Tan Sitong is a well-known late Qing Dynasty reformist, politician, and thinker who were born in Changsha.
Tan Sitong was one of the six founders of the Hundred Days' Reform, a 103-day reform effort with the emperor in 1898 that was aimed at introducing Western political and social systems to revive the aging dynasty. But the program ended tragically. Tan was executed at the age of 33.
When he was advised to flee after the reform failed, he refused and said he would sacrifice himself to awaken more people. In the face of death, his calm, steadfast, and awe-inspiring spirit continues to inspire Chinese people.