Zeng Guofan's Family Letters

Author: Zeng Guofan (Qing Dynasty), translated and annotated by Wu Zhihong and Yu Zhengping
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2006-01-01
Features: In the 19th century, China faced increasingly severe national crises and sharp class contradictions. The late Qing government, plagued by internal uprisings and external invasions, was in a precarious state. Among the historical figures who once dominated this turbulent stage was Zeng Guofan, a Han Chinese described by Zhang Taiyan as "praised as a sage minister, condemned as a prime evil-doer." Zeng Guofan (1811–1872), known by the courtesy name Kuanyi, the given name Zicheng, also styled Guofan, and courtesy name Bohan, was born in Xiangxiang County, Changsha Prefecture, Hunan. He had eight siblings and was the eldest son. His grandfather, Zeng Wangping, was skilled in business and established the eight-character motto "Exam, Treasure, Early, Sweep, Book, Compost. Fish, Pig" as the guiding principles for family management, teaching his sons that "weakness and lack of backbone are the greatest shame" and emphasizing resilience. His father, Zeng Linshu, was a scholar deeply influenced by traditional Confucian thought, who rigorously supervised and trained Zeng Guofan from a young age. In 1833, after thoroughly studying the Four Books and Five Classics, Zeng Guofan passed the county-level examination and entered the prestigious Changsha Yuelu Academy for further studies. The following year, he passed the provincial examination to become a juren. In 1838, he attended the national examination in Beijing for the second time and was ranked third, becoming a cishiji and later a Hanlin academician, marking the beginning of his long official career. With his deep foundation in traditional culture, prudent character, and outstanding talents, Zeng Guofan gained the favor of the powerful official Murang'a. In 1847, he was promoted to the position of Academician of the Inner Court and Vice Minister of Rites, and in 1849, he was further elevated to Right Vice Minister of Rites. Over the next nine years, he held concurrent positions in the ministries of War, Industry, Justice, and History, overseeing critical military and political affairs. In just ten years, he was promoted seven times, jumping ten ranks in total, rising from the seventh rank to the second rank, creating a miracle in the Qing court's official promotions. The pinnacle of Zeng Guofan's political career was his suppression of the Taiping Rebellion, which swept across the nation. In 1853, as a court official in his hometown, he was appointed as the Commissioner of Hunan's Local Militia, where he reformed the military system, established the Xiang Army, and emphasized moral governance, demanding that soldiers be "loyal, righteous, and spirited." He sought to transform the Xiang Army from the decadent Green Standard Army and overcome the Qing army's weakness of failing to assist each other in battle. Together with his colleagues Zuo Zongtang, his brother Zeng Guochuan, and his disciple Li Hongzhang, he led this highly Confucian-influenced and highly combat-effective Xiang Army across the country for ten years, defeating the Taiping forces led by Hong Xiuquan, who had already seized half of the empire. At the same time, the Xiang Army grew to a total of 300,000 soldiers, with Zeng Guofan personally commanding 120,000 of them, establishing the saying "No army is complete without Xiang soldiers." The rapid rise in power made the Qing court feel threatened, and Zeng Guofan, deeply influenced by Confucian thought, also became aware of the danger of "overachieving and inviting downfall." Thus, he voluntarily relinquished his military command, restrained himself, and eased tensions with the Qing court. In May 1867, Zeng Guofan and his brother went north to suppress the Nian Rebellion but failed and returned to his post as Governor of Jiangnan. Later, under the Qing court's order, he went to Tianjin to investigate the foreign affairs incident, which was seen as a sign of national weakness and drew public criticism. He was reassigned as Governor of Jiangnan but grew depressed and died in office. The Qing court issued an imperial edict posthumously bestowing on him the title of Grand Tutor, the posthumous name Wenzheng, and allowing him to be enshrined in the Temple of Loyalty and the Temple of Meritorious Officials. Temples were built in his hometown and Jiangning, and his biography was recorded in the National Historical Archives, granting him great honor. Throughout his life, Zeng Guofan strictly adhered to the Confucian teachings of "rectifying the mind, being sincere, cultivating oneself, governing the family, ruling the state, and pacifying the world," achieving the ideal of virtue, merit, and literary fame, embodying the Confucian ideal of an inner sage and outer king. On one hand, he devoted himself to self-cultivation, deeply studying Confucianism, practicing the method of investigating things, and excelling in poetry and prose, developing his own unique style. On the other hand, he adapted to the times, exploring governance strategies to address internal and external crises, while also embracing the influence of modern Western culture and advocating for the Self-Strengthening Movement. He was a figure at the forefront of the transition from a traditional society to a modern one, embodying both strict adherence to tradition and adaptability to changing circumstances, becoming a remarkable individual. His disciples and officials praised him as "virtuous as Zhuge Liang, meritorious as Xiao He and Cao Cao, and literary as Han Yu and Ouyang Xiu, truly a sage of the past century." After his death, the Qing court praised him as "loyal and devoted to the state, with unyielding integrity," calling him an "incomparable sage of all time." From Li Hongzhang, Zhang Zhidong, and Yuan Shikai to Chiang Kai-shek, none failed to admire him. Similarly, from Liang Qichao, the Revolutionaries of 1911, to Chen Duxiu and Mao Zedong, he was highly regarded. In his early years, Mao Zedong deeply studied Zeng Guofan's works, saying, "Among my contemporaries, I alone admire Zeng Wenzheng." What made Zeng Guofan truly extraordinary was his dedication over decades of his official career to preserving copies of all his documents—from official memorials submitted to the court to personal letters, diaries, and poems—sending them regularly to his hometown in Xiangxiang. This relentless effort over decades has allowed us to preserve over 15 million words of his writings (the Yuelu Press has published a 15-million-word collection of his works), giving us a glimpse into the turbulent times, the personal teachings of a "middle-aged statesman" who practiced virtue in small matters, and the inner turmoil of a man who feared the consequences of his own achievements. Due to space constraints, this book selects 107 letters from Zeng Guofan's vast correspondence, categorized into eight themes—self-cultivation, raising children, family management, making friends, personnel management, social conduct, military governance, and political affairs—and arranges them chronologically. The annotations and translations aim to present the essence of these letters, offering readers valuable insights for personal and professional growth.