Counter-speaking Zeng Guofan---Telling you a real Zeng Guofan: Telling you a real Zeng Guofan

Author: Shi Hao
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-07-01
Features: Famous figures speak against, revealing the true faces of individuals, leaving it to the world to judge right or wrong. Starting from history, it exposes the joys and sorrows of Zeng Guofan's life, and explains his decades-long inner journey from a humanistic perspective. Analyzing Zeng Guofan from a humanistic angle, we see a typical orthodox scholar with a conflicting inner self. On one hand, this scholar is deeply loyal to the feudal dynasty and firmly believes he can become a pillar to turn the around. On the other hand, he is acutely aware that the corruption and downfall of the Qing government are an inevitable trend, leading him to constantly lament his powerlessness to change the course of events. This conflicting psychology sustained Zeng Guofan through repeated failures and even led to a tragic sense of self-sacrifice—a side of Zeng Guofan that is admirable, yet also pitiable. Zeng Guofan is not, as some claim, a "perfect man of Chinese history." The era he lived in also did not allow him to be such a perfect man. Although Zeng Guofan aspired to be perfect, political storms left him battered, and the trials of war made him ragged. He strove to the best of his ability to walk the path of life he could, leaving behind much to ponder and reflect upon.