Liu Kun-yi

A Chinese official in the late Qing Dynasty. Born in Xinning, Hunan Province. His pen name was Xianzhuang. His posthumous name was Zhongzheng. In 1855, he led a group of soldiers to defeat the Taiping army in various parts of Hunan, and in 1856, he accompanied the Xiang Army's general, Zhushu Liu Changyou, in battles throughout Jiangxi and Hunan, fighting against the Taiping army's Wing King Shi Dakai and others. When Liu Changyou became governor of Guangxi in 1860, he pacified Liuzhou and other areas under him, and in 1861, he was appointed inspector of Guangdong for his achievements. The following year, he was promoted to the position of Governor of Guangxi, and thereafter served as Governor of Jiangxi (1865-75), Governor of Liangjiang (1879-81, 1890-1902), and Governor of Liangguang (1875-79), making him a powerful figure in late Qing politics alongside Zhang Zhidong. During the First Sino-Japanese War, he was appointed as the Imperial Commissioner, and led the military forces inside and outside Shanhaiguan against the Japanese army, but was defeated. He insisted on continuing the war, but after a peace agreement was reached, he returned to his regular duties. During the Boxer Rebellion, he ignored the Qing dynasty's order to declare war, and, together with Zhang Zhidong and others, he concluded the Southeast Mutual Agreement with the imperialist powers, suppressed the Boxers, protected the interests of the great powers, and sought to maintain his own influence. In 1902, he advocated reforms in politics, the military, and education together with Zhang, but died shortly thereafter. His writings are included in the Collected Works of the Duke of Liu Zhongcheng.

[Shuzo Agawa]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

中国、清(しん)末の官僚。湖南省新寧の人。字(あざな)は峴荘(けんそう)。諡(おくりな)は忠誠。1855年団練(だんれん)を率いて太平天国軍を湖南各地で撃退し、56年湘軍(しょうぐん)の将軍で族叔劉長佑(ぞくしゅくりゅうちょうゆう)に従って江西、湖南の各地を転戦し、太平天国の翼王石達開(せきたつかい)などと戦って勝った。60年劉長佑が広西巡撫(じゅんぶ)になると、その下で柳州などを平定し、その功績により61年広東按察使(カントンあんさつし)となった。翌年広西布政使に昇進し、以後、江西巡撫（1865～75）、両江総督（1879～81、1890～1902）、両広総督（1875～79）などを歴任し、張之洞(ちょうしどう)と並ぶ清末政界の実力者であった。日清戦争のときには欽差(きんさ)大臣に任命され、山海関内外の軍隊を指揮して日本軍と戦ったが敗れ、戦争継続を主張したが、和議がなり、本務に復帰した。義和団事件では、清朝の宣戦の命令を無視し、張之洞らとともに帝国主義列強と東南互保協定を結び、義和団を弾圧して列強の権益を保護し、自らの勢力の維持を図った。1902年張とともに政治、軍事、教育の改革を提唱したが、まもなく死去。著作は『劉忠誠公遺集』に収められている。

［阿川修三］

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