Grafton to Guangzhou: The Revolutionary Journey of Tse Tsan Tai

This essay explores the political evolution, activities and legacy of Tse Tsan Tai. Following a childhood in Grafton, Australia, where he developed his early political aspirations, Tse landed in Hong Kong in 1887. He was a foundation member of the Furen Wenshe (Literary Society for the Promotion of Benevolence) until its merger with Sun Yat-sen's Xingzhonghui (Revive China Society) in 1895. Tse served as a strategist and fundraiser in the Xingzhonghui's 1895 and 1900 uprisings and negotiated with leaders of the reform movement for greater unity and cooperation. Several leading reformers supported his 1903 Guangzhou uprising that brought together revolutionary, reformist and secret society interests. Consideration is also given to the public debate that arose in Australia in 1932 when V.Y. Chow proclaimed that Tse rather than Sun was the true founder of Republican China.