K’ang Yu-wei (1858–1927), Chinese scholar who pushed for radical reforms under Emperor Kuan-hsü and was forced into exile. He belonged to the modern-script school with respect to studies of the Spring and Autumn Annals, and believed that Confucius was only borrowing the names and authority of the ancient sage-emperors to push for reform in his own days. K’ang gave expression to utopian ideals in his book Ta-tung (Great Unity). Among his disciples were T’an Ssut’ung (1865–98) and Liang Ch’i-ch’ao (1873– 1929). He became a reactionary in his old age and refused to accept the fact that China had become a republic. See also CONFUCIUS , LIANG CH ‘I-CH ‘A. S.-h.L.