Sichuan clique
Encyclopedia
Sichuan clique was a group of warlords in the warlord era
in China
. During the period from 1927-1938, Sichuan
was in the hands of five warlords: Liu Xiang
, Yang Sen, Liu Wenhui
, Deng Xihou
, and Tian Songyao
.
However, Liu Xiang was the most influential of the Sichuan warlords. He controlled Chongqing
and its surrounding areas. This region, sitting on the banks of the Yangtze river, was rich because of trade with provinces down river and therefore controlled much of the economic activity in Sichuan. From this position of strength, between 1930 and 1932 General Liu Wenhui and Liu Xiang improved their forces, organizing a small airforce and an armored car force.
In 1935, Liu Xiang ousted, his uncle and rival warlord, Liu Wenhui, becoming Chairman of the Government of Sichuan Province with the support of Chiang Kai Shek.
, the Sichuan clique made a huge contribution to oppose the Japanese army. Data shows all numbers of dead or injured soldiers (totally 3.26 millions), including 2.24 millions from Sichuan clique. Especially, from 1939 to 1945, the death numbers of soldiers has 646,000 from Sichuan within a total 850,000. In the Battle of Shanghai
, almost all 170,000 soldiers from Sichuan clique fell in battle, with only 2,000 managing to retreat to Hubei Province. Nine generals of the National Revolutionary Army
died in World War II
, of whom generals Li Jiayu
, Wang Mingzhang
and Rao Guohua were commanders from the Sichuan clique.
City Government constructed new sculpture for memento at Wannian, Chengdu.
Warlord era
The Chinese Warlord Era was the period in the history of the Republic of China, from 1916 to 1928, when the country was divided among military cliques, a division that continued until the fall of the Nationalist government in the mainland China regions of Sichuan, Shanxi, Qinghai, Ningxia,...
in China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
. During the period from 1927-1938, Sichuan
Sichuan
' , known formerly in the West by its postal map spellings of Szechwan or Szechuan is a province in Southwest China with its capital in Chengdu...
was in the hands of five warlords: Liu Xiang
Liu Xiang (warlord)
Liu Xiang or Liu Hsiang, 劉湘 was one of the warlords controlling Sichuan province during the Warlord era of 20th century China....
, Yang Sen, Liu Wenhui
Liu Wenhui
Liu Wenhui was one of the warlords of Sichuan province during China's Warlord era. Liu who rose to prominence in Sichuan in the 1920s and 1930s, came from a peasant family. At the beginning of his career, he was aligned with the Kuomintang , commanding the Sichuan-Xikang Defence Force from 1927 to...
, Deng Xihou
Deng Xihou
Deng Xihou was a Chinese general and politician.-Biography:Deng was born 1889, Yingshan, Sichuan, China. In 1906 he was admitted to the Sichuan Military School, and in 1909 graduated, and entered the Nanjing Army School. After the Xinhai Revolution, he discontinued his studies and returned to...
, and Tian Songyao
Tian Songyao
Tian Songyao, Tin Chung-yao, 田颂尧 （1888 - 1975）warlord of the Sichuan clique and later Kuomintang general.Tian Songyao was born on 1888 in Jianyang, Sichuan. Tian joined the Sichuan Army and rose to command a Cavalry Regiment, of the 2nd Division, of its 1st Army. He also was the garrison...
.
Introduction
No one warlord had enough power to take on all the others at once, so many small battles occurred, pitting one warlord against another. Large conflicts seldom developed, plotting and skirmishing characterized the Sichuanese political scene, and ephemeral coalitions and counter-coalitions emerged and vanished with equal rapidity.However, Liu Xiang was the most influential of the Sichuan warlords. He controlled Chongqing
Chongqing
Chongqing is a major city in Southwest China and one of the five national central cities of China. Administratively, it is one of the PRC's four direct-controlled municipalities , and the only such municipality in inland China.The municipality was created on 14 March 1997, succeeding the...
and its surrounding areas. This region, sitting on the banks of the Yangtze river, was rich because of trade with provinces down river and therefore controlled much of the economic activity in Sichuan. From this position of strength, between 1930 and 1932 General Liu Wenhui and Liu Xiang improved their forces, organizing a small airforce and an armored car force.
In 1935, Liu Xiang ousted, his uncle and rival warlord, Liu Wenhui, becoming Chairman of the Government of Sichuan Province with the support of Chiang Kai Shek.
World War II
In the Second Sino-Japanese WarSecond Sino-Japanese War
The Second Sino-Japanese War was a military conflict fought primarily between the Republic of China and the Empire of Japan. From 1937 to 1941, China fought Japan with some economic help from Germany , the Soviet Union and the United States...
, the Sichuan clique made a huge contribution to oppose the Japanese army. Data shows all numbers of dead or injured soldiers (totally 3.26 millions), including 2.24 millions from Sichuan clique. Especially, from 1939 to 1945, the death numbers of soldiers has 646,000 from Sichuan within a total 850,000. In the Battle of Shanghai
Battle of Shanghai
The Battle of Shanghai, known in Chinese as Battle of Songhu, was the first of the twenty-two major engagements fought between the National Revolutionary Army of the Republic of China and the Imperial Japanese Army of the Empire of Japan during the Second Sino-Japanese War...
, almost all 170,000 soldiers from Sichuan clique fell in battle, with only 2,000 managing to retreat to Hubei Province. Nine generals of the National Revolutionary Army
National Revolutionary Army
The National Revolutionary Army , pre-1928 sometimes shortened to 革命軍 or Revolutionary Army and between 1928-1947 as 國軍 or National Army was the Military Arm of the Kuomintang from 1925 until 1947, as well as the national army of the Republic of China during the KMT's period of party rule...
died in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, of whom generals Li Jiayu
Li Jiayu
Li Jiayu was a KMT general from Sichuan....
, Wang Mingzhang
Wang Mingzhang
Wang Mingzhang, Wang Ming-chang, 王铭章 , , Chinese General of the National Revolutionary Army during the Second Sino-Japanese War.Born in Xindu County, Sichuan, Wang Mingzhang entered the Sichuan Army Elementary School in 1911 and the Army Middle School in Nanjing, in 1912...
and Rao Guohua were commanders from the Sichuan clique.
Memento
On August 15, 1989, ChengduChengdu
Chengdu , formerly transliterated Chengtu, is the capital of Sichuan province in Southwest China. It holds sub-provincial administrative status...
City Government constructed new sculpture for memento at Wannian, Chengdu.
See also
- Warlord eraWarlord eraThe Chinese Warlord Era was the period in the history of the Republic of China, from 1916 to 1928, when the country was divided among military cliques, a division that continued until the fall of the Nationalist government in the mainland China regions of Sichuan, Shanxi, Qinghai, Ningxia,...
- List of Warlords