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East Asia

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1908

Politics20th CenturyEast Asia

Two-Year-Old Puyi Ascends as Last Qing Emperor

The Qing dynasty faced terminal decline amid foreign pressures, internal rebellions, and reform failures in the early 20th century. On November 14, 1908, the Guangxu Emperor died under mysterious circumstances, followed hours later by Empress Dowager Cixi. Their chosen successor was the toddler Puyi, great-nephew of Cixi, who was installed as the Xuantong Emperor on December 2, 1908. Court officials conducted the accession rites within the Forbidden City while Puyi, too young to understand, was carried through the ceremonies. This marked the final imperial succession in China's long dynastic history.

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1911

Politics20th CenturyEast Asia

Wuchang Uprising Ignites Chinese Revolution

Late Qing China grappled with foreign pressures, internal corruption, and the Railway Protection Movement that fueled widespread discontent with imperial policies. Revolutionary groups within the New Army in Hubei province, influenced by Sun Yat-sen’s Tongmenghui, had been planning an insurrection. On October 10, 1911, an accidental bomb explosion prompted soldiers in Wuchang to launch a mutiny against Qing authorities. The rebels quickly seized the viceroy’s residence and key military sites, forcing the governor to flee. News of the successful takeover spread rapidly, inspiring similar uprisings across China and marking the start of the Xinhai Revolution that ended over two millennia of imperial rule.

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1911

Politics20th CenturyEast Asia

Mongolia Declares Independence from Qing China

Following the 1911 Xinhai Revolution that overthrew China's Qing dynasty, Mongolian leaders seized the moment to end centuries of Chinese suzerainty. On December 29, 1911, the eighth Jebtsundamba Khutughtu was enthroned as the Bogd Khan in Urga (modern Ulaanbaatar), establishing an independent theocratic monarchy. Russian diplomatic and military support proved crucial in deterring immediate Chinese reconquest. The new state asserted control over Outer Mongolia while Inner Mongolia remained under Chinese administration. This declaration launched Mongolia's modern era of sovereignty, later evolving into a people's republic under Soviet influence.

Event Detail
1912

Politics20th CenturyEast Asia

Last Emperor of China Abdicates Throne

In the wake of the 1911 Xinhai Revolution led by Sun Yat-sen, the Qing dynasty faced widespread provincial revolts and the collapse of Manchu authority across China. The six-year-old Xuantong Emperor, Puyi, had ascended the throne in 1908 under the regency of Empress Dowager Longyu amid growing republican sentiment. On February 12, 1912, Longyu issued the Imperial Edict of Abdication on Puyi's behalf, formally transferring sovereignty to the newly established Republic of China. This ended over 2,000 years of imperial rule in China and 267 years of Qing (Manchu) governance. The young former emperor was permitted to retain his title and residence in the Forbidden City temporarily as part of negotiated terms. The edict also addressed the transfer of territories...

Event Detail
1912

Politics20th CenturyEast Asia

Kuomintang Political Party Founded in Peking

After the 1911 Revolution overthrew the Qing dynasty, China entered a turbulent republican era marked by competing factions and warlord influence. Sun Yat-sen, the revolutionary leader, sought to unify nationalist and republican forces into a single organization. On August 25, 1912, the Kuomintang (Nationalist Party) was formally established in Peking through the merger of several revolutionary groups. The founding congress adopted a platform emphasizing nationalism, democracy, and people's livelihood. Song Jiaoren played a key organizational role, though Sun remained the symbolic head. The party quickly became a major political force in the early Republic of China.

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1919

Civil Rights20th CenturyEast Asia

March First Movement Begins in Korea

Under Japanese colonial rule since 1910, Korean leaders drafted a Declaration of Independence inspired by Woodrow Wilson's self-determination principles. On March 1, 1919, thirty-three signers publicly read the proclamation in Seoul during the funeral observances for former Emperor Gojong. The act triggered coordinated nonviolent demonstrations across the country and among the diaspora. Japanese authorities responded with arrests and force, resulting in thousands of casualties over subsequent months. The movement continued protests into 1920 despite suppression.

