Zeng Guofan's Family Letters

Author: Zeng Guofan Wu Zhihong Yu Zhengping
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-06-01
Features: Zeng Guofan's uniqueness lies in the decades since he entered the civil service, where he preserved drafts of his memorials to the court, as well as his personal letters, diaries, poems, and other writings. He regularly sent copies to his home in Xiangxiang, demonstrating relentless dedication over these years. This has allowed us to be fortunate enough to see over 15 million words of his written materials (Yuelu Press once published a collection of 1.5 million words titled "The Complete Works of Zeng Guofan"). From these, we can sense the fluctuations of the times, the personal teachings of a "revitalizing statesman" who never overlooked small acts of virtue, and the inner turmoil of Zeng Guofan, who, despite his great achievements, felt as if he were walking on thin ice and standing at the edge of a deep abyss. Due to space constraints, this book selects 107 letters from Zeng Guofan's vast and diverse family correspondence, categorized into eight themes—self-cultivation, raising children, family management, making friends, personnel management, social conduct, military governance, and governance—and arranges them chronologically. The annotations and translations aim to present the essence of these letters to readers, benefiting both individuals and society.