Page:Eminent Chinese Of The Ch’ing Period - Hummel - 1943 - Vol. 1.pdf/535

 1893, under the title 養雲山莊全集 Yang-yün shan-chuang ch'üan-chi.

Liu Jui-fên had six sons. One of them, Liu Shih-hêng 劉世珩, a chu-jên of 1894, was a well-known bibliophile who printed the following collectanea: 玉海堂景宋元本叢書 Yü-hai t'ang ying Sung Yüan pên ts'ung-shu; 聚學軒叢書 Chü-hsüeh hsüan ts'ung-shu (1897–1903); 貴池先哲遺書 Kuei-ch'ih hsien-chê i-shu (1920); and 暖紅室彙刻傳奇 Nuan-hung shih hui-k'o cho'uan-ch'i. The last-mentioned is a collection of famous dramas, and works on dramatics.

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 LIU K'un-i 劉坤一, Jan. 21, 1830–1902, Oct. 6, official, was a native of Hsin-ning, Hunan. He began his career as a senior licentiate and entered (1855) the Hunan army as an officer under the command of a relative,. During the next ten years he assisted in quelling the Taiping rebels and bandit groups in Hunan, Kiangsi, Kwangsi and Kwangtung; and as a reward for his services was promoted to the position of governor of Kiangsi (1865–74). In the meantime he devoted much time to administrative affairs—he dismissed corrupt officials, reformed long-standing political evils, reduced taxes, and carried on social relief. In January 1875 he became acting governor-general of Liang-Kiang (Kiangsu, Kiangsi and Anhwei) and served concurrently as superintendent of trade for southern ports. In September 1875 he was transferred to the post of governor-general of Kwangtung and Kwangsi (1875–79). While filling this office he increased the provincial revenue, improved local administration, curbed gambling, and maintained peace and order. On December 27, 1879 he was re-instated in his earlier position as governor-general of Liang-Kiang and remained there until 1881. In addition to his routine duties, he was asked (1880) to submit to the throne suggestions concerning the Empire's diplomatic policy toward Russia in regard to Ili (see under ). He strongly recommended preparation for war with Russia, but took a moderate stand toward Japan concerning her ambitions in Korea and the Loochoo Islands. He suggested limiting Chinese opposition to one power while keeping on good terms with the United States and other Western powers in the hope of securing their aid. The negotiations over Ili were peacefully concluded by the signing of the Russo-Chinese treaty at St. Petersburg on February 24, 1881. At this time France invaded Annam; hence on December 29, 1881 Liu again memorialized the throne, urging co-operation with the Annamese in the country's preparation for war with France. His proposals were received with high favor by the emperor.

After several years of retirement, Liu K'un-i was recalled in 1890 to his previous post at Nanking as governor-general of Liang-Kiang which he assumed in the spring of 1891. A few months later anti-missionary riots broke out at Wuhu and other points along the Yangtze, but Liu quickly suppressed them. The anti-missionary movement was closely connected with the secret society, Ko-lao-hui 哥老會 whose members contemplated rebellion with arms to be secured through Charles Welsh Mason 美生 (b. 1866), a British subject who had previously been employed in the Customs at Chinkiang. The arms were seized (1891) before detivery at Chinkiang and the rebellion was frustrated. In 1892 Liu strengthened the fortress at Chinkiang, adding some new cannon. After declaration of the Sino-Japanese war on August 1, 1894 he was made Imperial Commissioner in command of troops at Shanhaikuan, a strategic pass between Chihli and Manchuria. As soon as he heard that negotiations for peace were in progress he repeatedly urged the Court to prolong the war which he believed might end favorably for China. Nevertheless, the Sino-Japanese treaty of peace was eventually signed at Shimonoseki on April 17, 1895, whereupon Liu returned to his post at Nanking.

A few years later Liu K'un-i achieved distinction for remarkable success in keeping South China free from the excesses of the Boxer Movement which in 1900 harassed North China. Violently anti-foreign, the Boxers practiced magical rites which they believed rendered them invulnerable to the bullets of aliens. Late in 1899 and early in 1900 various attacks were made upon missionaries and Chinese converts, and before long the Boxers gained the tacit approval of powerful officials in North China—even of the Empress Dowager herself (see under ). News of the arrival of Western troops excited yet more the suspicion of the Boxers who began to burn foreign buildings and slaughter native Christians. At this critical juncture Liu K'un-i sent (June 14) a telegram to, then governor-general of Hupeh and Hunan, suggesting that he and Chang send a joint 523