Who's Who in China (3rd edition)/K'ang Yu-wei

Mr. K'ang Yu-wei,

康有為学更生

Mr. K'ang Yu-wei was born at Nan-Hai Hsien, Kuangtung province, in 1856. He became a provincial graduate in 1893 and a Metropolitan Graduate in 1895. The famous school called Wan Mu Tsao Tang at Canton was founded by Mr. K'ang and was the place where he taught a large number of Chinese scholars from all over the land. Among those who later became distinguished are Mr. Liang Chi-chiao, the late Hsu Chin and the late T'ang Chu-teng. Mr. Kang Yu-wei is a well-known reformer, having started his campaign in favor of reform in the South during the Sino-Japanese war in 1894-95 by means of leaflets and lectures. He petitioned the Imperial government advising it not to mako peace with Japan and suggesting immediate reforms. On June 14, 1898, he received an audience from the late Emperor Kwang Hsu on the recommendation of Weng T'ung-ho, the Imperial Tutu. He at once obtained strong influence over the Emperor, whose famous reform decrees of 1898 were inspired by him. A plot to prevent the Empress Dowager from actively interfering in politics laid by Kang Yu-wei and his followers was reported to the Empress Dowager by Yuan Shih-kai, then Viceroy of Chihli, who was prompted to do so through fear of losing his own power should Kang's party became predominant. In consequence, Mr. Kang was proscribed and ordered to be decapitated when the Empress Dowager effected her coup d'etat to save herself. Fortunately Mr. K'ang escaped and resided abroad for many years, principally in America and Japan. During this period, he traveled extensively in many countries, accompanied by his daughter, now Mrs. Lo Chang, the poetess. Mr. K'ang returned to China after the overthrow of the Manchu government and the establishment of the Republic. Through the encouragement of the late Yuan Shih-kai, he founded the society for the worship of Confucius. He has been a persistent advocate of the adoption of Confucianism as the state religion of China. One of his ambitions has been the restoration of the Manchus to the Throne. He played an important part in General Chang Hsun's movement to reovown the dethroned Emperor in July of 1917. On July 1, the first day of the restoration. Mr. K'ang was appointed vice-presdent of the House of Peers. Chang's forces collapsed on July 12, and Mr. K'ang fled to the American Legation for refuge on the following day. Subsequently he was ordered to be arrested by the Republican government. In December 1917, Mr. K'ang effected his escape to Tientsin. In March 1918 he was granted an amnesty by a Presidential mandate, cancelling the order for his arrest. Mr. K'ang's writings are widely read by Chinese scholars. Recently, he has been devoting all of his time to advocating the adoption of Confucianism as the State religion and a Constitutional Monarchy instead of the Republic.