Xinhai

Xinhai (辛亥) is a term used in the traditional Chinese sexagenary cycle to designate the year 1911. The cycle combines the heavenly stem and earthly branch; Xin (辛) pairs with Hai (亥) to form Xinhai, a designation that recurs every sixty years. The year is best known for the Xinhai Revolution, also called the 1911 Revolution, which ended Qing rule and paved the way for the Republic of China.

The revolution began with the Wuchang Uprising on October 10, 1911, and quickly spread as provincial assemblies declared reforms and independence from the Qing dynasty. The Qing court abdicated after the revolution, with the last emperor Puyi stepping down on February 12, 1912. A Provisional Government of the Republic of China was established in Nanjing on December 29, 1911, and Sun Yat-sen was elected provisional president on January 1, 1912. The events of Xinhai marked the end of imperial rule in China and the beginning of republican politics, although the early republic soon faced factionalism and warlordism.

In modern usage, Xinhai may refer to the 1911 year in historical calendars or to the Xinhai Revolution itself. The term is widely used in Chinese historical writing and commemorations to denote this pivotal political transition.