Kang Youwei: The Trans-Historical Kongjiao Movement and Confucian Universalism

There are two overarching themes that run through Kang Youwei’s writings: the reform of laws as a means to save China, and the concept of “Datong Shijie (大同世界)”. In his response to the profound transformations taking place in the world, which he referred to as the “unprecedented changes of three thousand years,” Kang Youwei sought to adapt traditional Confucian teachings (jingxue) and other conventional ideologies. However, his ambitious endeavor to establish a Confucian national cult ultimately met with failure. The academic community has long held divergent views on Kang Youwei. While his early ideas and efforts to reform the legal system are generally viewed positively, his later ideas supporting monarchy are often dismissed. This paper analyzes Kang Youwei’s thought and the formation and inclination of the concept of Datong, as well as its interconnections with the Kongjiao movement. It can be concluded that the lack of historical precedent for establishing Kongjiao as a system in China and people’s apprehensions about the potential political implications of Kongjiao led to the failure of Kang Youwei’s reform movement. Moreover, Kang Youwei’s advocacy of Datong through the establishment of Kongjiao failed to resonate with the literati of that time. Undeniably, there is a possibility that Kongjiao could become a new locus of power outside imperial authority.