Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-05-19
<.asa KANG YU-WEI.
Photo Taken in 1897 In Shanghai.

The arm of the old witch in the imperial
palace at Picking is far reaching. Her ven
geance is untiring, and sooner or later
Kang Yu Wei will pay the penalty of pa
triotism and another name will be added
to the long list of the martyrs of young
China
Kang Yu Wei is native of Canton. His
family are very respectable merchants and
provision dealers. He was born in the lit
tie village of Fan-Chun, on the banks of
the Pearl river, opposite Canton, and was
educated in the latter city, spending sew
eral years in missionary schools, as well as
in those institutions which are usually de-
scribed by the awkward term, vernacular
schools" They have "vernacular newspa-
pers" "vernacular Books, "vernacular
printing Offices and all kinds of "vernacu-
lar things which means the local lam
guage, for there are as many languages In
China in India, and the people Of one
province cannot understand those of the
others. Hence that spoken in any particu-
lar place is called at that place the "ver-
nacular," while the common language OF
all China, that which is understood by the
educated classes only, in which the clas-
sizes are written, and which is used at the
government examinations and higher in
situations of learning, is called "the man
darin.'
Preached Modern Methods.
Kang Yu Wei had a school in Canton
with about sixty students from the most
intelligent and progressive families of that
city, and, in addition to teaching, did a
great deal of important literary work. He
wrote life of Peter the Great in Chinese,
and history of the regeneration of Japan,
both subjects being treated with special
application to the condition of China. He
edited a modern edition of the classics,
the maxins of Confucius and other of the
ancient sages which the foundation OF
all morals, politics, ethics and learning in
China. In this commentary he .corrects
what he claims are mistakes, misapprehen-
sions and Misrepresentation in the con-
ventional editions. He brings the wisdom
of the sages down to date; CONSTITUTES 1t as
applying to the present conditions of China
and the necessity of reforms in the gov
eminent and in the treatment of the peo-
pie He argues that the conventional con-
struction -of the maxims upon which the
Chinese system Is based is wrong, and
that If his fellow countrymen would obey
the teachers they revere so highly and fol-
| low so closely they must adopt modern
ideas and reorganize their entire social and
political organizations.
He also demonstrates that Confucius and
other philosophers recognized the existence
| of the Christian God and that their teach
| ings conform to those of Jesus and st. Paul
and the holy Scriptures generally. Thus
Kang Yu Wei secured the support and in
dorsement of the missionaries, and his COM
mentaries attracted universal attention in
China Whatever their literary merit may
be and regardless of the accuracy of his
INTERPRETATION, which is and probably al
ways will be a matter of controversy they
at least have the distinction of exciting
more comment and attention than any that
were ever published No books which have
appeared for thousand years have created
such sensation.
They have provoked two edicts from the
imperial throne Subjects of the Chinese
/ empire are forbidden to read them or have
them in their possession; they cannot be
printed or sold in China, and 1t is a crime
for a man to have them in his library.
Hangs connection with recent events in
China is, of course, the principal reason for
the prescription of his literary works. but
from the orthodox Chinese point of view
they are heretical and even 1ncendiary.
Received With Honor at Picking.
Through some influence or other Kang
was invited to Picking in 1893, and was
there received by the progressive element
with great favor and many attentions. He
was introduced and recommended to the
emperor by Weng-Tung-ho, his majestys
tutor: Kao Hsi-tseng, president of the
! board of censors, and Ii Tuan-Feu. presi-
dent of the board of rites, three of the most
influential men in the empire at that time.
They were all deeply interested In him,
were hopeful of his influence, and urged
the emperor to employ him as a tutor, sec
grand council to examine Mr.. Kang. and
report their opinion of him and his peculiar
progressive views. Kang was conducted
before that distinguished body which Is at
once the supreme court, the ministry and
the legislature of the Chinese empire, and
for three hours the princes and mandarins
quizzed him concerning his views and the