T'an Ssu-t'ung

Tan Sitong (1865–1898) was a prominent Chinese politician, thinker, and reformist during the late Qing dynasty. Born in Beijing, his family hailed from Liuyang, Hunan Province. His father, Tan Jixun, served as the governor of Hubei. Tan's early life was marked by personal tragedy, including the death of his mother and siblings, and a rigorous education that he often found stifling due to his objection to conventional examination formats. He traveled extensively across China in his youth, composing poetry. At 19, he married Li Run, and they had a son who died in infancy. The latter half of the 19th century saw China facing immense crises, including defeats in the Opium Wars and the First Sino-Japanese War, which spurred calls for reform among intellectuals. Following the humiliating Treaty of Shimonoseki in 1895, Tan became a fervent advocate for thorough reform. He wrote 'Ren Xue' (Theory of Benevolence), criticizing absolute monarchy, and founded the South Academy to promote reformist ideals. In 1898, he was appointed to the Grand Council and became a key figure in the Hundred Days' Reform initiated by Emperor Guangxu. However, the reform was short-lived. Fearing Empress Dowager Cixi's opposition, Tan conspired with general Yuan Shikai, but Yuan betrayed the plot. Cixi launched a coup, imprisoned the Emperor, and ordered the arrest of reformers. Tan, choosing not to flee, was arrested and executed by beheading on September 28, 1898, along with five other reformers, becoming known as one of the 'six gentlemen of the Hundred Days' Reform'. His sacrifice became a potent symbol, influencing subsequent generations towards revolution.