecture, Kyushu, Japan.His father, Miyazaki Nagzo, was open-minded and bold, and once set up a fencing dojo.Several elder brothers are liberal civil rights activists, elder brother Minzang advocates land equalization, and Mizang advocates helping the Chinese revolution, all of which have a great influence on him. In September 1897, Miyazaki Toten met Sun Yat-sen in Yokohama. He admired Sun Yat-sen's revolutionary ambition and lofty qualities, and praised "how noble his thoughts are, how outstanding his insights are, how lofty his ambitions are, and how profound his feelings are." How sincere!" In 1898, he translated Sun Yat-sen's "London Distress" written in English into Japanese, titled "Revolutionary Leader of the Qing Dynasty Sun Yat-sen's Prisoner Record", and serialized it in "Kyushu Daily", introducing it to the Japanese public for the first time. The activities of the Chinese revolutionaries.In November of the same year, Miyazaki also invited Sun Yat-sen to live in Arao Village, his hometown, Kumamoto Prefecture for 10 days. In 1900, Miyazaki Toten actively participated in the Huizhou Uprising launched by Sun Yat-sen, raised funds and arms for it, and resolutely replaced Sun Yat-sen to Guangzhou to negotiate with Li Hongzhang, protecting Sun Yat-sen's safety.After the uprising failed, Taotian had to work as a wandering rap artist to make ends meet. In 1902, Miyazaki Toten wrote his autobiography "A Dream of Thirty-Three Years", focusing on describing his contacts with the Chinese Revolutionary Party members and publicizing Sun Yat-sen's revolutionary deeds, which was well received by progressive young people in China and Japan.Sun Yat-sen personally wrote the preface to the book, calling him "a chivalrous man today with lofty insight and extraordinary ambition".

On August 20, 1905, Miyazaki Toten participated in the inaugural meeting of the China Tongmenghui, and was accepted as a member of the Tongmenghui as an exception. He also provided his residence in Hantama County, Tokyo as the distribution office of the Tongmenghui’s official newspaper Minbao. Address, and hang the signboard of Minbao at the door. In September 1906, Miyazaki Toten invited Kawano Nagatomo and other Japanese comrades to establish the Japanese bimonthly "Revolution Review", which echoed the "Minbo" and publicized the Chinese revolution to the Japanese people. "Revolutionary Review" published a total of 10 issues from September 1906 to March 1907.The journal has columns such as General Trends of the Chinese Revolution, Chronicles of East Asia, Characters of Spirituality, and Revolutionary Elegance.Taotian published a large number of articles on the "Revolutionary Review", praising and supporting the Chinese revolution.He pointed out in the article "On Chinese Students Studying Abroad": "China has awakened, and Chinese students studying abroad are the builders of the new China." Carry out political revolution and social revolution".He also wrote articles to expose and criticize the imperialist aggression against China and the constitutional deception of the Qing government.

There is a deep friendship between the "Revolutionary Review" and the "Minbao", and the masthead of "Revolutionary Review" was written by Zhang Taiyan, the editor-in-chief of "Minbao". "People's Daily" and "Revolutionary Review" also often placed large advertisements on each other. The first issue of "Revolutionary Review" published the six principles of "Minbao", and recommended it to the Japanese, "If you want to know the new ideas of China, the reality of the Chinese people, and the spiritual will of the revolutionaries, you must read "Minbao" and also".From the "Editor's Diary" published in "Revolutionary Review", we can also see the warm scenes of Sun Yat-sen, Huang Xing, Song Jiaoren, Zhang Taiyan and other leaders of the Tongmenghui and colleagues from "Revolutionary Review" visiting each other and having banquets. On December 2, 1906, the "Min Bao" office held a celebration meeting for the first anniversary of its publication in Jinhuikan, Tokyo, and all members of the "Revolutionary Review" office attended the meeting to congratulate.At the meeting, Huang Xing invited Miyazaki Taotian to give a speech, and introduced: "Your sponsorship of our country's revolutionary cause, you are prepared for difficulties and obstacles, and you will never give up your ambition despite all setbacks."The audience cheered thunderously.Taotian also made an impassioned speech on the spot, willing to sacrifice his life to support the Chinese revolution.The atmosphere of the venue was extremely warm and moving. Both "People's Daily" and "Revolutionary Review" made detailed reports on this event.

"Revolutionary Review" was welcomed and praised by revolutionaries and progressives in China and Japan.Many enthusiastic letters were published in the "Flying Geese" column.For example, Kotoku Shusui, a famous Japanese socialist, said in a letter that he was "extremely happy" after reading the journal. "Minbao", "Wanchaobao", "New Century" and other Chinese and daily newspapers also sent congratulatory letters.Some league members and students studying in Japan wrote letters or poems to express their feelings.A letter said that after reading your newspaper, "I can't help but get excited and shout three times long live".Chen Jiading, a member of the alliance, wrote 12 poems "Feelings from Reading Revolutionary Reviews", one of which wrote:

