The Diary of Sheng Xuanhuai (Volumes 1 and 2)

Author: (Qing) Sheng Xuanhuai
Publisher: Jiangsu Ancient Books
Publication Date: 1998-05-01
Features: Sheng Xuanhuai (1844.11.4—1916.4.27), styled Xingsun, also styled Youxu, styled Ciyi, styled Bulou, styled Yuzhai, styled Zhiso in his later years, also styled Sihui Zhai, Donghai, Gushan Jushi, Sumabuona, Zixing, etc. He was from Longxi, Wujin, Jiangsu. His grandfather, Sheng Long, was a jinshi and served as the magistrate of Haining Prefecture in Zhejiang. His father, Sheng Kang, was a jinshi and served as the salt inspector of Wuchang in Hubei with the title of Buzhengshi, belonging to the Jingshi school. He compiled "Continuation of the Imperial Dynasty's Jingshi Literature." He had six brothers, and Sheng Xuanhuai was the eldest. In the second month of the tenth year of the Xianfeng era (1860), the Taiping Army was approaching Changzhou, and Sheng Xuanhuai fled with his parents to Changjing Town in Jiangyin and then to Yancheng. At that time, Sheng Kang was in charge of the Hubei grain road and sent someone to Hubei to receive them. In the first year of the Tongzhi era (1862), Sheng Xuanhuai married a woman from the Dong family. Sheng Kang was appointed as the salt inspector of Wuchang in Hubei. Sichuan and Huabei were competing for salt licenses, and the dispute had been unresolved for a long time. Sheng Xuanhuai suggested that Sichuan and Huabei proceed in parallel, and the problem was resolved. Sheng Kang encouraged him to study useful knowledge. At that time, Hu Linxi and Yan Shusen, who successively served as the governor of Hubei, were both famous figures of the Jingshi school. Their military affairs and local governance were strict and well-organized, setting an example for other provinces. Sheng Xuanhuai was deeply influenced by them and studied everything earnestly, and he also aspired to rectify the times and benefit the world, "the achievements of his life were based on this." In the fifth year of the Tongzhi era (1866), Sheng Xuanhuai returned to Wujin County with his second brother to take the child examination and both passed. In the sixth year (1867), his grandfather, Sheng Long, passed away, and Sheng Kang returned to his hometown to mourn. Sheng Xuanhuai failed the provincial examination and was quite disappointed. Sheng Kang stayed at home to observe mourning and devoted himself to the affairs of the clan, establishing a charitable estate, increasing sacrificial fields, building charity schools, and compiling the clan genealogy. Sheng Xuanhuai also participated in the planning.