Wei Yuan
Inspired by the book "Illustrated Treatise on the Maritime Kingdoms" by the reform Confucian scholar Wei Yuan, Liang became extremely interested in western political thought. After returning home, Liang went on to study with Kang Youwei, who was teaching at "Wanmu Caotang" () in Guangzhou. Kang's teachings about foreign affairs fueled Liang's interest in reforming China.