The guide at the Sun Yat-sen memorial museum knew everything about the 'Father of the Nation', but little about the Republic of China which he founded. 'We learn about the Communist Party but not the Republic of China,' said Tan Jinye. 'They do not teach that at school.'
Her answer helps to explain how Chinese people marked two different centenaries yesterday - the Xinhai Revolution that ended the last imperial dynasty and the foundation of what eventually became the government in Taipei.
Yesterday, the government in Taipei held events to mark the centenary, as did several hundred supporters in Tuen Mun, where they raised Taiwan's flag and sang its national anthem. But for the museum in Zhongshan in Guangdong, it was a normal day.
The mainland and Taiwan both rejoice at the end of the Qing dynasty (1644-1911). But Taipei regards the revolution of October 10, 1911, as the start of its history, while Beijing sees that date as only one halting step towards the foundation of the People's Republic in 1949.
So this year, Beijing will celebrate the Xinhai Revolution but ignore the establishment of the Republic of China, which it regards as dead and buried. Taipei will celebrate both, especially the second, and highlight what it sees as its achievements in the last 100 years.
Students on the two sides of the Taiwan Strait are taught different histories. In Taiwan, they are taught that they live in the republic which Sun founded and which implemented his political legacy, the 'Three Principles of the People' - democracy, nationalism and welfare.
