Kang Youwei Xi'an Scripture Theft Case

In 1923, Kang Youwei visited Xi’an and the historic Wolong Temple, where he discovered the precious Yuan Dynasty edition of the "Qisha Tripitaka." Claiming the rare scriptures were heavily damaged by insects, Kang persuaded the abbot to let him take them under the pretext of restoration or replacement. However, as Kang attempted to transport the boxes out of Shaanxi, local gentry, scholars, and Buddhist groups accused him of exploiting his fame to loot national treasures. Alerted by the public, authorities intervened, sparking a major scandal known as the "Scripture Theft Case." Facing intense public outrage, media condemnation, and the threat of formal legal prosecution, Kang Youwei was eventually forced to return the complete set of scriptures to Wolong Temple to settle the dispute.

The case was resolved through mediation without a formal court trial; Kang Youwei returned the scriptures under overwhelming public and official pressure.

Whether Kang Youwei acquired the scriptures legally through an agreement with the abbot or committed theft by exploiting his social status to remove priceless cultural relics from the province without proper authorization.

The incident severely damaged Kang Youwei’s reputation in Shaanxi, solidifying a perception of him as a hypocritical elitist. It also ignited a nationalistic fervor among intellectuals and sparked a broader public discourse on the urgency of enacting modern laws to protect China’s cultural heritage from being lost or privatized.