Kang Youwei

Kang Youwei (19 March 1858 – 31 March 1927) was a prominent Chinese political thinker and reformer during the late Qing dynasty. His influence on the Guangxu Emperor led to conflict with Empress Dowager Cixi and the Hundred Days' Reform of 1898. Following Cixi's coup, Kang was forced into exile, becoming a staunch advocate for a constitutional monarchy. He opposed the establishment of a republic after the Xinhai Revolution and even attempted a failed coup in 1917 to restore the monarchy. Kang's controversial work, 'Datong Shu' (The Book of Great Unity), envisioned a utopian future with radical social changes, including the abolition of the family and property, and a global, democratically ruled government. He also held complex views on race and societal progress, advocating for a form of social Darwinism. Kang was also an accomplished calligrapher. His reputation evolved dramatically, from a radical reformer to an anachronistic figure, reflecting the turbulent political and social changes in China during his lifetime.