Years old Kang is promising to marryThe maid gave birth to a granddaughter, and the marriage caused controversy.
A true gentleman not only does what he says, but also leads by example. Kang Youwei, a pioneer of the Restoration, is known as a gentleman scholar, but a deeper understanding of his life trajectory reveals that there are complexities hidden in his reputation as a gentleman.
He once advocated the moral code of monogamy, but in real life, he was burdened with many wives and concubines, including four girls under the age of 20. What is especially distressing is that the third wife, Tsuruko Ichioka, is overwhelmed and chooses a tragic relief for his actions.
Her sacrifice, Jean"Gentleman"Outside of the light, there is a heavy reflection.
Journey of Exile: Breaking the Cocoon and Reborn After the setback of the Wuxu Reform in 1898, Kang Youwei embarked on a journey of global wandering"Life in exile"Start here. In 1899, his trip to Japan was forced to end, and he moved to Canada, although his second wife Liang Suijue accompanied him to face hardships together.
However, their lives were not as difficult as the outside world speculated, but they found unexpected abundance and luxury in this journey.
In the years in Canada, Kang Youwei relied on"Grand blueprint, royal wisdom"'s speech ignited the patriotic flame of the vast number of overseas Chinese, thus giving birth"Loyalist"and received generous support and donations.
Some speculate that this is exactly what it is"Royalist"The abundance of money that came with the idea allowed him to live in luxury during his exile, with many wives and concubines, such as an island he bought in Sweden, which cost a staggering two million.
His global missionary journey allowed him to amass a wide range of followers and support in a foreign land.
In 1907, the innovator Kang Youwei appeared at a gala in New York, and his voice echoed in the Fischna Theater. There, he met the youthful girl He Yili, who was only seventeen years old at the time, and was still young by today's standards.
Deeply touched by Kang Youwei's powerful speech, the 17-year-old developed a deep admiration for the 49-year-old thought pioneer.
Kang Youwei's charm, such as his profound knowledge and outstanding style, deeply attracted the attention of this 17-year-old girl. The two young hearts resonated subtly, and an indescribable emotion sprouted between them.
When Kang Youwei was about to leave, He Yili was intoxicated by this innocent love, and chose to follow him without hesitation and enter a new chapter of life with him.
Mr. Nanhai, I firmly express that I am eager to embark on a journey of exploration in Europe with you, and your company is very important to me," He Yili confessed affectionately at the moment of parting.
Kang Youwei was deeply moved by He Yili's charm and acquiesced to her wishes, only suggesting that she share this special relationship with her parents first and ask for their understanding and support.
As innocent as a newborn lamb, Ho Yili ran home full of admiration and enthusiastically told her parents about this love story that she regarded as holy.
When He Yili confided his heart to his parents, their reaction was thunderous and angry, thinking that her peculiar ideas were influenced by Kang Youwei. He Yili is full of grievances and grief, and firmly believes that true love should not be bound by earthly prejudices, which leads to a-for-tat dispute between her and her parents.
In the face of her daughter's extreme move - to die to make her will, He Yili was finally able to enter the palace of marriage with Kang Youwei as she wished, and adhered to her love ideals.
In 1911, when Kang Youwei returned to Japan, his lover He Yili had already conceived life, and then he settled his home in"Fenyu Garden", especially hired a young Japanese maid, Tsuruko Ichioka, to take care of life.
At that time, the crane was only sixteen years old, just like Yili back then, with the shyness and vitality of youth. Facing the luxurious and elegant environment of the owner's house, she couldn't help but feel a little at a loss from an ordinary background.
Kang Youwei looked at this foreign girl with loving eyes, caring like an elder. He conveyed a warm greeting to the interpreter to the crane:"Little girl, sit down at will, time will take you into this home. "
His gentle and amiable attitude, like the spring sun, eliminated the tension of the crane, made her open to Kang Youwei, and established a deep trust. During the days in Kangfu, Hezi mainly accompanied He Yili and took care of her inconveniences during pregnancy, and their lives were interwoven into a harmonious picture.
He Yili has a deep appreciation for the talented girl Tsuruko of the same age, especially her Japanese attainments, and they are as close as sisters. As the due date approached, Kang Youwei's trust reached a new height, and he delegated some important matters to Hezi, which shows that he relies on He Yili unusually.
In 1913, Kang Youwei's mother died, and he took the opportunity to return to his homeland. After burying his mother, he returned to his home in Shanghai with his second wife, Liang Suijue, and third wife, He Yili, to continue their lives.
In their lives, He Yili has become a warm harbor for Kang Youwei, bringing him two precious pearls, which are deeply cherished by him. However, despite being immersed in happiness, Kang Youwei's heart still has a pure place that belongs to Ichioka Tsuruko, that delicate and innocent little girl.
