The Man Who Tried to Reform the Qing
Channel: The Chinese Revolution
Date: 2023-12-30

A discussion of Kang Youwei, the famous Chinese scholar, writer, reformer and speaker.  

His early years, Buddhist meditations, success passing through the Qing examinations system and activism are considered.  His exile, along with Liang Qichao, following the 100 days of Reform to the Chinatowns of Canada and southeast Asia are described, including the founding of the Society to Protect the Emperor.  It was, at least initially, much more popular than Sun Yat-sen's revolutionary movement.  

Kang also lived in India and met Mahatma Gandhi and discussed the caste system and religion.  

After the 1911 Chinese revolution, Kang returned to China and failed in a coup to restore Pu Yi as emperor.  

After his death in 1927, his utopian The Book of Great Unity was published.  It describes a world without rulers, races, religions, marriage or families.

This is episode 25 of the Chinese Revolution series.