唐才常與譚嗣同的交誼與事功

Abstract

This article examines both the remarkable friendship between, Tang Ts'ai-ch'ang (1867- 1900) and T'an Ssu-t'ung (1865-1898) and their contributions to the Reform Movement in Hunan. Known as "the two heroes of Liuyang", T'ang and T'an, bosom friends since childhood, received their education from a Hunanese scholar Ou-yang Chung-ku. As they went through the turbulent years of the Sino-Japanese War together, they shared the same political views, and they strived to carry out reforms in their native province in the hope of creating a progressive atmosphere in China. Their plans were thwarted, however, by the conservative elements in Hunan. During 1896 and 1897, T'an completed his masterpiece entitled "Jen-hsüeh", whose contents had significant influence on T'ang Ts'ai-ch'ang, as shown in the latter's articles published in Bulletin of Hunan Learning and the Hunan Daily. When T'an Ssu-t'ung was executed in Peking as the Hundred Days Reform ended in failure, T'ang organized the Independent Army to attempt to avenge his friend's death; an attempt which, in fact, ended in his own martyrdom.