In the long river of history, there are many characters full of contradictions and ironies, and their actions and words often produce strong contrasts. Today, what we are going to reveal is such a unique historical figure - Kang Youwei.
Kang Youwei
This progressive thinker, who advocated monogamy, actually had six wives and concubines. Surprisingly, his five aunts, except for his wife, who is slightly older, are young and beautiful. One of them was even as young as 16, just as his wife stayed at 18 forever. So, let's step into Kang Youwei's private life and deeply analyze the true face behind this historical figure.
Kang Youwei
The first one, his wife Zhang Yunzhu.
In 1876, Kang Youwei, who was only 18 years old, entered the palace of marriage with Zhang Yunzhu, who was three years older than him. Their marriage was arranged by their parents, which was a very common thing at the time. However, although Zhang Yunzhu was responsible for housework after marriage and gave birth to four daughters and one boy with a total of five children, she was left out in the cold. It is especially worth mentioning that Kang Youwei once received Zhang Yunzhu's strong support for opposing his daughter's foot binding. After the failure of the reform, Kang Youwei became a thorn in Cixi's side and was forced into exile. During this difficult period, Zhang Yunzhu resolutely decided to move the whole family and maintain her family's livelihood with a very simple life. Until 1922, Zhang Yunzhu died of illness, and Kang Youwei wrote an affectionate tribute for it.
ZHANG Yunzhu
Next is the first aunt, Liang Suijue.
In 1897, Kang Youwei was 39 years old, but after 21 years of marriage to Zhang Yunzhu, he married 18-year-old Liang Suijue on the grounds that he could not have a son. At this time, Liang Suijue was even younger than Kang Youwei's eldest daughter. When Kang Youwei was in exile, Liang Suijue was always by his side, taking good care of his food and living, and her loyalty and persistence were touching. Moreover, after Kang Youwei's death, she compiled a large number of first-hand information, which provided valuable information for future generations to study Kang Youwei's life and work. Liang Suijue was also the oldest of all Kang You's wives and concubines, and did not die of illness until 1969.
Liang Suijue
The second aunt, He Xianli.
In 1907, Kang Youwei, who was nearly fifty years old, met He Xianli, who was receiving a Western education, in the United States, and she was only 18 years old. He Xianli was attracted by Kang Youwei's talent and took the initiative to pursue him. She knew four Chinese and was quite talented, which was deeply appreciated by Kang Youwei, so he did not hesitate to marry her. After getting married, they traveled to various European countries together, but unfortunately, only seven years later, He Xianli died of illness.
He Xianli
Then there is the third aunt, Seoka Hezi.
In 1913, Kang Youwei was 55 years old and married 16-year-old He Zi in Japan. He Zi was initially used by Kang Youwei as a maid, but Kang Youwei was later attracted by the charm of the young woman and promoted her to his third aunt and held a grand wedding. In 1974, Kang Youwei's third aunt, He Zi, chose to commit suicide not far from Kang Youwei's former residence.
Next is the fifth aunt, Liao Dinghui.
In 1915, Kang Youwei was 57 years old at the time, and he married Liao Dinghui, who was only 17 years old. Liao Dinghui maintained a relatively low-key presence among Kang Youwei's many wives and concubines, and there are few records about her. After Kang Youwei's death, her whereabouts also became mysterious and no one knew.
Liao Dinghui
The sixth aunt, Zhang Guang.
She became Kang Youwei's wife in 1919. At that time, Kang Youwei was 61 years old, while Zhang Guang was only 18 years old. At that time, Kang Youwei's life was miserable and plagued by debt, so much so that he had to hide in the cabin of the ship in an attempt to escape to Guangdong. Before leaving, he was chased by a group of creditors on the boat, and Kang Youwei described the dilemma at that time in a poem: "Fans avoid debts but have a boat, and a penny is not worth anything." Later, he fled to Hangzhou, where life was still difficult, but his poetry remained undiminished. He compared the woman of Qinglou to Xi Shi, and he himself to Fan Li. However, this self-comparison was spread as a laughing stock by people at the time.
Zhang Guang
During the lake, Kang Youwei saw a young boat woman washing clothes by the lake, and he was attracted by her beauty and mistakenly thought he saw Xi Shi. He eagerly learned about the woman, and learned that she was 18 years old, named Zhang Acui, and had never married. Upon learning of this news, Kang Youwei immediately approached Lu Yongxiang, the then overseer of Zhejiang, and asked him to raise his relatives. However, Zhang Acui's family rejected his marriage proposal because of Kang Youwei's old age and having a wife and four concubines. But Kang Youwei was not discouraged, he came to the door with gifts to propose marriage, and found jobs for Zhang Acui's two brothers in Yamen, transforming the Zhang family's thatched house into a tile house. Faced with Kang Youwei's enthusiasm, the poor Zhang family finally agreed to his marriage proposal. At this time, Kang Youwei was over sixty, but he still married 18-year-old Zhang Acui as a groom. This wedding caused a great sensation at that time, and many celebrity businessmen went to attend Kang Youwei's wedding. Kang Youwei's other wives and children chose to be absent collectively because they felt ashamed.
Kang Youwei renamed Zhang Ah Cui Zhang Guang and taught her to read and write like a daughter. However, he became estranged from other wives and concubines. In 1927, after returning home from a visit to the home of a fellow villager in Guangdong, Kang Youwei drank a cup of tea and suffered unbearable abdominal pain, and eventually died of poisoning. At the last moment of his life, he left all his more than 2,000 calligraphy and paintings to Zhang Guang and asked her not to marry again in this life. Zhang Guang, 26, tearfully agreed to the request.
After Kang Youwei's death, Zhang Guang, who was not accepted by the Kang family, left the Kang family with these priceless treasures. Later, she was overwhelmed with grief because someone stole Kang Youwei's calligraphy and paintings, and finally passed away.
Kang Youwei's openly advocating monogamy on the one hand, but on the other hand, his own concubines are grouped, and even his young concubines are not allowed to remarry, which is undoubtedly thought-provoking.