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1923

Disaster20th CenturyEast Asia

Great Kantō Earthquake Strikes Japan

Japan in the early 1920s was recovering from World War I and undergoing rapid urbanization and industrialization. The Kantō Plain, home to Tokyo and Yokohama, sat atop a seismically active zone where tectonic plates converge. At 11:58 a.m. on September 1, a magnitude 7.9 earthquake struck near noon, just as many residents prepared lunch over open flames. The initial shaking collapsed buildings across the region, and subsequent fires, fueled by high winds from a passing typhoon and broken water mains, raged for days. Over 140,000 people died, mostly from the fires, and more than a million were left homeless in one of the deadliest natural disasters in Japanese history.

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1925

Civil Rights20th CenturyEast Asia

May Thirtieth Incident Sparks Chinese Protests

Tensions in Shanghai's International Settlement rose amid labor strikes at Japanese-owned mills and anti-foreign sentiment fueled by unequal treaties and foreign control of Chinese territory. On May 30, 1925, thousands of students, workers, and protesters marched on Nanjing Road demanding the release of arrested demonstrators and an end to foreign privileges. Shanghai Municipal Police, including British officers, confronted the crowd outside a police station; after warnings, they opened fire, killing at least 11 immediately and wounding dozens more, with some later dying from injuries. The shootings, known as the Nanjing Road incident, triggered immediate outrage across China, leading to nationwide strikes, boycotts of foreign goods, and demonstrations that lasted months. The Chinese Communist Party capitalized on the anti-imperialist wave, significantly...

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1928

Politics20th CenturyEast Asia

Hirohito Enthroned as Emperor of Japan

Following the death of his father Emperor Taishō in 1926, Crown Prince Hirohito assumed the role of regent before formal accession. Traditional Shinto and imperial rites marked the transition of power in Japan’s constitutional monarchy. On November 10, 1928, elaborate enthronement ceremonies took place in Kyoto, including processions, rituals with the Imperial Regalia, and public celebrations attended by dignitaries. The events confirmed Hirohito’s possession of the Three Sacred Treasures and his status as the 124th emperor in the unbroken imperial line. The ceremonies occurred amid economic challenges but reinforced national unity and imperial tradition.

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1935

Politics20th CenturyEast Asia

Mao Zedong's Red Army Completes the Long March

By the mid-1930s, Chinese Communist forces under Mao Zedong faced encirclement by Chiang Kai-shek's Nationalist armies in Jiangxi province. In October 1934, roughly 86,000 troops and supporters began a desperate retreat northwestward to evade annihilation. The year-long trek crossed eighteen mountain ranges, twenty-four rivers, and harsh terrain while enduring aerial attacks, skirmishes, and starvation. On October 20, 1935, the surviving First Front Army, reduced to about 8,000, reached northern Shaanxi province near the Great Wall and linked with local Communist units. This arrival marked the effective end of the Long March and solidified Mao's leadership within the party.

Event DetailUS Military Atlas
1936

Military20th CenturyEast Asia

February 26 Incident: Japanese Military Coup Attempt

In 1930s Japan, factional rivalries within the Imperial Japanese Army pitted radical young officers influenced by ultranationalist and agrarian reform ideas against more moderate senior leaders. Economic hardships and political instability fueled discontent among junior officers who sought to purge perceived corrupt or Western-influenced elements from the government. On February 26, 1936, approximately 1,400 troops under the command of these officers launched coordinated attacks in central Tokyo, assassinating Finance Minister Takahashi Korekiyo, former Prime Minister Saitō Makoto, and others while occupying key buildings. The rebels declared their actions aimed at restoring imperial rule and addressing social inequalities but failed to secure broader military support or the Emperor's endorsement. The uprising collapsed within days after loyal forces surrounded the rebels, leading...

Event DetailUS Military Atlas
1936

Military20th CenturyEast Asia

Chinese Red Army Completes the Long March

Facing encirclement by Nationalist forces under Chiang Kai-shek, Communist Chinese troops under Mao Zedong embarked on a strategic retreat in 1934. The grueling 6,000-mile trek across rugged terrain lasted over a year and cost tens of thousands of lives. On October 22, 1936, the surviving forces reached their destination in northern Shaanxi province, where they linked up with other Communist units. The successful conclusion unified the Red Army and allowed Mao to consolidate his leadership.

