PLUM BLOSSOMS

Lu Liuliang was a Han Chinese poet and author from Tongxiang, Zhejiang province. He was born during the Ming dynasty but died under the Manchu Qing . Lu took active part in the anti-Manchu military movement that followed the fall of the Ming in 1644. After the failure of the Ming loyalist movement, he became a hermit and a physician. He refused to serve the new dynasty because he argued that upholding the difference between hua and "barbarians" was more important than respecting the righteous bond between minister and sovereign. His brother and students tried to defend his reputation after his death by broadcasting his contributions. However, two of Lu's students were arrested, the tombs of Lu and his eldest son were desecrated, and his youngest son was executed.