The works of Lü Liuliang were systematically purged from circulation in 1733, decades after the author's death, due to their potent anti-Manchu sentiment. Born in 1629 in Tongxiang, Zhejiang province, he lived through the political transition from the Ming dynasty to the Qing dynasty, maintaining a steadfast refusal to serve the new imperial administration.
Political Resistance and Withdrawal
Lü Liuliang spent his early years under the Ming dynasty. Following the collapse of that government in 1644, he participated in anti-Manchu military activities. The 1647 execution of his nephew for similar political resistance further solidified his opposition. Upon the failure of the Ming loyalist movement, he transitioned into life as a hermit and physician, explicitly rejecting repeated solicitations to join the Qing bureaucracy.
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He expressed his dissent through Confucian-based theological and philosophical frameworks, emphasizing the distinction between Chinese civilization and what he termed barbarians over traditional ministerial loyalty. His literary contributions included numerous eight-legged essays and poetry. One specific work utilized the imagery of a light breeze, representing the Qing, and a bright moon, signifying the Ming, to deliver a sharp critique of the contemporary ruling power.
Posthumous Persecution
Lü died in 1683 at age 54, but his influence remained a significant target for the state. After the official Zeng Jing cited Lü's writings as the motivation for an attempted coup against the Yongzheng Emperor, the government initiated a harsh literary inquisition. In 1733, authorities exhumed and mutilated the corpses of Lü and one of his sons. His remaining son faced execution, while his grandsons were sent into exile and female family members were forced into slavery.
Fast facts
- Born: 1629
- Died: 3 October 1683
- Origin: Tongxiang, Zhejiang province, China
- Occupations: Physician, poet, philosopher
- Primary subject: Confucianism
- Historical event: Literary inquisition of 1733
Questions readers ask
Why did the Qing government persecute Lü Liuliang long after his death?
His anti-Manchu writings inspired Zeng Jing to attempt to overthrow the Yongzheng Emperor, leading to state retaliation against his remains and surviving family.
What was the significance of the light breeze and bright moon in his poetry?
These terms served as coded references to the Qing and Ming dynasties, respectively, allowing him to document his political opposition.
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