Collection of Poems and Prose by Zeng Guofan

Author: Zeng Guofan
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-10-01
Features: Zeng Guofan (1811–1872), originally named Zicheng, styled Bohan, and styled Desheng, was a native of Hetang (now part of Shuangfeng County) in Xiangxiang County, Hunan Province. In the 18th year of the Daoguang reign (1838), he passed the imperial examination and was appointed a Cishijushi (Imperial Academy Assistant Scholar). After completing his studies, he was granted the position of Jietao (Literary Historian). He then served as a Shijiang (Academician) and Shidu (Imperial Tutor) in the Hanlin Academy, and was promoted to Zongwuyuan (Grand Secretary) and Libu Shilang (Vice Minister of Rites). In the second year of the Xianfeng reign (1852), he returned to his hometown to mourn his mother. By the end of the year, due to the overwhelming advance of the Taiping Army in Guangxi, he was ordered to assist in organizing local militia in his province. The following year, he recruited Xiangyong troops to reinforce Hubei and engaged in battles with the Taiping Army between Jiangxi and Anhui. In the 10th year of the Xianfeng reign (1860), he was promoted to Governor-General of Jiangnan. In the third year of the Tongzhi reign (1864), he captured Tianjing (now Nanjing), the capital of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, and was enfeoffed as a First-Class Marquis. In the seventh year of the Tongzhi reign (1868), he was appointed as the Grand Secretary of Wuying Palace and transferred to the position of Governor-General of Zhili. In the ninth year of the Tongzhi reign (1870), he was ordered to investigate the "Tianjin Incident" and returned to his post as Governor-General of Jiangnan. Two years later, he died in office. As a literary official enfeoffed as a marquis and posthumously honored as "Wenzheng" (a posthumous title for scholars of high moral integrity), he was a rare combination in the three centuries of the Qing Dynasty. However, Zeng Guofan's achievements in life were not limited to this. At the beginning of his career, he focused on literary studies as was customary. Later, he became deeply interested in the study of self-cultivation. In just six or seven years, Zeng Guofan rose to prominence as a new star in Confucian scholarship and literary talent in the capital among scholars and officials. During the later years of the Daoguang Emperor, who favored pragmatic and intellectual officials, Zeng Guofan quickly gained favor and was promoted four ranks, reaching the second rank, and thus emerged as a rising figure in the political arena of the late Daoguang reign.