Kunyi Liu’s calligraphy hanging scroll - 劉坤一字條

Kunyi Liu, known as Yanzhuang (courtesy name), was born in Hunan, China. Liu participated in fighting against Taiping Rebellion at the end of Qing dynasty and was promoted to a local official. Later, he served as a provincial magnate, Nanyang commerce minister and other positions related to foreign affairs. Liu was a central figure in Self-Strengthening Movement (1864-1895, a serial of reforms to improve military power, industrial development, education and communication technology) to resist invasion from Western countries.劉坤一，字硯莊，湖南人。曾任封疆大臣，南洋通商大臣等職務。因為不滿太平天國之亂而參與地事務，進而被拔擢為官員。劉坤一積極推動洋務運動，為晚清改革的領袖之一。Flowers will enchant butterflies. Stones piled up into a mountain will catch clouds. Pines will allure fresh breeze. Willows will appeal to singing cicadas. Ponds will attract duckweeds. Building a terrace will invite the moon. Plantains will create sound of falling rains. Discussion on books will make friends. Accumulating merits and virtues will get attentions of God.藝花可以邀蝶，纍石可以邀雲，栽松可以邀風，植柳可以邀蟬，貯水可以邀萍，築台可以邀月，種蕉可以邀雨，藏書可以邀友，積德可以邀天。Postscript: dedication to Fuqing; Signature: Yanzhuang, Kunyi Liu款識: 富卿大兄雅屬, 硯莊劉坤一.1) Tse Tsung Chow; 2) Seal of Kunyi Liu; 3) Yanzhuan’s longevity1) 周策縱; 2) 劉坤一印; 3) 硯莊長