The Three Principles of the People is arguably the most important political philosophy to emerge from China in the early 20th century. It was formulated by Sun Yat-sen (孙中山) during his efforts to overthrow the Qing Dynasty and establish a republic. The three principles are: 1. 民族主义 (Mínzú Zhǔyì) - The Principle of Nationalism: This initially meant liberating China from the rule of the ethnically Manchu Qing Dynasty. It later evolved into a vision of a unified Chinese nation (uniting the five major ethnic groups under the concept of 中华民族, Zhōnghuá Mínzú) free from foreign imperialist domination. 2. 民权主义 (Mínquán Zhǔyì) - The Principle of Democracy: Inspired by Abraham Lincoln's “government of the people, by the people, for the people,” this principle advocates for a constitutional, republican form of government. Sun Yat-sen adapted this by proposing a government with five branches (五权宪法, Wǔ Quán Xiànfǎ), adding “Control” and “Examination” branches to the traditional Western three of Legislative, Executive, and Judicial. 3. 民生主义 (Mínshēng Zhǔyì) - The Principle of the People's Livelihood: This is the economic and social component, aiming to ensure a basic standard of living for all citizens. It's often compared to a form of socialism or social democracy, advocating for policies like land value taxation and state-owned enterprises to prevent the vast inequality Sun saw in the West. Comparison to a Western Concept: A common comparison is to the phrase “Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness” from the U.S. Declaration of Independence. However, there's a key difference. The American phrase describes inalienable rights—a philosophical foundation. In contrast, Sān Mín Zhǔyì is a prescriptive political program—a practical blueprint for building a nation-state. It doesn't just state what people are entitled to; it outlines the political and economic structures needed to achieve it.
The term's usage and connotation differ significantly between Mainland China and Taiwan.