Works of Zeng Guofan (8 Volumes)

Author: None
Publisher: Central University of Nationalities Press
Publishing Time: None
Features: In 1917, after thoroughly reading The Collected Works of Zeng Wenjing, Mao Zedong studied the great figures in Chinese history and concluded, "I am inferior to modern people, but only Zeng Wenjing has one eye.", throughout his life, admired, learned from, and emulated Zeng Guofan, believing his works to be "essential reading for any statesman." As early as his tenure as the head of the Whampoa Military Academy, Chiang Kai-shek compiled The Collected Militarymaxims of Zeng and Hu with Colloquial Explanations himself and required every student to have a copy, using it as a blueprint for military and state governance. Chen Duxiu, one of the founders of the Communist Party of China, deeply revered the spirit nurtured by Zeng Guofan from Hunan. In his 1920 essay "Salute the Spirit of Hunan," he wrote, "What is the spirit of the people of Hunan? If China is to perish, it can only be if all the people of Hunan die! Decades ago, figures like Zeng Guofan and Luo Zennan were scholars who built impregnable fortifications and fought bravely to the death! They achieved virtue, meritorious deeds, and established fame, becoming the quintessential officials of antiquity. Their reputations, methods, and traditions became the model for officials across generations, revered by everyone from Li Hongzhang and Zhang Zhidong to Yuan Shikai and Chiang Kai-shek as the 'sage and hero' of legend. Conversely, from Tan Sitong and Liang Qichao to Chen Duxiu and Mao Zedong, none failed to admire and emulate him, honoring him as the 'model' of the 'heroic and valiant.' He was the last great Confucian scholar in the twilight of feudal China, a remarkable minister and general of the Qing Dynasty, and was posthumously revered as the 'Official Sage of the Era.'
In modern Chinese history, no figure is more captivating than Zeng Guofan. He rose through the ranks with unparalleled speed, reaching the second rank at the age of 37, a feat unmatched in the entire Qing Dynasty. His official career was distinguished, achieving fame and recognition worldwide. He also maintained stability in his position, weathering the storms of court politics without faltering or declining in prestige.
His accomplishments were extraordinary. In his lifetime, he accomplished two earth-shaking deeds: first, he organized the Xiang Army to suppress the Taiping Rebellion, extending the life of the nearly collapsing Qing Dynasty by over 50 years; second, he promoted modernization through his reforms in industry and technology. He was also an exemplary father, raising talented descendants, and his Correspondence of Zeng Guofan earned him the honor of being the "pinnacle of moral and cultural achievement."
He had deep roots in learning, loving books and writing throughout his life, and applied his knowledge to leading and governing. His works, such as The Maxims for Military Governance, The Ice Mirror, and The Iron Laws, were highly esteemed by later generations and long served as the spiritual guide for the ruling class. His strategies for dealing with the world, methods for self-cultivation, principles for selecting personnel, and policies for governing nations were uniquely distinctive and remainto this day.
Yet, he was also a controversial figure. Those who praised him called him the "perennial sage," the "eternal sage minister" who achieved the 'three immortals' of merit, virtue, and fame. Those who condemned him called him a "traitor" or a "hangman." Zeng Guofan is a figure who will forever be worthy of your study and understanding.