Event DetailUS Military Atlas
1937

Military20th CenturyEast Asia

Marco Polo Bridge Incident Ignites Second Sino-Japanese War

Tensions between Imperial Japan and the Republic of China had escalated throughout the 1930s due to Japanese expansion in Manchuria and ongoing military presence near Beijing. On the night of July 7, 1937, Japanese troops conducting maneuvers near the Marco Polo Bridge (Lugou Bridge) outside Wanping reported a missing soldier and demanded entry into the town to search, which Chinese forces refused. A shot rang out, triggering exchanges of fire that quickly escalated into a three-day clash involving the Japanese 29th Army and Chinese defenders. Japanese authorities used the incident as a pretext for broader military operations, while Chinese leaders under Chiang Kai-shek mobilized in response. The fighting marked the beginning of full-scale war between the two nations.

Event DetailUS Military Atlas
1937

Military20th CenturyEast Asia

Battle of Shanghai Begins in Second Sino-Japanese War

Tensions escalated after the Marco Polo Bridge Incident in July 1937 as Japan expanded operations from northern China. Chinese Nationalist forces under Chiang Kai-shek mobilized to defend Shanghai, a major international hub and economic center with foreign concessions. On August 13, 1937, Chinese Peace Preservation Corps exchanged fire with Japanese naval landing forces in districts like Zhabei, prompting Japanese naval bombardment and air strikes. Chinese troops launched counteroffensives, turning the city into a brutal urban battlefield involving over a million troops in total across the campaign. The immediate result was the onset of a three-month siege that devastated Shanghai and drew international attention to the conflict.

Event DetailUS Military Atlas
1941

Military20th CenturyEast Asia

Japanese Carrier Force Departs for Pearl Harbor

Tensions between Japan and the United States had escalated over Japanese expansion in Asia and U.S. sanctions. Admiral Chuichi Nagumo commanded the First Air Fleet, centered on six aircraft carriers, as part of a secret strike plan approved by Japanese leadership. On November 26, 1941, the task force sailed from Hitokappu Bay in the Kuril Islands under radio silence, heading toward Hawaii. The orders allowed for recall if diplomatic negotiations succeeded. This movement positioned Japan for a preemptive attack on the U.S. Pacific Fleet.

Event DetailUS Military Atlas
1941

Military20th CenturyEast Asia

China Formally Declares War on Japan and Axis Powers

China had fought an undeclared war against Japanese invasion since 1937, suffering massive casualties without formal belligerent status that would nullify prior treaties. Following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and U.S. entry into World War II, the Republic of China government under President Lin Sen acted to align fully with the Allies. On December 9, 1941, China issued simultaneous declarations of war against Japan, Germany, and Italy, effective from midnight. The statements voided all existing agreements with the Axis nations and committed Chinese forces to the global conflict. This formal step integrated China's long resistance into the worldwide Allied effort.

Event DetailUS Military Atlas
1941

Military20th CenturyEast Asia

Japan Invades Hong Kong in WWII

As part of Japan's broader offensive following the Pearl Harbor attack, Imperial Japanese forces targeted the British crown colony of Hong Kong after weeks of air raids and failed diplomatic pressure on Governor Sir Mark Young. On December 18, 1941, Japanese troops landed on the island, beginning a fierce assault against outnumbered British, Canadian, Indian, and local defenders who had been preparing fortifications. The invasion followed an ultimatum and quickly overwhelmed coastal defenses, leading to intense street fighting and the eventual surrender of the colony on Christmas Day. Hong Kong's fall isolated Allied positions in the Pacific and demonstrated Japan's rapid expansion strategy across Southeast Asia. The brief but intense campaign resulted in significant civilian and military casualties.

Event DetailUS Military Atlas
1942

Military20th CenturyEast Asia

Doolittle Raid Bombs Japanese Mainland

Following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and early Pacific setbacks, the United States sought a way to strike back at the Japanese home islands to boost morale. On April 18, 1942, Lieutenant Colonel James H. Doolittle led 16 B-25 Mitchell bombers launched from the carrier USS Hornet, approximately 650 miles from Japan. The aircraft bombed Tokyo, Yokohama, Kobe, and Nagoya before crews attempted to reach safe landing zones in China. Damage was minimal, with few casualties on the ground, yet the raid succeeded in its psychological objective. Most crews survived, though some were captured or killed.

