The First Debate Between Liang Qichao and Kang Youwei

At the turn from the 19th to the 20th century, the social and political structure was undergoing a radical change in China: to substitute a new political system for the old one. But how to do with the old system: by violent overthrowing or by peaceful transformation? And what new system to be adopted: an American typed republic or a monarchy constitutional system? These questions became the central issue in the debate between Liang Qichao and Kang Youwei, which was the first really hot debate between the two, ending in the failure of the former.