Wuchang Uprising

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Wuchang Uprising
Part of the Xinhai Revolution
Hubei Military Government.jpg
Establishment of the Republic of China
Date 10 October – 1 December 1911
Location Wuchang, Hubei, China

Decisive Tongmenghui victory

Qing dynasty Qing Empire Tongmenghui
Commanders and leaders
Qing dynasty Yuan Shikai
Various others
Huang Xing
Xiong Bingkun (熊秉坤)
Li Yuanhong
10,000 troops 2,000 troops
Casualties and losses
~4,000 killed ~1,000 killed
Wuchang Uprising
Traditional Chinese 武昌起義
Hanyu Pinyin Wǔchāng Qǐyì

The Wuchang Uprising was an armed rebellion against the ruling Qing dynasty that took place in Wuchang, Hubei, in China. It was the first successful uprising led by elements of the New Army, influenced by revolutionary ideas from Tongmenghui.[1] Following the uprising, several other uprisings quickly spread across southern China as part of the beginning of the Xinhai Revolution. The uprising and the eventual revolution directly led to the downfall of the Qing dynasty along with five millennia of imperial rule, and the establishment of the Republic of China (ROC), which commemorates the anniversary of the uprising's starting date of 10th October as the National Day of the Republic of China.




In 1895, China was decisively defeated by Japan in the First Sino-Japanese War. Intellectuals in China were divided into several factions. Constitutional reformers led by Kang Youwei and Liang Qichao took control initially, and orchestrated the Hundred Days' Reform in the Qing government. The reforms failed to materialize, and ended up in failure after intervention by Empress Dowager Cixi. Disillusioned with the monarchy and the Qing government, many revolutionary groups began emerging across the country. In 1905, revolutionary leaders such as Sun Yat-sen and Song Jiaoren met in Tokyo to discuss a merger between different revolutionary groups. A new group known as Tongmenghui was formed after this meeting.[4]

Railway Protection Movement







New Army mutiny


On the evening of 10 October, Xiong Bingkun (熊秉坤) and the revolutionary elements of the New Army staged a mutiny against the Qing garrison in Huguang, capturing the residence of the Viceroy in the process along with securing strategic points in the city after intense fighting.[12] As the Viceroy escaped, the Qing garrison fell into disarray. Between the night of 10 October and the noon of 11th, "more than 500 Manchu soldiers were killed" with "over 300 cap-tured".[13]

Establishment of Hubei military government


Battle of Yangxia

Beiyang Army on the way to Hankou, 1911.





In the same month, Sun returned to China to participate in the provisional presidential election and was elected.[19] Representatives from the seceding provinces met on 1 January 1912, and declared the founding of the Chinese republic as Sun was sworn in as the first president.[20] The new republic then negotiated with Yuan Shikai to pressure the Qing government to abdicate, offering the presidency in the process. On 12 February 1912, Empress Dowager Longyu, on behalf of Puyi, announced the abdication of the Qing throne, marking the end of the dynasty.[21]

Significance of Wuchang Uprising

Wuchang Uprising is regarded as the first shot of the revolution of 1911 out of the factors: it seized the fundamental strength of the Qing government and its important role of demonstration and promotion [22]; the mode of social cooperation which is widely and effectively participated by the local strength and its important role of demonstration and promotion [23]; it embodies the revolutionary essence and progressive direction of western style democracy [24]. The revolutionary army conquered the governor’s mansion, occupied Wuchang, destroyed a large number of forces of the Qing army, and opened a gap in the heart of China.[25] It is also viewed as a breakthrough for attacking the Qing Dynasty, and it also led a wave of uprisings spread all over China.[26] Within two months after the Wuchang uprising, fifteen provinces such as Hunan and Guangdong announced their independence from the Qing government. [27]




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