Liu Guangdi was a Chinese government minister during the late Qing dynasty. He was a leader of the Hundred Days' Reform movement of 1898. After the reforms were reversed in a coup, he and five other leaders were executed. They are now considered as martyrs and are referred to as the Six Gentlemen. He was also a patriotic poet of reformism in late Qing Dynasty.
Early life and education
Liu Guangdi was born in 1859 in a Fushun County, Sichuan. After completing his early education in the county, he attended Jinjiang College in 1880. After passing the highest imperial examination, Jinshi, in 1883, he was appointed Apprentice Secretary in a central Board at the capital, and he was appointed as Secretary in the Board of Punishments. Though he had a promising future on official career, he was always worried about China because of national calamity. He believed that China had to carry out reforms in politics and learning.
Constitutional reform
Starting in 1896 there was increasing pressure for Constitutional Reform, which was supported by the young Guangxu Emperor, then in his 20s. In 1898, the Constitutional Reform, which was led by Kang Youwei and Liang Qichao, reached a climax. Kang Youwei set up the Society for Safeguarding the Empire and Liu Guangdi joined it with other friends. On 13 April 1898, the Guangxu Emperor ordered Kang to start the reformation. Over the next few months Guangxu published a series of reform measures. In July, Liu Guangdi was recommended to Guangxu because of his sharp political ideas. Guang Xu appreciated him, and on 5 September he promoted him as one of the ministers of military. Actually, the then Grand Council was staff division of the Constitutional Reform. Guangxu was so eager to change China's situation that had to read over hundreds of recommendations everyday. Liu Guangdi and Tan Sitong helped him and provided him with solutions. With the help of the reformist, Guangxu published a series of reform measures soon. The Constitutional Reform encroached on the interests of the diehards including ministers, bureaucrats, and military leaders; they were led by Empress Dowager Cixi. So she started constantly interfering in politics. Seeing the chaotic political situation, Liu Guangdi felt the danger of Empress Dowager Cixi's interference. He wanted to get rid of Cixi's control and hoped for the success of the Constitutional Reform. He also wanted to stay clean and unsullied in the fierce political whirlpool.
Execution
On 21 September Cixi, backed by army generals, took the unexpected action to imprison Emperor Guangxu as she got the secret information from Yuan Shikai. Then she issued orders to arrest and kill the reformists. Liu Guangdi was arrested at the Ground Council. On 28 September Cixi ordered the beheading of the reformists without interrogation or trial. On the way to the execution ground, Liu Guangdi still made protests against the decision of Cixi and insisted on the validity of the Constitutional Reform. He and five others were killed at Cai Shi Kou, an execution ground in modern China, on 28 September 1898. They are now referred to as the Six Gentlemen and are revered as martyrs to the Chinese nation.
The tomb of Liu Guangdi
The tomb of Liu Guangdi was at Luo Han Temple of Zhao Hua County. In 1984, after the permission of Zigong Government, his skeleton was moved to the back of Martyrs cemetery in Zigong. Zhao Puchu, a great calligrapher and patriots, wrote tablet inscription for him.
Liberal achievements
Liu Guangdi loved literature since his childhood. He had two famous poetry anthologies, which contained 54 essays and 260 poems. As he liked the styles of poetry of Li Bai and Du Fu, he composed many poems which praised nature and sighed for current affairs. He loved his homeland. He even wrote more than 40 poems to praise the beautiful scenery of Mount Emei. It was no wonder that when he saw that the foreign powers ravaged China's lands, he was so angry and pained. Then he wrote many poems which conveyed his hatred to the evil forces and his patriotism to China.
Character evaluation
wrote a biography for him. Kang Youwei composed an elegiac couplet for him. They both honored him as the most excellent gentleman of the six martyrs of Constitutional Reform.
