有為

It seems timely to talk about the Xinhai Revolution (辛亥革命).

However, to begin with, not everyone preferred China to be modernized in such a manner.

The notable example was Kang Youwei (康有為).

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Kang's idea was described in his masterpiece, Da-Tong-Shu (大同書), in detail. But, to put it simply, he was a strong believer in Constitutional Monarchy (君主立憲) and wanted to remodel China as Meiji Restoration (明治維新) in Japan.

As a result, he supported the Guangxu (光绪) Emperor.

Along with his student Liang Qichao (梁啟超), Kang was the principal leader in the Hundred Days' Reform (戊戌變法), which failed miserably under the influence of Empress Cixi (慈禧). The meaning was obvious: The Manchu people did not want to give up their power. You could try any reform as long as it involved enhancing the efficiency of administration or improving the economy. But, if you try to affect the political structure or take some power out of the Forbidden City, to hell you go.

(This declaration sounds familiar, eh ?)

For that reason, the road to revolution was determined, and Kang faded away without much notice in 1927.

He might not be timely, but he did make a brilliant blaze.