Kang Youwei And Tan Yan Thought Comparative Study

Kan Youwei is regarded as the founder of Chinese modern Neo-Benevolence Theory, and Tan Sitong is entitled the greatest contributor in the same field. They re-interpret and re-construct ancient Confucianism by means of freedom, equality and universal love. Their ideas of benevolence have unique features and serve as the foundation of modern benevolence. This paper will illustrate the similarities of their ideas in the following five aspects: the origins of their benevolence theory, the core ideas, theoretical sources, realistic content and means of accomplishment. Meanwhile, this paper will analyze their dissimilarities in: their different opinions on supreme universal noumenon, their different emphasis on love and will, their different specific interpretation of benevolence, different ways of accomplishment, their writings on benevolence, Buddhism resources and methods of realization. Through the comparison between Kang Youwei's and Tan Sitong's theories, the developmental routine of modern Benevolence Theory is clarified and demonstrated.