Collection of Poems and Prose by Zeng Guofan -- China Modern Literature Series

Author: Zeng Guofan, edited by Wang Lihua
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2005-10-01
Features: Zeng Guofan (1811–1872), originally named Zicheng, styled Bohan, and styled D????, 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 as a Cishiji in the Hanlin Academy. After completing his studies, he was granted the position of Jiaotiao. He then served as a Shijiang and Shidu in the Hanlin Academy, and was promoted to Inner Court Academician and 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 militias. 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 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 a Daxueshi of the Wuying Hall and transferred to the position of Governor 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 of Jiangnan. Two years later, he died in office. As a civil official enfeoffed as a marquis and posthumously honored as Wenzheng, he achieved both honors, a feat rarely seen in the 300 years 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 pursuits 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 rising 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 talents, Zeng Guofan quickly gained favor and was promoted four ranks, reaching the second rank, and thus rose to prominence in the political arena of the late Daoguang reign.