How did Sun Yat-sen’s goals differ from those of late Qing reformers such as Kang Youwei?

The primary difference between Sun Yat-sen and late Qing reformers like Kang Youwei lay in their fundamental approach to political change: Sun was a revolutionary who sought to overthrow the Qing dynasty, while Kang was a reformist who initially aimed to modernize the empire through institutional change under the existing monarchy.12

Their goals diverged in several key ways:

• Political Structure: Sun advocated for the establishment of a republic, eventually formalizing his vision through the Three Principles of the People—nationalism, democracy, and socialism. Conversely, Kang sought to preserve the state by promoting a constitutional monarchy, believing it could serve as a bridge to a more stable transition.12
• Methods of Change: Sun and his followers, such as those in the United League, actively organized uprisings and military actions to dismantle the imperial system. Kang, particularly after observing Western political systems, rejected the violence and destruction of revolution, favoring the promotion of science, technology, and industry to rebuild China.132
• Ideological Basis: While Sun’s movement was fueled by anti-Manchu sentiment and nationalism, Kang attempted to use Confucianism as a framework for reform, arguing that the tradition could support modernization and provide spiritual guidance for the nation.12