HE JING (1816-1888)CorrespondencesAlbum of twenty-two double leaves, ink on paperEach leaf measures 23 x 12.3 cm. (9 x 4 7⁄8 in.)Inscribed and signedColophons by Zheng Xu (19th-20th century), Yang Tiefu (1869-1943), Gui Dian (1867-1958), and Zheng Hongnian (1876-1958)Titleslip inscribed and signed by Zheng Xu, with one sealDated summer, yimao year (1939)‌‌NOTE:‌He Jing, who styled himself Boyu, Xiaosong, and Yu Xuan, is a native of the Zhongshan County of Guangdong. During the reign of Emperor Daoguang of the Qing Dynasty, he served as editor of the Hanlin Academy. Years later, he was awarded the governor of Fujian and Zhejiang and served as the general of Fuzhou from 1876 to 1884, primarily devoting himself to the coastal defense of Fujian and Taiwan. The French navy shelled the Mawei yard in July 1883, and the imperial court dismissed him for taking responsibility for the defeat. In his later years, He Jing returned to Guangzhou and taught at the Yingyuan Academy.‌Zheng Xu, styled as Jilin, was born in the Zhongshan County of Guangdong and was a relative of Cheng Kinlo and Marcus C. Cheng. During Emperor Guangxu’s reign, he served as the Minister of Finance for Xiamen and later worked as part of the Coastal Defense, concentrating on civil affairs. After the 1911 Revolution of China, Zheng Xu moved to Gulang Island and developed an interest in painting and calligraphy. Proficient in fine brush figures, flowers, and insects, Zheng Xu is now known as a famous painter in Fujian and Taiwan.‌Yang Tiefu, styled himself Yuxian and Yisheng, is a native of Zhongshan County, Guangzhou. He was an imperial scholar in Emperor Guangxu’s reign of the Qing Dynasty and served as a prefect of the Guangxi province. During the Republic era, Yang Tiefu was a professor at the Wuxi Academy of the Traditional Chinese Culture and subsequently became a professor at both Private National University in Guangdong and Private Guangzhou University in Hong Kong. In his later years, he lives solitarily in Castle Peak, Hong Kong, preoccupied with writing.‌Gui Dian, styled Nanping, was born in Nanhai, Guangdong. During Emperor Guangxu’s reign, he joined the Hanlin Academy before serving as a writer and document editor for the National History Museum as well as prefect of Yanzhou, Zhejiang. In 1915, he became chief editor of the Guangdong General Chronicle and had a vital role in editing numerous local county papers.‌Zhang Hongnian, who styled himself as Shaojue, was from Panyu, Guangdong. He was an imperial scholar in Emperor Guangxu's reign and learned from Kang Youwei before following Sun Yat-sen to participate in the national revolution. Zheng Hongnian was the first headmaster of Jinan Academy (the predecessor of National Jinan University) and served in government departments' transportation and finance positions. He returned to the headmaster position of the National Jinan University from 1927 to 1934.