Taiwan 2002

		National Symbols
		National Anthem The words of the ROC national anthem were first delivered as an exhortation at the opening ceremony of the Whampoa Military Academy 黃埔軍校 on June 16, 1924, by Dr. Sun Yat-sen. This exhortation was designated as the Kuomintang's (KMT) party song in 1928, after which the KMT then publicly solicited contributions for a tune to fit the words. The melody submitted by Cheng Mao-yun 程懋筠 was the undisputed winner out of 139 contenders. In the late 1920s and early 1930s, the Ministry of Education held two separate competitions for lyrics for a national anthem, using the KMT party song in the meantime as a temporary national anthem. None of the entries reviewed by the Ministry of Education were deemed appropriate, so Dr. Sun's composition was finally adopted as the official national anthem of the Republic of China in 1937. The anthem first declares the Three Principles of the People to be the foundation of the nation and guides to a world commonwealth of peace and harmony; and then calls upon the people to be brave, earnest and constant in striving to fulfill the nation's goals. The piece was honored as the world's best national anthem at the 1936 Berlin Olympics. San Min Chu I Our aim shall be to found a free land. World peace be our stand. Lead on, comrades, vanguards ye are. Hold fast your aim, by sun and star. Be earnest and brave, your country to save. One heart, one soul, one mind, one goal! Dr. Sun Yat-sen Translated by Tu Ting-hsiu Maestoso 莊嚴和平 Music by Cheng Mao-yun Accompaniment by Huang Tzu Listen to the ROC National Anthem! PCM 11,025 Hz, 8 Bit, Stereo, MP3 format (1.6 MB) Arranged by Gordon Shi-wen Chin Performed by the National Symphony Orchestra and the National Experimental Chorus
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