Jun Hong’s calligraphic hanging scroll - 洪鈞墨寶

Jun Hong, known as Wenqing (pseudonym), was born in Jiangsu, China. Hong was a minister of foreign affairs in Qing dynasty and served as an ambassador in Russia, German, Austria and Netherlands. He was also a renowned historian, specializing in history of Yuan dynasty. His work, “History of Yuan Yiwen Zhengbu” was considered as a critical reference of Chinese history.洪鈞，號文卿。江蘇人，為清朝的洋務大臣和史學家，曾擔任駐俄國、德國、奧地利、荷蘭大使。洪鈞研究元史，曾編寫「元史譯文證補」。(To be a leader of a country), one should share happiness with his people, have empathy with others who suffer from pain and sorrow, award great profits, and work with everyone to deal with challenges of disasters. Besides, he needs to widely spread benefits and welfare and also establish a deep and kind relationship with people. As a good leader, one should keep distant from pleasure and enjoyment. He should be able to contemplate and solve problems and worry about the future. Following these principles, a leader will receive tax submitted from people living on his emperor-granting-land. His empire will be continued from generation to generation.是以分天下以厚樂，而己得與之同憂；饗天下以豐利，而我得與之共害。利博則恩篤，樂遠則憂深，故諸侯享食士之實，萬國受世及之祚矣。Postscript: dedication to Xingtang; Signature: Brother Wenqing, Jung Hong題跋: 星堂大兄大人正; 款識: 文卿弟洪鈞1) Courtier Jun Hong’s seals; 2) The ranking-number-one scholar in the imperial examination of 1868; 3) Tse Tsung Chow collects1) 臣洪鈞印; 2) 戊辰状元; 3) 周策縱