The six were
谭嗣同,
康广仁 (younger brother of
康有为),
林旭,
杨锐,
杨深秀 and
刘光第. After Empress Dowager
慈禧 seized power in September 1898 they were beheaded without trial, while Kang Youwei and
梁启超 escaped to Japan. Tan Sitong refused to flee, saying that reform in every country had cost blood and it should start with him.
