thoughts from the ice-drinker’s studio: essays on china and the world

Liang Qichao (1873-1929) was a reformist intellectual who, facing brutal repression, fled to Japan, where he lived for fourteen years. His long exile, travels, and writing--of fiction, journalism, and above all essays--gave Liang a unique authority in the first years of the twentieth century. Liang then became a key figure in the Republic of China; his attempts to foster parliamentary government failed, but he successfully opposed efforts to reestablish the monarchy.