This lecture examines the lives and ideas of TAN Sitong, YAN Fu, and LIANG Qichao, three prominent figures of China's transitional generation in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. TAN Sitong's interpretation of Ren, his views on sex, and his emphasis on individualism are explored. YAN Fu's career as a translator, his translations of Western works, and his evolving perspective on Chinese culture and Western influence are examined. Lastly, LIANG Qichao's role in advocating for constitutional monarchy, his promotion of nationalism, and his evolutionist perspective on Chinese society are discussed.
