In modern China, the personality and theoretical legacy of Kang Yu-wei (1858-1927) are becoming increasingly important, which is proved by the constant reprints of his main work - "Books on the Great Unity" ("Da tun ilu"). ) and the frequent mention of his name and theories in the context of reforms in the PRC. At the same time, it turns out that both Western and Russian sinological historiography have been using the same data for about half a century regarding the circumstances of the creation of the main work of the thinker, which concentrated all his life experience and theoretical developments. This work is intended to review the existing points of view in the world of sinology and, perhaps, outline some further ways of research in this area. Special attention is paid to determining the exact time of writing this work of the Chinese thinker. Key words: Kang Yu-wei, Tang Zhi-jun, Da tong shu, Great Unity. The "Book of the Great Unity" is extremely difficult to evaluate, and all grades (whether positive or negative) will necessarily include a superlative. In a sense, this is the first message of a Chinese philosopher addressed to the whole world (in the modern sense, not the Middle Kingdom), a work that is simultaneously sinocentric and cosmopolitan, totalitarian and liberal. It is also traditional China's "answer" to Darwinism. For the first time in the intellectual history of China, Kang Yu-wei began to consider purely national issues, having in mind the fate of humanity as a whole. At the same time, it should be borne in mind that this treatise is only the completion of a long journey, which was preceded by works that comprehend the ways of the world's development. I would also like to point out that the Chinese reader was not able to fully familiarize himself with this work until 8 years after the author's death, and until the early 1950s, researchers in Germany, Great Britain, the USA, the USSR, and Japan who were engaged in the life and work of Kang Yu-wei w ... Read more