Liang Qichao

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Liang Qichao 梁啓超
Liang Qichao in 1910
Director of the Imperial Library of Peking
In office December 1925 – June 1927
Preceded by	Chen Renzhong [zh]
Succeeded by	Guo Zongxi [zh]
Minister of Finance of the Republic of China
In office July 1917 – November 1917
Premier	Duan Qirui
Preceded by	Li Jingxi
Succeeded by	Wang Kemin
Minister of Justice of the Republic of China
In office September 1913 – February 1914
Premier	Xiong Xiling
Preceded by	Xu Shiying
Succeeded by	Zhang Zongxiang [zh]
Personal details
Born	(1873-02-23)February 23, 1873 Xinhui, Guangdong, Qing China
Died	January 19, 1929(1929-01-19) (aged 55) Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Beiping (now Beijing), Republic of China
Political party	Progressive Party
Spouses	Li Huixian ​ (m. 1891)​ Wang Guiquan ​ (m. 1903)​
Children	9 children, including Liang Sicheng and Liang Siyong
Education	Jinshi degree in the Imperial Examination
Occupation	Historian journalist philosopher politician educators writers revolutionaries new jurists social activists

Liang Qichao (Chinese: 梁啓超 ; Wade-Giles: Liang² Chʻi³-chʻao¹; Yale: Lèuhng Kái-chīu) (February 23, 1873 – January 19, 1929) was a Chinese politician, social and political activist, journalist, and intellectual.^[1] His thought had a significant influence on the political reformation of modern China. He inspired Chinese scholars and activists with his writings and reform movements.^[2] His translations of Western and Japanese books into Chinese further introduced new theories and ideas and inspired young activists.

In his youth, Liang Qichao joined his teacher Kang Youwei in the reform movement of 1898. When the movement was defeated, he fled to Japan and promoted a constitutional monarchy and organized political opposition to the dynasty. After the revolution of 1911, he joined the Beiyang government, serving as the chief justice and the first president of the currency system bureau. He became dissatisfied with Yuan Shikai and launched a movement to oppose his ambition to be emperor. After Yuan's death, he served as the finance chief of the Duan Qirui cabinet and as supervisor of the Salt Administration. He advocated the New Culture Movement and supported cultural change but not political revolution.