Selected Works of Zeng Guofan (Annotated Edition)

Author: Zhu Dong'an
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2006-10-01
Features: Zeng Guofan is one of the most famous figures in modern Chinese history. He suppressed the Taiping Rebellion, saving the Qing Dynasty; yet, the military system he established also accelerated its downfall. Admired, he is praised as "possessing profound knowledge, great ambition, loyalty to the nation, unyielding integrity, virtue rivaling Zhuge Liang, achievements surpassing Xiao Cao, and literary talent equal to Han Yu and Ouyang Xiu, truly a renowned minister and general during the dynasty's revival." Condemned, he is criticized for advocating the "local execution system," promoting the "taxation of a cent per mile," attacking China with "barbarians," slaughtering compatriots, and flattering foreigners, labeling him as the "chief perpetrator of national disaster," a "traitor" cursed for generations, the "cruel executioner Zeng," or the "Zeng Butcher." The famous democratic revolutionary Zhang Taiyan remarked: "Praised, he is a sage minister; condemned, he is the chief perpetrator." "To call him a hero is not in vain," yet he is also called a "people-destroying villain," a stain on his descendants that cannot be erased for generations." Was he a hero or a villain? Right or wrong? Let people judge. This book selects 93 articles from different periods and styles of Zeng Guofan's writings, covering most of his important works. Each article is followed by an introduction and annotations. It provides profound and insightful analysis and accurate, scientific, and realistic evaluations of Zeng Guofan's life, the formation and development of his thoughts, his personnel strategies, his historical role, and his historical merits and faults.
Zeng Guofan was enfeoffed as a marquis and appointed as a minister in his lifetime, enjoying the glory of the Manchu. After his death, he left behind no property, land, or treasures for his descendants, but rather a rich collection of books and a famous will. He carefully reflected for a long time, summarizing his life's achievements into four points and writing them down neatly, instructing his son to hang them in the main hall, read them daily, strictly abide by them, and pass them down from generation to generation.