Sun Yat-sen (12 November 1866 - 12 March 1925) was a Chinese revolutionary and political leader. As the foremost pioneer of Nationalist China; Sun is frequently referred to as the Founding Father of Republican China.

Sun played an instrumental role in inspiring the overthrow of the Qing Dynasty; the last imperial dynasty of China. He was the first provisional president when the Republic of China (ROC) was founded in 1912 and later co-founded the Chinese National People's Party or Kuomintang (KMT) where he served as its first leader.

Sun was a uniting figure in post-Imperial China; and remains unique among 20th-century Chinese politicians for being widely revered amongst the people from both sides of the Taiwan Strait.

Nanjing dates back to the beginning of the Warring States Period (403-221 BCE). Between the 3rd and 6th centuries CE; Nanjing was the capital of the Southern dynasties at a time when non-Chinese were in command in northern China. After various natural disasters and a peasant rebellion; the new Sui dynasty moved the imperial capital to Xi'an (589 CE) and destroyed Nanjing; along with almost all of its cultural and historical relics.

Nanjing regained national importance at the beginning of the Ming dynasty; when its first emperor; Hongwu (Zhu Yuanzhang); set up the seat of government here in the Southern Capital until it was transferred to Beijing in 1421.