Reform_movements Liang_Qichao

kang youwei – mentor of liang qichao.

as advocate of constitutional monarchy, liang unhappy governance of qing government , wanted change status quo in china. organized reforms kang youwei putting ideas on paper , sending them guangxu emperor (reigned 1875–1908) of qing dynasty. movement known wuxu reform or hundred days reform. proposal asserted china in need of more self-strengthening , , called many institutional , ideological changes such getting rid of corruption , remodeling state examination system. liang major influence in debates on democracy in china.

this proposal ignited frenzy of disagreement, , liang became wanted man order of empress dowager cixi, leader of political conservative faction later took on government regent. cixi opposed reforms @ time , along supporters, condemned hundred days reform being radical.

in 1898, conservative coup ended reforms, , liang fled japan, stayed next 14 years. while in tokyo befriended influential politician , future japanese prime minister inukai tsuyoshi. in japan, continued actively advocate democratic cause using writings raise support reformers’ cause among overseas chinese , foreign governments. continued emphasize importance of individualism, , support concept of constitutional monarchy opposed radical republicanism supported tokyo-based tongmeng hui (the forerunner of kuomintang). during time in japan, liang served benefactor , colleague phan boi chau, 1 of vietnam s important anti-colonial revolutionaries.

in 1899, liang went canada, met dr. sun yat-sen among others, honolulu in hawaii. during boxer rebellion, liang in canada, formed royalist society (保皇會). organisation later became constitutionalist party advocated constitutional monarchy. while sun promoted revolution, liang preached reform.

in 1900-1901, liang visited australia on six-month tour aimed @ raising support campaign reform chinese empire in order modernise china through adopting best of western technology, industry , government systems. gave public lectures both chinese , western audiences around country. visit coincided federation of 6 british colonies new nation of australia in 1901. felt model of integration might copied in diverse regions of china. feted politicians, , met first prime minister of australia, edmund barton. returned japan later year.

in 1903, liang embarked on eight-month lecture tour throughout united states, included meeting president theodore roosevelt in washington, dc, before returning japan via vancouver, canada.