Liu Kun-yi and the Political Situation in the Late Qing Dynasty

Liu was the feudal baron for as long as 40 years and his late political career directly influenced the ups and downs of the political situation in the late Qing Dynasty. He influenced the leading policies, the power struggle between the parties of the emperor and the empress, and the establishment and abolishment of the imperial throne. And later he seemed to be a chief of the dukes, leading the governors and inspectors (xunfu) in South China for the Mutual Defense Movement, then advocating the New Policies Movement, accepting western administration and bringing about the later system reform and the constitutional movement.