1898, a bourgeois reformist reform shocked the country and abroad.
This movement of "reform to strengthen" lasted for only 103 days, and died tragically like a baby in a cradle.
led the reform Kang Youwei and Liang Qichao had to go into exile overseas, and Guangxu Emperor was under house arrest by Empress Dowager Cixi.
Six reformers who participated in the reform were brutally killed, and later generations called them " Six Gentlemen of Wuxu ". This includes Tan Sitong .
" I smile at the sky with my sword, and I will leave my liver and gall to Kunlun" This is the masterpiece that Tan Sitong left to the world before his death. The heroic passion to die makes people excited when reading it.
could have escaped and escaped to death, but Tan Sitong did not make such a choice. What is even more unexpected is that his wife was filled with grief and anger because she failed to leave him a child. Unexpectedly, he thought it was better.
Why does this iron-bending man look down on death so well? What kind of extraordinary passion did he have? Everything has to start from the beginning.
The late Qing genius who was both civil and military
1865, the smoke of the Second Opium War had just disappeared, and the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom movement had just ended. The corrupt Qing government is declining and the people live a life of devastating life. Tan Sitong was born.
Tan Sitong's father was Hubei Governor Tan Jixun, and he had high power at that time. As a child of an official family, Tan Sitong was deeply influenced by the environment and showed extraordinary talents since childhood.
He was able to write neat poems when he was 5 years old, which also became the hope for the whole family's future. If Tan Sitong followed his father's path, he might have been able to get a good official position, but it turns out that he chose another path.
Because Western science and culture had been introduced to our country at that time, Tan Sitong was very repulsive of the outdated feudal ideas and eight-legged essays. He even sneered at the imperial examination.
Tan Sitong's favorite book is the "Baishan Suicide Letter" by philosopher and thinker in the late Ming and early Qing dynasties. In his mind, he yearns for enlightened and progressive people such as Gong Zizhen and Wei Yuan.
Ouyang Zhonghu
And at this time, he was very fortunate to become a disciple of Ouyang Zhonghu, the secretary of the cabinet at that time. Although Ouyang Zhonghu was a scholar, he was also a famous scholar at that time.
Ouyang Zhonghu is very open-minded and not only advocates change, but also regards Washington as his idol. He has worked as a teacher for many young talents, and he always likes to spread advanced ideas and theories to his disciples.
Ouyang Zhonghu's various actions are very consistent with Tan Sitong's inner desire. So he respects and admires his teacher very much. Under the influence of Ouyang Zhonghu, national consciousness and democratic thought have taken root in Tan Sitong's mind.
In addition to the knowledgeable great scholars, Tan Sitong also admired the heroes in the green forest who eliminated violence and safeguarded the good, killed the rich and helped the poor, so he met Bai Zhengyi, which is commonly known as " Big Sword King Wu " by outsiders.
Big Sword Wang Wu learned good martial arts, and had a chivalrous courage. He had a well-known reputation in the escort agency industry in the capital. Tan Sitong has great ambitions and writes good articles, which makes the two of them feel the same way at first sight and appreciate each other.
Under the teaching of the Big Sword Wang Wu, Tan Sitong carefully learned riding and shooting, swordsmanship and fisting. The dissatisfaction with the corruption and incompetence of the Qing Dynasty and the desire to save the country made the two of them both teachers and friends.
In the third year of Guangxu, Tan Sitong officially became involved in classics under Tu Qixian's disciples, and studied many disciplines such as Chinese theory , science and mathematics in a more systematic and in-depth manner.
Not long after, Tan Sitong rushed to Lanzhou. At his father's Taoist bureau, he studied Confucianism and the culture of Buddhism in depth. As he grows older, Tan Sitong, who has also received Chinese and Western cultures, has also been constantly improving.
He has accumulated profound knowledge and laid a good foundation for the formation of philosophical thoughts. But for parents, watching their children grow up day by day, they are incompatible with the court at that time, and they can't help but be worried.
So, not long after, my parents arranged to marry him, hoping to tie his heart to the home. So Tan Sitong and official woman Li Run got married.
The son died young, and Tan Sitong was obsessed with his career
Although it was an arranged marriage, the couple lived a very harmonious life because of their similar age and similar interests. Li Run admires her husband's talent very much and supports his insights.
At this time, Tan Sitong's career and family were smooth sailing, and because of his superior conditions, he had traveled all over the country.
