Lu Muzhen (30 July 18677 September 1952) was the first wife of Chinese revolutionary Sun Yat-sen. A traditional Chinese housewife, she had two daughters, Wan and Yan, and one son, Fo, with her husband. Sun divorced her after 30 years of marriage, in order to marry Soong Ching-ling in 1915. Since their divorce, Lu began living in Portuguese Macau until her death in 1952.
Early life
Lu Muzhen was born on 30 July 1867 into a wealthy family in Waibo Village, Xiangshan County, Guangdong, China. Her father, Lu Yaoxian, was a successful businessman in Honolulu, Hawaii. Raised as a traditional Chinese woman, Lu Muzhen had bound feet, excelled in needlework, and upheld strong filial piety. She married Sun Yat-sen on 26 May 1885, under the arrangement of their parents. Initially, Sun was displeased with the arrangement but changed his view in 1888 when Lu devotedly cared for his gravely ill father. This act of kindness moved Sun, and the couple grew closer, eventually having one son and two daughters.
During Sun Yat-sen's revolutionary pursuits, Lu Muzhen remained in China to care for their parents and children. In November 1895, after the Guangzhou Uprising plot was uncovered by the Qing government, Sun's family faced political persecution. Lu Muzhen took their children and Sun's mother, Madam Yang, to Honolulu to seek refuge with her brother-in-law, Sun Mei. When Sun Mei declared bankruptcy due to his financial support for the revolution, the family relocated to Ngau Chi Wan in Kowloon, Hong Kong. Sun Fo was left alone in Honolulu to continue his study.
On 19 July 1910, the mother of Sun Yat-sen, Madame Yang, died in Hong Kong.
First Lady
After the 1911 Revolution, Sun Yat-sen was elected the Provisional President of the new Chinese republic in early 1912.
In 1913, Sun Yat-sen left for Japan to inspect railway construction, and Lu followed and met him in March. After Sun began plotting a new revolution against Yuan Shikai, Lu left him and returned to Macau.
Divorce
Sun Yat-sen fell in love with Soong Ching-ling during their stay in Japan. Soong was born to a prestigious family, so she did not agree to be a mistress only. Therefore, Sun wrote to Lu, requesting her permission to divorce. Most people disagreed with Sun's marriage with Soong Ching-ling. However, Lu agreed and remarked, When Sun Yat-sen died in 1925, although she was not invited to the official funeral, she mourned him with traditional Chinese funeral services at her home.
She died in Macau on 7 September 1952.