Sun Yat-sen's legacy leaves its mark on China's roads and stamps

From roads named in his honor to postage stamps bearing his portrait, Sun Yat-sen's legacy has been commemorated across China for more than a century. The latest stamp marking the 160th anniversary of his birth adds another chapter to the country's efforts to preserve the memory of the pioneer of China's democratic revolution.

On March 12, 1925, Sun Yat-sen (Sun Zhongshan) passed away in Beijing. Later that year, a road in Wuhu, Anhui province, where Sun delivered a public speech in 1912, was named Zhongshan Road in memory of the man who dedicated himself to national independence, social progress and people's well-being.

It is believed to be the first road in the country on record to have been named after Sun. From Harbin in Heilongjiang province in the north to Haikou in Hainan province in the south, rough estimates suggest there are more than 600 Zhongshan roads, streets and avenues across the country.

Naming a road creates a geographic marker in Sun's memory, while issuing stamps adds a graphic dimension to commemorating his historic contributions. Since December 1912, postage stamp sets featuring Sun's portrait have been issued over the years, making him one of the most frequently depicted figures on Chinese stamps.

On Nov 12, China Post issued a souvenir sheet to commemorate the 160th anniversary of Sun's birth. The stamp features a portrait of Sun in the style of an oil painting: realistic brushstrokes and a solemn palette reinforce the figure's dignity. Above it, against a gray-blue background, is the great reformer's handwritten inscription — his best-known slogan — Tian Xia Wei Gong (All under Heaven is for the Common Good).

China Post also offered a commemorative folder including the stamp and two others issued in Hong Kong and Macao on the same day.

Since the 1950s, China Post has issued six stamp sets, including the new one, marking Sun's birth year. One iconic piece, published in 1986, features an oil painting by noted painter Jin Shangyi: it shows Sun in a resolute mood against a background of storms gathering across the sky.

Besides his portraits, these stamps also depict the Museum of Dr. Sun Yat-sen in Zhongshan, his birthplace in Guangdong province; a bronze statue of him in front of the 1911 Revolution Museum in Wuhan, Hubei province; and Zhongshan Hall, inside Beijing's Zhongshan Park, where Sun's casket was placed after his death for public memorial services.