Yuan Shikai and Sun Yat-sen
In 1912, the Qing Dynasty collapsed in China in a great turmoil, leaving greater turmoil.
There appeared two heroes, at least in the political context, Yuan Shikai (En Seigai in Japanese) and Sun Yat-sen (Son Bun in Japanese), as the leading figures in the early 20th century where no authentic and effective central government existed in China but local strong men each governed their own territory and concluded treaties and promoted trade with Western powers and the Empire of Japan.
Yet, though Sun is even today respected by Beijing and Taipei, nobody praises Yuan at all.
Yuan Shikai (1859 – 1916) was an important Chinese general and politician famous for his influence during the late Qing Dynasty, his role in the events leading up to the abdication of the last Qing Emperor of China, his autocratic rule as the second President of the Republic of China (following Sun Yatsen), and his short-lived attempt to revive the Chinese monarchy, with himself as the "Great Emperor of China."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yuan_Shikai
Sun Yat-sen (1866 – 1925) was a Chinese revolutionary and president. As the foremost pioneer of Nationalist China, Sun is referred to as the "Father of the Nation" in the Republic of China (ROC), and the "forerunner of democratic revolution" in the People's Republic of China. Sun played an instrumental role in the overthrow of the Qing dynasty during the Xinhai Revolution. Sun was the first provisional president when the Republic of China was founded in 1912 and later co-founded the Kuomintang (KMT), serving as its first leader.[2] 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.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sun_Yat-sen
When the classic dynasty Qing collapsed, it was clear for everybody that democracy could not be successful in China, since the public was so ignorant and unenlightened.
On the contrary, as the general public of Japan were well cultivated with a higher literacy rate, the Empire of Japan could swiftly modernize and Westernize the level of industry and education of the society while keeping unification of the nation and building modern political systems toward democracy. The Empire of Japan became the first Asian nation that established modern government and military in Asia by the end of the 19th century.
But, it was impossible in China. The gap between the classic imperial elites and the general public was desperately wide in the Chinese society when Qing collapsed. So, Yuan tried to govern China by leveraging classical concept of the imperial rule in vain. Sun tried to govern China by leveraging a revolutionary regime (which was carried out by the Chinese Communist Party of today). Yuan even called himself "Emperor," which is not recognized by anybody today. Yuan looks like having turned to a pierrot from the strong man of China. But, the Taipei Government still claims its authentic position as a successor of Sun Yat-sen while the Beijing Government still keeps respect for Sun Yat-sen.
Nonetheless, Yuan Shikai is the last Chinese who tried to become a true emperor and actually call himself emperor officially. Unfortunately, the Chinese people in the late 19th century did not want to be subject to an emperor anymore. They came to love weaker titles, such as a chairman and a president.
http://www.ne.jp/asahi/koiwa/hakkei/tyugogusi15.html
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Rev 3:19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
Rev 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.