In consequence, Mr. Kang was proscribed and ordered to be decapitated when the Empress Dowager effected her coup d'etat to save herself. Fortunately Mr. K'ang escaped and resided abroad for many years, principally in America and Japan. During this period, he traveled extensively in many countries, accompanied by his daughter, now Mrs. Lo Chang, the poetess. Mr. K'ang returned to China after the overthrow of the Manchu government and the establishment of the Republic. Through the encouragement of the late Yuan Shih-kai, he founded the society for the worship of Confucius. He has been a persistent advocate of the adoption of Confucianism as the state religion of China. One of his ambitions has been the restoration of the Manchus to the Throne. He played an important part in General Chang Hsun's movement to reovown the dethroned Emperor in July of 1917. On July 1, the first day of the restoration. Mr. K'ang was appointed vice-presdent of the House of Peers. Chang's forces collapsed on July 12, and Mr. K'ang fled to the American Legation for refuge on the following day. Subsequently he was ordered to be arrested by the Republican government. In December 1917, Mr. K'ang effected his escape to Tientsin. In March 1918 he was granted an amnesty by a Presidential mandate, cancelling the order for his arrest. Mr. K'ang's writings are widely read by Chinese scholars. Recently, he has been devoting all of his time to advocating the adoption of Confucianism as the State religion and a Constitutional Monarchy instead of the Republic.
