Taiwan

Words by: Tai Chuan-hsien, from a speech by Dr. Sun Yat Sen
Music by: Cheng Mao-Yun
Adopted: 1930

Often called "San Min Chu I" (pronounced "San Min Joo Ee"), from the first line of the anthem, the lyrics are taken from the text of a speech given by Dr. Sun Yat Sen, the first president of China at the opening ceremony of the Whampoa Military Academy. The anthem was first selected as the anthem for the entirety of China (you can read more about its history on the China (1930-1949) page) when controlled by the Kuomintang. After the Kuomintang government was ousted by the Communists in 1949, the Kuomintang government fled to the island of Taiwan and continued their government their, using the same state symbols they had on mainland China.

There is some debate as to whether it should remain the national anthem of Taiwan; some oppose it since it was composed in mainland China, while others because it was (and still remains) the party anthem of just one of Taiwan's parties. There is a support by some to use the alternate national anthem, "The Flag Raising Song", which is used to represent Taiwan at international events like the Olympic Games due to pressure from mainland China, but also is used locally as a song played at flag raisings.

The current Taiwanese anthem is presently banned from performance on mainland China and strongly discouraged from being performed in Hong Kong.

Special thanks to: Paul Simon for the sheet music.

See also: Taiwan (alternate anthem), China (1930-1949) , China.