Lu Hao-tung

Lu Hao-tung (陸皓東 pinyin: Lù Hàodōng) (1868-1895), born Lu Chung-gui (中桂 Zhōngguì), courtesy name Hsien-hsiang (獻香 Xiànxiàng), was the first "revolutionary martyr" of the Republic of China. In the same year he died, he designed the "Blue Sky with a White Sun" emblem that came to be used as the Kuomintang party flag, national coat of arms of the Republic of China, and the canton of the flag of the Republic of China.

Born in Cuiheng Village, Xiangshan County, Guangdong, Lu Hao-tung had been a playmate and close friend of Sun Yat-sen since they were classmates at the Lu-shi Ancestral Temple (陸氏祖祠) school. They damaged the statue of a god in the Polaris Temple (北極殿), and were scorned by the villagers. Lu left the village after this incident, and arrived at Shanghai later to study at the Shanghai Telegram School (學堂). During that time, he worked for the Wuhu Telegram Office (蕪湖電報局).

He returned to the village in 1890, and met other revolutionaries. And five years later, he was executed by the Qing Empire when plans of the revolution was leaked out.

See also: History of the Republic of China