Liu Tong

Who was Liu Tong?

Liu Tong was a Chinese prose master and official from Macheng in Huanggang. He was a figure in the Ming Dynasty's Jingling school of Chinese prose literature in contrast to the Gongan school and the well known Yuan Hongdao and his brothers. He is credited with the Dijing Jingwulue.

His Dijing Jingwulue is thought to actually to have been a travel guide to the historical and geographical attractions of Beijing. The work includes mention of the Catholic cathedral and the tomb of the Jesuit Matteo Ricci. Its inclusion of anecdote and unusual detail make it an invaluable study of Beijing in the early 17th century. In 1630, Liu became a member of the National University and passed his Jinshi examination in 1634. He became a magistrate of Suzhou, but died en route in 1637.