The connection between art and patriotic feeling in Kang Youwei’s Yidali youji

Abstract

In September 1898, after the failure of the reformist experiment known as the “Hundred Days Reform” (Wuxu bianfa 戊戌变法, June–September 1898) the Chinese scholar Kang Youwei 康有为 (1858–1927), the main promoter of the Reform, was forced to leave China to escape the death sentence placed on him by Empress Dowager Cixi慈 禧 (1835–1908), who made a coup d’etat with the support of the Conservative members of the Qing Court and overthrew Emperor Guangxu 光绪 (1871–1908). From that time, Kang Youwei started his long exile (1898–1914). During the years 1904–1908, he embarked on an extensive tour of Europe, to eventually see with his own eyes what he read in books about Western culture, society and politics. Italy was the first stop on his European tour. In addition to Naples and Milan, he visited the ruins of Pompeii, with Rome being his longest stop. His tour of Italy gave him the opportunity to see ancient Roman art, including the aristocratic villas and their wall paintings. In Rome he visited many historical sites, ancient and modern museums and several art galleries. He extensively described monuments and artwork, giving his own views on them. This paper will show Kang Youwei’s opinions and attitude towards Italian art-ancient Roman paintings, mosaics and sculptures, Renaissance painter Raffaello’s artwork, ancient palaces of Roman emperors-through some of his own descriptive words, while explaining the value of art in relation to patriotism.