Zhang Zhidong Upper, Middle, Lower

Author: Tang Haoming
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2002-08-01
Features: For over a century, history has deliberately left a for later generations: whenever Huguang Governor is mentioned, it is about Zhang Zhidong; whenever Zhang Zhidong is mentioned, one thinks of his special status in China's modern. It is rare in China's history for an individual to be so closely associated with a position, filling such a hollow official title with such a substantial and enduring meaning, enough to provoke deep reflection. Zhang Zhidong was a key figure in the late Qing Dynasty and a towering scholar. He advanced through the imperial examination system, gained imperial favor, served as a critic of the Qing court in the capital, and remained loyal and diligent when appointed to distant posts. Beyond upholding the Manchu rule, he aspired to Western science and technology, establishing industrial enterprises. Living in an era of transition between the old and the new, he embodied the complex interplay of traditional consciousness and new ideas, striving to turn the tide and propose the famous principle of "Chinese learning as the essence, Western learning for practical use," which remains relevant and fresh a century later. The epic historical novel Zhang Zhidong is grand and majestic, with intricate details, depicting a sweeping scroll of the late Qing Dynasty's turbulent changes and the survival or demise of the nation. In the context of contemporary China entering the 21st century with major reforms and transformations, this book holds even greater historical reference value and artistic appreciation.