January 1, 1912 is the official "birthday" of Asia's first democratic republic, the Republic of China.

To bring the new nation into being, the ROC's Founding Father, Dr. Sun Yat-sen, united a vanguard of revolutionary patriots to revolt against the Ch'ing court. This movement spread rapidly from Kwangchou, Hweichow, Chinlian, Hokou and other parts of southern China, culminating in the failed Canton Uprising of March 29, 1911.

Nearly seven months later, on October 10, the success of the Wuch'ang Uprising marked a turning point in Sun's struggle. One after the other, regions joined the revolution sweeping the land and within one month 15 provinces were united with Sun against the Ch'ing rulers. Realizing the inevitability of its demise, the imperial court proclaimed its abdication.

Since the revolutionary army had no forum at that time for unifying its regional commands, leaders from each province gathered together in Wuch'ang to formulate the 21 article "Outline for the Organization of Provisional Government," a treatise which served as the basis for the establishment of the provisional senate in Nanking. During the senate, Huang Hsing was popularly nominated as commander-in-chief temporarily in charge of national affairs.

On December 29, representatives from each province convened a meeting to elect the president of the new republic. Sun Yat-sen, honored with the appointment, was officially inaugurated the next year (1911) on New Year's Day, which also marks the founding day of the Republic of China.

The phrase,"San-min-chu-I (The Three Principles of the People), our aim shall be . . ." that begins the solemn, stately National Anthem, and the splendor of the blue, white, and red national flag during the flag-raising ceremony held in front of the Presidential Office Building takes on special significance on the morning of New Year's Day.

On this day, families around Taiwan patriotically hang the national flag and the streets are ablaze with the colors of lanterns and banners and the dazzling lights of ceremonial arches. All of this is done in memory of the revolutionary heroes of the republic's early days and to cherish the prosperity the nation enjoys today.