Stills
During this period, he made extensive friends with famous officials and also saw the hungry and cold life of ordinary people. His broader vision strengthened his desire to change the reality of society.
Because Tan Sitong often went out, he gave birth to a boy only in the sixth year after his marriage with Li Run, and named him Chuanduo. Just as the whole family was looking forward to a better life in the future, my son unfortunately contracted the disease when he was 1 year old.
The medical technology at that time was limited after all, so Tan Sitong and his wife had to watch their biological flesh and blood leave after suffering from illness.
Li Run's heart is about to break! She fell ill shortly after her son died. After more than half a year, I recovered from the loss of my beloved son.
However, because of the huge blow, Li Run could no longer get pregnant, which made her feel guilty towards Tan Sitong.
Li Run has taken the initiative to propose to Tan Sitong to take a concubine several times. Although no woman wants others to share her husband with her, Li Run still did this in order for the Tan family to last for the children. However, Tan Sitong flatly refused.
Tan Sitong, who has been influenced by new ideas, is very disgusted with the old custom of taking concubines, not to mention that he feels that he should be content with a good wife like Li Run.
In his eyes, Li Run is no longer a wife in the traditional sense, she is also a partner on her way forward.
At this time, it has become a trivial matter in Tan Sitong's eyes, and what makes him even more worried is the major affairs of the country.
In the 21st year of Guangxu (1895), the "
You should know that the Qing government’s compensation was not the responsibility of the government and officials. They transferred the country’s losses directly to the people. The government's plunder of people's wealth has become more serious, and various harsh taxes have made it more difficult for the people who were originally suffering.
Tan Sitong, who was in love with the survival of the country, couldn't help but shed tears for this and wrote the poem "Forty million people cry together, where is the world?".
Tan Sitong was particularly awake at this time. He knew that the corrupt feudal system could not save China. In this way, Tan Sitong actively devoted himself to the cause of starting a new school.
With his efforts, he offered courses on spreading new ideas at Nantai Academy in his hometown.
At the same time, Tan Sitong also went to places where advanced people gathered in Shanghai and Beijing, and joined the strong learning , where he met Liang Qichao and others. The ideal of jointly saving the country made these reformers feel the same.
Whenever they discuss whether to save the nation, Tan Sitong's speeches are always passionate and inspiring, and everyone is impressed by his remarks and thoughts.
When Tan Sitong was thinking about saving the country, his father got the position of alternate prefect of Jiangsu for him. Because he had to wait for the absenteeism, he had a year's time to spare.
At this time, Tan Sitong wrote the first philosophical work of Reformation , " Ren Xue ".This book, which runs through ancient and modern times, combines Confucianism, Buddhism and Taoism, and profoundly influences the bourgeoisie democrats at that time.
Tan Sitong's desire to change the current situation of society also deeply influenced his wife Li Run. Tan Sitong once initiated the China Women's Association, and Li Run became the director.
Li Run even led a group of women to the streets to launch the non-foot binding movement. The couple ran and shouted together for the reform of the country, which was very touching.
At this time, the situation in the country is still taking a sharp turn, from Germany seizing Jiaozhou Bay to Tsarist Russia seizing Lushun, Dalian ... The country was divided by the great powers and was beyond recognition.
Reformers could no longer sit still and wait. Kang Youwei went directly to Beijing to meet Emperor Guangxu and presented the specific content of Reform and Reform . It mentioned that the Qing government should learn from the West and implement changes in economic, educational, military and other aspects to resolve the current national crisis.
On June 11, 1898, Emperor Guangxu, who learned from his mistakes, issued the " Decision of the Kingdom of China and the Decree ". At the same time, Emperor Guangxu also issued an edict to ask Tan Sitong and Huang Zunxian to go to Beijing to accept new positions. After going to Beijing, Tan Sitong accepted Emperor Guangxu's appointment and served as the Military Affairs Office, where he assisted the emperor with several other reformists and participated in the affairs of the New Deal.
was arrested and imprisoned, sticking to his ambitions
However, if you want reforms, you cannot promote it by issuing a few edicts. Among them, it will inevitably touch the vital interests of some people. They would never agree to the young emperor's reckless behavior with a group of "hot-blooded factions".
