Ruyuan Xiaoyang - Zeng Guofan in the Official Field and Battlefield

Author: Li Dongjun
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2007-01-01
Features: The people of modern Hunan and Xiang regions were like the Qin dynasty's warriors who fought and farmed; the scholars of modern Hunan and Xiang were mostly like Zigong and Zilu. Their people could only be led by heroes; their scholars could only be gathered by sages. Zeng Wencai possessed both qualities, which allowed him to gather his scholars and lead his people, to spread the sanctified influence of Dongting Lake and open the imperial key of Yuelu Mountain, thereby enabling the rise of Hunan and Xiang. The culture of Hunan and Xiang is the declining sun of the Confucian lineage. Wang Fuzhi pioneered it, opening the mountain with the sorrow of heroes' decline, hence possessing a heroic character; Zeng Guofan perfected it, integrating the spirit of sages, hence possessing the realm of sanctified influence. Since Zeng Guofan, Hunan and Xiang have produced heroes one after another, such as Cai E who raised the sword of the Republic in Southwest China, and Huang Xing who roamed the world with revolution. Even the young Mao Zedong said: Among modern figures, I alone admire Zeng Wencai. Zeng Guofan had the aura of a sage; Li Hongzhang, on the other hand, was more like a Huizhou merchant—different people are shaped by different environments.