Kang Youwei

CHINA, Guangdong, Foshan; Qing dynasty

Kang Youwei, originally named Zuyi, was also known as Guangxia. A native of Nanhai district in Foshan, he was a calligrapher, theorist, politician, philosopher, and educator. After passing the imperial examination, Kang became an Imperial Scholar and was appointed an official position. In 1898 he proposed a reformation of the policies of Emperor Guangxu (1875–1908) of Qing dynasty, but fled abroad after his Hundred Days Reform movement failed. Kang was also known for his extensive knowledge in the areas of Confucianism, Buddhism, Daoism, and Western science and technology.
A renowned calligrapher, Kang specialized in regular script. He initially learned from studying the works of Ouyang Xun, Zhao Mengfu, and later, Su Shi and Mi Fu. Kang developed his own style after emulating ancient stone inscriptions such as the Diamond Sutra in Taishan and other engravings at Yunfengshan. The style of his stone inscription works influenced the calligraphy of the late Qing dynasty (1644–1911).
Kang is also well-known for his Buddhist calligraphy which include Hell and Heaven Are Both Buddha Realms kept at Tianjin Museum. Many of his calligraphic works are currently kept at the Tianjin Museum, Shanghai Museum, and Palace Museum in Beijing. Another renowned piece is a couplet at the doorway of the Hall of Three Rivers at Longshan Temple in Taipei.