Zhang Zhidong (Volume 1, 2, and 3)

Author: Tang Haoming
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2001-07-01
Features: Zhang Zhidong came after Zeng Guofan and was one of the early advocates of the Self-Strengthening Movement in modern China. He was also one of the grand marshals of the Northern Warlord Army. The slogan "Zhongxue wei ti, xixue wei yong" (Chinese learning as the essence, Western learning for practical use) was proposed by him and is still frequently mentioned today. From the perspective of national policy, this slogan remains a topic of ongoing debate with no definitive conclusion. Writing historical fiction requires the ability to capture the spirit of a particular era. Figures like Zeng Guofan, Zuo Zongtang, Zhang Zhidong, and Li Hongzhang were all versatile talents—able to both destruct and build, immersed in poetry and wine, and dignified yet profound. They lived in an era of dramatic changes, handling military and state affairs, and engaging with top talents both domestically and internationally. They excelled in "establishing virtue, achievements, and words," seemingly capable of doing anything. Strangely enough, it is often in the turbulent times of blood and fire that history concentrates such an outstanding group of individuals.