Upon arrival in Shanghai, he immediately picked up the pen and invited Hezi to come to China to continue her career. Considering the family's difficult circumstances, and Kang Youwei's generosity was like a light, Hezi's parents accepted the opportunity without hesitation and sent her on a journey to Shanghai.
Shortly after arriving in Shanghai, Kang Youwei was deeply attracted by the wisdom and charm of the 55-year-old, developed a deep attachment to Hezi, and longed to include her in his lineup of four wives.
Although Hezi knew that her status was humble, she was moved by He Yili's warm guidance, and with the innocence and longing of the 17-year-old, she gladly accepted this love invitation that crossed ages.
Returning talents: Unveiling the complex veil of rotten marriages, overseas Chinese He Yili seems to accept Kang Youwei's traditional concept of taking concubines, but instead has a positive attitude towards his next marriage, especially for marrying an 18-year-old Japanese girl Tsuruko.
Although Kang Youwei firmly believes that they have a heart-to-heart connection, the young crane has more respect for the 55-year-old husband than a fiery emotion. Behind the rich dowry, there is a subtle wedding story.
Unlike Kang Youwei's passion and ideals of national salvation that failed to move her, the joy in her heart stemmed from Kang Youwei's wealth, which improved the lives of her parents. In the time after their marriage, the presence of He Yili played a key role in maintaining harmony, accompanying Kang Youwei and the two sisters on a joyful journey.
However, the world is impermanent, and in 1914, misfortune came, and the third wife, He Yili, died of scarlet fever, leaving a deep regret.
In deep grief, Kang Youwei transferred his emotions to the gentle crane and sought solace. However, this affection did not last, and a year after He Yili's death, he married Liao Dinghui as his fifth wife.
Although history has little to say about her, she was in her youth at that time, and Kang Youwei was more than half a hundred years old at that time. With the addition of new love, his attention to Tsuruko decreases significantly, and the communication between the two gradually decreases.
Tsuruko is deeply lonely, looking forward to the turn of life, but Kang Youwei has forgotten the Japanese woman who once made him happy. In his life, in addition to taking concubines to fill the vacancies, he also added the pleasure of indulging in Fengyue places.
In 1918, when Kang Youwei walked in Hangzhou, he lingered in the land of fireworks, traveled to the West Lake with prostitutes, and also made great poems, leaving such a poem: "In the smoke and rain of the West Lake, the southern costume of Xizinan, I am like a doctor Fan, beyond the worldly waves." ”
Kang Youwei once compared himself to the ancient beauty Xi Shi and regarded his prostitute partner as a contemporary Fan Li, which once became a joke among the public. However, in 1919, Hezi lost Kang Youwei's favorite, because the years were ruthless, she was already twenty-four years old, and no longer met his aesthetic pursuit at that time.
At this time, Kang Youwei's heart was deeply attracted by a youthful 17-year-old girl.
In the summer of 1919, on the shore of the West Lake, Kang Youwei met a fairy with a raccoon yarn - Zhang Guang, a 17-year-old girl as pure as a lake. Her blending with the lake and mountains touched Mr. Kang's heart deeply, and he immediately instructed his entourage to explore her family history.
I was pleasantly surprised to learn that the girl was not yet married. Kang Youwei's heart was full of joy and he decided to include her in the court, so he sent ** to propose marriage, and a good story was brewed.
Faced with the 61-year-old man's marriage proposal, Zhang's parents categorically refused, but Kang Youwei's insistence on Zhang Guang was moving. Under the strong impetus of the matchmaker's words, despite the poor family background, the Zhang family's parents were still shaken by Kang Youwei's rich dowry.
In the end, Zhang Guang and Kang Youwei held a wedding in Shanghai, but this marriage did not bring family harmony, and the wife and concubines were absent due to embarrassment.
In order to improve Zhang Guang's studies, he spared no expense to hire private tutors, and even taught calligraphy skills himself, and the relationship between the two was beyond that of ordinary couples, but more rigorous as family affection, which aroused countless curiosity and discussions among others.
In such a difficult life, Hezi witnesses her husband Kang Youwei's indulgence in sound and entertainment every day, and her inappropriate association with young women, her spirit and soul are tormented.
Just when she thought that the trajectory of her life seemed to be frozen, the appearance of an unexpected figure quietly broke the dull deadlock.
When the international traveler Kang Tongzhuo set foot in his hometown of Shanghai, he was surprised by the innovation of his family after returning after a long absence. Among the many figures, the crane is like a unique landscape, and her presence attracts his attention.
Compared with Zhang Guang, who was favored by his father, and the restrained Xiaoding Emblem, Hezi's slightly sad temperament touched the emotional ripples in Kang Tongzhuo's heart.
Although Hezi is 13 years older than Kang Tongzhuo, her light body and delicate face make her as beautiful as a young girl. At home, whenever he witnessed the intimate interaction between Kang Youwei and Zhang Guang, Kang Tongzhuo couldn't help but feel disgusted and felt deep sympathy for the crane.
