 Frustrated by his failure at political reform, Liang embarked upon cultural reform.In 1902, while in exile in Japan, Liang wrote "The New Historiography" (), which called on Chinese to study world history to understand China rather than just Chinese history.The article also attacked old historiographical methods, which he lamented focused on dynasty over state; the individual over the group; the past but not the present; and facts, rather than ideals.