This lecture looks into the life and ideas of Kang Youwei, a pivotal figure in China's transitional generation following the Sino-Japanese War. Kang's journey from a child prodigy to a proponent of radical reform is traced, highlighting his writings such as "A Study of the Forged Works of the Xin Period" and "A Study of Confucius in Institutional Reform." The lecture also examines Kang's career, particularly his petition to the throne advocating for reform, his involvement in the Hundred Days Reform, and the subsequent failure of these reforms due to political opposition and societal resistance.