In his spare time, he would take the initiative to talk to Tsuruko, and by telling Japanese stories, he would become a listener for her to talk about.
In the company day after day, Kang Tonghou was deeply attracted by the beauty and melancholy of the crane, and he had a desire to protect her. And Crane was also touched by Kang Tongzhuo's gentleness, and his sincere care made her feel cherished for the first time in a long time.
The two hearts quietly approached in a frank exchange, and despite Kang Youwei's indifference, Crane and Kang Tongzhuo still built a deep emotional bond in secret.
On the special day of her birthday, Kang Tongzhuo quietly returned like a spring breeze and made a special trip to plan a unique birthday celebration for the crane. They left their footprints in the landscape outside of the university and shared happy moments.
For others, their sweet demeanor seems to be the best interpretation of campus love. Since stepping on Chinese soil, Tsuruko's smile has never been so bright, and her love for the energetic young master has also been sublimated at this moment.
As night fell, Kang Tongzhuo's private behavior with Hezi revealed his break with him, and his trust in Kang Youwei was a thing of the past. However, unexpectedly, the consequence of this impulse turned out to be Tsuruko's unplanned pregnancy.
It was like a bolt from the blue for them, fearful of possible exposure, and they looked for a solution in their confusion. After much deliberation, they came up with a difficult decision – to terminate the pregnancy, which provoked deep resentment and pain from Tsuruko.
In Tsuruko's heart, despite her deep feelings for Kang Tongzhuo, she can't accept ending the crystallization of their love with her own hands. The delay in time only increases the risk of a secret leak, and Tsuruko is in a dilemma.
In order not to involve Kang, she quietly returned to Japan by ship in 1926. Faced with the departure of Hezi, Kang Tonghuan lost control of his emotions, and he quickly revealed the news to his dependent father Kang Youwei, determined to find his lover.
Kang Youwei is still suspicious of Hezi's real motive for returning to China, mistakenly believing that her departure was due to his negligence. The two brothers conveyed their emotions through letters, Kang Tongwei was worried, and Kang Youwei confessed his deep attachment to her and his wish to look forward to her return.
Regrettably, however, their outpouring has not been heard.
In March 1927, the 70-year-old Kang Youwei suddenly felt violently trembling and bleeding from his mouth and nose during an ordinary dinner.
According to the diagnosis, it may be food poisoning, and the family explained it to the outside world as a food hygiene problem in the restaurant. However, Kang Tongzhuo took advantage of this grief to try to find his lost daughter Hezi, but unfortunately, after many searches, she was nowhere to be found.
Tsuruko, who lives in a simple place in Japan, knows nothing about the news of Kang Youwei's death from the outside world, and worries about the basic survival of his daughter Lingzi. She travels to relatives' homes for help and works tenaciously as a maid to raise her daughter.
Although Kang tried his best to find it, he could not find it, and finally found another life in 1934. Until 1970, the long-suffering Crane could no longer bear the weight of life and decided to reveal the truth that had been hidden for many years to his daughter Lingzi.
In 1974, Tsuruko, a woman with silver hair, decided to break free from the sins and remorse of the past. She went back to square one"Sumaen Garden", made a shocking choice on a nearby railroad track - ended his life by lying on the rails.
This tragic end is shocking. However, she is not alone, many of Kang Youwei's wives have not died well, revealing a deeper misfortune.
Kang Youwei's fifth wife mysteriously disappeared, leaving endless speculation; Although the sixth wife, Zhang Guang, was fortunate to inherit a large number of valuable artistic legacies, she lost the right to remarry due to the death of her husband.
However, the glory of these riches did not last, and Zhang Guang's life was bleak after being ruthlessly plundered, and finally came to an end in poverty and disease.
The once flowery girls should have infinite possibilities, and they may choose to spend their lives with ordinary people. However, Kang Youwei's actions have cast a shadow over the fate of these women.
He sharply pointed out that while advocating abstaining from killing, he ate meat, claimed monogamy but accepted concubines, flaunted the concept of equality but still needed the support of others at home, and claimed that everyone was equal but served as a servant.
History silently reveals the true role of Kang Youwei, whether he is a gentleman or a hypocrite, there is no need to say much.
Explore Kang Youwei's extraordinary love: "Peerless Romance: Kang Youwei's Love and International Feminine Charm", "Kang Zhai's Secret Drama: Emotional Ripples and the Times", "Kang Youwei: Emotional Interweaving at the Intersection of East and West" This series of titles reinterprets Kang Youwei's life, focusing on his unique relationships with different women, and how these interactions reflect the light and shadow of history.
Through delicate depictions, it shows the colorful emotional world of legendary characters who transcend cultures and eras.