Especially when the message was transmitted to the conservative school led by Cixi and Ronglu , Empress Dowager Cixi was furious because someone touched her cheese. So she planned to abolish the new policy and put Emperor Guangxu under house arrest.
news reached the ears of the reformists. They immediately discussed countermeasures, wanting to protect Emperor Guangxu and continue to implement reforms. After discussion, everyone put their hopes on Yuan Shikai , which has an unclear position.
Tan Sitong volunteered to convince Yuan Shikai, hoping that he could stand on the side of the reformists, get rid of Ronglu, and at the same time rescue Emperor Guangxu.
Yuan Shikai agreed very well. However, no one expected that there was a hypocritical face hidden under his pious face. Because he later found Ronglu and told the plans of Kang Youwei, Tan Sitong and others.
So, on September 21, Empress Dowager Cixi launched a palace coup, put Emperor Guangxu under house arrest, and at the same time ordered the arrest of reformers such as Kang Youwei, Liang Qichao and Tan Sitong.
From June 11 to September 21, the "Reform Movement of 1898" which only carried out for 103 days died. More than 110 edicts issued by Emperor Guangxu with the assistance of reformists were all deposed.
The entire capital was filled with a terrifying aura. Liang Qichao, Tan Sitong and others knew what they were going to face next. Liang Qichao once advised Tan Sitong to leave with him. However, Tan Sitong refused.
He told Liang Qichao righteously that people would shed blood and sacrifice in reform, so he decided to use death to alert the world.
Dao Wang Wu and Tan Sitong stills
Therefore, from the time Empress Dowager Cixi ordered the arrest of the reformists on September 21 to the arrest of September 24, Tan Sitong stayed quietly in the Liuyang Guiyang Hall.
During this period, "Big Sword King Wu" also found Tan Sitong and told him that he was willing to be his bodyguard, accompanied him to escape and protect Tan Sitong's personal safety, but was also rejected by Tan Sitong.
Tan Sitong thought that he didn't have much time, so he gave the "Feng Ju" sword he carried with him to the Big Sword King Wu as his last farewell.
bid farewell to his first wife and bravely die
The prison guard who rushed over after hearing the news met his husband in the cell. Thinking that the man in front of him was about to be executed, Li Run's heart hurt like a knife.
However, she knew Tan Sitong's character and character well. Since he had decided to die, she had no choice. Li Run looked at her husband in tears and told him that he had not had time to leave him with a son and a half of his daughter, but the two of them were going to part forever.
Tan Sitong seemed particularly calm. He told Li Run that the fate of the country is uncertain now, and even if the child is born, he is just an extra slave. Rather than coming to this world to suffer, it is better not to come.
Speaking of this, some people may ask, why did Tan Sitong's father be the governor of Huguang , but he did not come to rescue his son?
In fact, since Tan Sitong embarked on the road of reform, Tan’s father knew that there would be no good ending, and he also knew how powerful Empress Dowager Cixi was. He understood how deep the water was here.
Tan Sitong was arrested at that time. If he insisted on rescuing him alone, it would not only backfire, but also ruin the entire family. So, although losing his son was a pain that he could not eliminate in his life, he could only break his teeth and swallow it into his stomach.
On September 28, 1898, before dawn, Caishikou was already crowded. Tan Sitong walked to the center of Caishikou without fear, and then wrote a note on his verdict.
He picked up his pen and wrote down four lines of words at a fast speed, and shouted loudly to the crowd: "I am determined to kill the thief, but I am powerless to turn the world back, and die at the place of death, so happy!" Then he rushed to the execution ground calmly.
As the executioner's hands fell, Tan Sitong and five other people with lofty ideals were executed with endless regrets. History always records the moment when the "Six Gentlemen of Wuxu" died heroically.
After Tan Sitong left, what he left for his wife Li Run was endless grief and endless longing. She once couldn't sleep every night at the portrait of Tan Sitong.
After his son left, Tan's father passed away because of excessive sadness.
Li Run also passed away when she was sixty years old. It is said that when she left, she looked peaceful and smiled slightly. Perhaps she felt happy because she could reunite with her husband whom she had been thinking about day and night in another world.
Ordinary people may not be able to understand what is more important than life and death. However, in Tan Sitong's view, every man is responsible for the rise and fall of the country. So in order for the people to live a happier life and the country is more prosperous and strong, what's the harm in sacrificing personal life? People like
, no matter what era they reach, are worthy of longing for future generations to remember and worship.
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