HPU trustee Dr. Lily Suifong Sun, granddaughter of Sun Yat-sen who founded the Republic of China (Taiwan),

formally presented original editions of books written by her grandfather and a collection of sculptures in jade, ceramic, and precious stones. The August 18 ceremony left the third floor of Meader Library, where the  collection will be permanently displayed, echoing to the sustained applause of more than 100 students, staff, and dignitaries.

Dr. Sun, an author, donated her sculpture collection to HPU as a way of drawing people’s attention to Sun Yat-sen’s political philosophies. “I want to keep my grandfather’s teachings in front of all humanity,” she said. “What he left for us is spiritual treasure that students now and in the future need to know about.” The original editions in

both English and Chinese will be mounted with the jade collection as part of the permanent exhibit.

Dr. Sun has written that her grandfather was “a great revolutionary leader, an acclaimed national hero, and the founding father of modem China … He mixed traditional Chinese cultural and moral values with the best of contemporary European and American social, political, and economic ideas to create his famous ‘Three Principles of

the People: Nationalism, Democracy and Livelihood.’ His doctrine not only provided a blueprint for political reform and democratic thinking in China, but also became a model for many Third World countries.”

According to Dr. Sun, western democracies traditionally emphasize political freedom, while socialist countries stress economics. In recent years, she feels, the western democracies have begun to pay more attention to economic fights, while socialist nations are focusing more on political rights. Both are converging on the ideal her grandfather outlined: a combination of democracy and livelihood.

Sun Yat-sen has strong connections with Hawai’i. He attended Iolani School and Oahu College from 1874 to 1883, and it was in Honolulu that he developed the political ideologies he used to overthrow the Ching Dynasty and reform China’s political system along European lines. In 1997, the Mayor of the City and County of Honolulu, Jeremy Harris, proclaimed November 12 “Sun Yat-sen Day,” to honor the memory of this great political thinker.

Dr. Lily Sun has herself twice been recognized by the Hawai’i state legislature, in 1998 and 1999, for her work promoting humanity and world peace.

- Kalamalama August 31, 1999