After the "Revolution Review" ceased publication in 1907, Miyazaki Toten still spared no effort to support the Chinese revolution.Sun Yat-sen personally issued the letter of appointment, entrusting him with "full authority to handle fund-raising and purchase of weapons in Japan and support the revolutionary army."Taotian bought arms for the many armed uprisings of the Tongmenghui, and spared no effort, poverty and danger.Once, the director of the Kagurazaka Police Station in Tokyo, Japan hosted a banquet in an attempt to bribe him and asked him to provide information about the Chinese revolutionaries.Miyazaki Taotian sternly refused on the spot.After hearing the news, Sun Yat-sen wrote a letter expressing his gratitude and admiration to him, and praised Miyazaki Taotian as "a bloody man who is solidly poor but not indiscriminate, and who is honest and honest".The letter also said: "Your step is for other people's state affairs, and you are steadfast and self-reliant. I have suffered so much. I ask myself, how ashamed I am!" Encourage". (The Complete Works of Sun Yat-sen, Volume 1)

In October 1908, the Japanese government banned the publication of Min Pao No. 24 on the pretext of violating newspaper regulations, and filed a lawsuit against Zhang Taiyan, editor-in-chief of Min Pao, on the grounds of not reporting the change of the address of the publishing house.When Miyazaki Taotian heard the news, he immediately ran to support him, and invited Japanese lawyers Hanai and Goto to defend in court, and personally translated relevant materials into Japanese for the defense lawyers' reference.In the same year, the revolutionary publication "Yunnan" magazine edited by students studying in Japan was also ordered by the Japanese government to suspend publication.The monstrous and multi-party activities finally helped "Yunnan" to resume publication.

Miyazaki Toten also had a close friendship not only with Sun Yat-sen but also with Huang Xing, Song Jiaoren and other Chinese revolutionary leaders. In 1905, Taotian accompanied Sun Yat-sen, who had just arrived in Japan, to find Huang Xing, and they ate together at Fengyuan Restaurant, which led to Sun Huang's alliance and the formation of the Tongmenghui. When Huang Xing returned to China twice in 1907 and 1910 to carry out revolutionary activities, he entrusted his eldest son Huang Yiou to the Taotian family.Taotian treats Huang Yiou like his own son and nephew. In 1908, Huang Xing and his son lived in hiding at Miyazaki's home in Koishikawa District, Tokyo, in order to avoid being forced by loan sharks.Although Taotian has a difficult life, he still tries his best to entertain them. In 1910, Huang Xing went to Hong Kong from Japan to preside over the planning of the Guangzhou New Army Uprising. Tao Tian also rushed to Hong Kong to talk with Huang Xing about the situation of the revolution.After returning to China, he published articles in Japanese newspapers, enthusiastically promoting the activities of Huang Xing and other Chinese revolutionaries. After the Wuchang Uprising in 1911, Taotian met Huang Xing in Shanghai and praised Huang Xing for his hard work for the revolution. In 1913, due to the failure of the "Second Revolution", Huang Xing was wanted by Yuan Shikai and went into exile in Japan again.When he learned that Miyazaki Taotian's life was difficult, he generously donated money to help Taotian build a new house, and named it "Taoyuan". In 1916, Huang Xing was seriously ill in Shanghai, and Taotian rushed to Shanghai to visit him again. To this day, Taotian’s former residence still preserves a short note written by Huang Xing’s son Huang Yiou when Huang Xing was critically ill: “My family is seriously ill and critically ill. Sasaki (Japanese doctor) is here to help, it is urgent!" On October 31, 1916, Huang Xing died of illness, and Miyazaki participated in the condolence activities in Shanghai. In April 1917, a state funeral was held at Yuelu Mountain in Changsha, and Taotian came from Japan to attend the funeral.Miyazaki Taotian's sincere friendship with Huang Xing was deeply moved by Mao Zedong and Xiao Zhifan (Xiao San), who were students of Hunan Provincial First Normal School at that time. , the spirit moves ghosts and gods", and also hopes to "look at the beauty and listen to Hongjiao" (the first volume of "The Complete Works of Miyazaki Taotian") to express his admiration for Taotian.

Song Jiaoren, another leader of the Tongmenghui, is also a good friend of Miyazaki Taotian, and they often come and go. In October 1906, Song Jiaoren suffered from a headache and was hospitalized but did not improve. Taotian offered to take him to his home to recuperate.Song Jiaoren received the hospitable hospitality and care of the Taotian family, and gradually recovered his health.During their recuperation period, they also revised "The Biography of Sun Yat-sen" together. In the former residence of Miyazaki Taotian, located in West Ikebukuro, Toshima District, Tokyo, there is still a banner with Sun Yat-sen's book as a gift to Taotian, "Put your heart to heart", and Huang Xing wrote a horizontal plaque "Confucianism and Heroes" for Taotian and his wife.In the former residence, there are also a large number of precious cultural relics such as letters, written conversations, inscriptions, handwriting and photos between Miyazaki Toten and Sun Yat-sen, Huang Xing and other Chinese revolutionaries, which are important materials for the study of modern Sino-Japanese relations and cultural exchanges.The sincere friendship between Japanese friends such as Miyazaki Toten and Chinese revolutionaries will always be engraved in the hearts of the Chinese and Japanese people.