Daitong Book

Author: Kang Youwei
Publisher:
Publish Date: 1998-10-01
Features: The Great Unity Book is approximately 210,000 words in total, divided into 10 parts, organized according to the Heavenly Stems. Part A provides a general discussion on the various hardships in the human world, aiming to inspire people to confront reality and seek the roots of suffering. Subsequent parts then elaborate on the causes of various social injustices and propose reforms. The author vigorously criticizes the real world and advocates for the "breaking of the nine boundaries" as a humanitarian principle. The "nine boundaries" refer to national boundaries, class boundaries, racial boundaries, physical boundaries, family boundaries, occupational boundaries, chaotic boundaries, species boundaries, and suffering boundaries, which arise from the existence of nations, classes, and families, as well as inequalities in human races, genders, and economic status. In the face of these inequalities, Kang Youwei transcends the framework of "natural reason and human desire" to pursue the joy of natural human nature. At the same time, he establishes a theoretical foundation centered on equality, independence, and inborn human rights. The author designs a "Peaceful World" model to provide a blueprint for social transformation. The aspiration for the "Great Unity" is the focal point of Kang Youwei's writing. Politically, he believed that the Great Unity society has eliminated classes, abolished nations and families, and is an absolutely independent, self-reliant, and unshackled community. Equality is the primary characteristic of society. Kang Youwei regarded the family as the root of all private notions and inequalities, so in the Great Unity society, families must be abolished, and people must become "heavenly citizens," with a particular emphasis on liberating women and promoting gender equality. Eliminating the influence of private ownership in the production system is also a key aspect of Kang Youwei's vision for the Great Unity society. For this, he argued that industries such as agriculture, industry, and commerce should be nationalized, and that the socialization of production and living materials should be implemented. Overall, in The Great Unity Book, Kang Youwei combines the social and historical ideals of ancient Confucianism with the political concepts of bourgeoisie inborn human rights and equality, as well as the content of utopian socialism and other theories from both Eastern and Western traditions. From the perspective of theoretical construction, it reflects the characteristics of integrating ancient and modern, Chinese and Western thought.