Event DetailUS Military Atlas
1944

Military20th CenturyEast Asia

USS Sealion Sinks Japanese Battleship Kongō

In the final months of World War II in the Pacific, U.S. submarines targeted Japanese naval assets supporting operations around Formosa and the Philippines. On November 21, 1944, the submarine USS Sealion (SS-315) intercepted a Japanese task force in the Formosa Strait. Using torpedoes, Sealion struck the battleship Kongō, a veteran of earlier campaigns, and the destroyer Urakaze. Both vessels sank rapidly with heavy loss of life among their crews. The action demonstrated the effectiveness of American submarine patrols in interdicting enemy reinforcements and capital ships late in the war.

Event DetailUS Military Atlas
1945

Military20th CenturyEast Asia

U.S. Marines Land on Iwo Jima

As the Pacific War entered its final phase in early 1945, U.S. planners targeted Iwo Jima to secure airfields for fighter escorts and emergency landings supporting B-29 raids on Japan. On February 19, approximately 30,000 Marines from the 4th and 5th Divisions stormed the black-sand beaches under heavy naval and air support. Japanese defenders, entrenched in an extensive tunnel network, held fire until the landing forces were ashore before unleashing devastating artillery and mortar fire. The initial assault secured a beachhead but at high cost, with casualties mounting rapidly in the volcanic terrain. The battle would last over a month and become one of the bloodiest in Marine Corps history.

Event DetailUS Military Atlas
1945

Military20th CenturyEast Asia

U.S. Marines Raise Flag on Mount Suribachi

In the Pacific Theater of World War II, U.S. Marines landed on Iwo Jima on February 19 to secure airfields for B-29 operations against Japan. After days of intense fighting against entrenched Japanese forces, a platoon reached the summit of Mount Suribachi on February 23. They raised a small U.S. flag around 10:30 a.m., followed later that day by a larger one captured in Joe Rosenthal's iconic photograph. The image of six Marines hoisting the flag symbolized American determination and became one of the war's most enduring symbols.

Event DetailUS Military Atlas
1945

Military20th CenturyEast Asia

U.S. Launches Devastating Firebombing of Tokyo

By early 1945, U.S. Army Air Forces shifted to low-altitude incendiary raids against Japanese cities after high-altitude precision bombing proved less effective. On the night of March 9, 334 B-29 Superfortress bombers took off from Pacific bases for Operation Meetinghouse. Pathfinders marked targets in eastern Tokyo with napalm, followed by waves dropping over 1,600 tons of incendiaries. The resulting firestorm consumed densely populated wooden districts, killing an estimated 80,000 to 100,000 people, mostly civilians, and leaving over a million homeless. The raid destroyed 16 square miles of the city.

Event DetailUS Military Atlas
1945

Military20th CenturyEast Asia

U.S. Firebombs Tokyo in Deadliest Air Raid

By early 1945, U.S. strategic bombing of Japan had shifted from precision strikes on industry to area incendiary attacks after earlier campaigns proved ineffective due to weather and Japanese dispersal of production. Under General Curtis LeMay, XXI Bomber Command launched Operation Meetinghouse on the night of March 9-10, 1945, sending 279 B-29 Superfortresses loaded with napalm-filled M69 incendiaries over Tokyo at low altitude. The resulting firestorm consumed densely packed wooden neighborhoods, destroying over 267,000 buildings and killing an estimated 90,000 to 100,000 people, mostly civilians. Japanese defenses were overwhelmed, with minimal losses to the attacking force. The raid became the single most destructive conventional bombing attack of the war and influenced subsequent tactics against other Japanese cities.

Event DetailUS Military Atlas
1945

Military20th CenturyEast Asia

U.S. Forces Invade Okinawa in WWII

As Allied forces closed in on the Japanese home islands in spring 1945, planners selected Okinawa as a forward base for the anticipated invasion of Japan. The island's airfields and harbors offered critical staging areas within striking distance of the mainland. On April 1, 1945, U.S. Army and Marine units began amphibious landings on the western coast of Okinawa under Tenth Army command. Japanese defenders had prepared extensive fortifications inland rather than contesting the beaches directly. Initial advances met light resistance, allowing rapid seizure of airfields, but the campaign soon turned into a prolonged and costly battle. The operation ultimately secured the island after eighty-two days of fighting.

Event DetailUS Military Atlas