Kang Youwei

Author: Wang Mingde
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2003-01-01
Features: Family is a microcosm of society. A century-long history of a family is a window through which the changes of modern Chinese society can be observed. The Kang family of Nanhai Subing Village can be considered an example of the changes in modern Chinese society over the past century. The fate of the Kang family is closely linked to the changes of modern China. From the Taiping Rebellion to the Hundred Days' Reform, from the Boxer Uprising to the National Revolution, all are reflected in the rise and fall, glory and disgrace of the Kang family. Moreover, individual members of this family played important roles at key moments in history. Kang Youwei is one of the most controversial figures in modern history. He is a contradiction, embodying both the new and the old, the Chinese and the Western, success and failure, modernity and tradition, progress and regression, giants and dwarfs. He is a confusing and indescribable figure. Placing Kang Youwei in the context of his family provides a new perspective. Readers can understand this historical figure from multiple angles and aspects, and experience the vivid figure, the vibrant family, and the living history.