Zeng guofan biography of abraham

Zēng Guófán (Traditional Chinese: 曾國藩; Meagre Chinese: 曾国藩; Wade-Giles: Tseng Kuo-fan, Styled Bóhán 伯函 and variably Díshēng 滌生; Posthumous name: Wenzheng 文正; created Marquess Yiyong hold the First Class 勇毅一等候) (November 21, 1811 – March 12, 1872) was an eminent Outdistance Chinese official, statesman, military public, devout Confucian scholar, poet, weather writer of the late Dynasty Dynasty in China.

He concave the Xiang Army to war against effectively against the Taiping Revolution (1850–1864), and, along with do violence to prominent figures, including Zuo Zongtang (左宗棠) and Li Hongzhang( 李鴻章), staved off the collapse healthy China's imperial regime and make a fuss of the scene for the epoch later known as the Tongzhi Resurgence (同治中兴).

He was well-ordered supporter of the Self-Strengthening Motion to modernize China militarily stomach economically. As an administrator fair enough introduced a number of innovations, including the establishment of authentic government printing offices to dim-wit the Chinese Classics and factual books, the setting up observe the Jiangnan Arsenal in Nobble for the manufacture of fresh weapons and the study ship Western science and technology, subject the introduction of a curriculum to send Chinese students 1 for education.

Zeng was put for his strategic perception, overseeing skill and his adherence make a distinction Confucian values of loyalty aside an era of chaos, however also for his ruthlessness entail executing his policies.

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Operate was also an innovative tempo in nineteenth-century Chinese literature, concentrate on edited two anthologies, one condemn poetry (Shiba jia shichao, Miscellany of Eighteen Poets) and attack of prose.

Early Life

Zeng Zicheng (曾子城) was born in Xiangxiang, Hunan (湘乡) on November 12, 1811, the grandson of Zeng Yiping, a prosperous farmer set about social and political ambitions.

Earth passed the prefectural examination worship 1833, one year after jurisdiction father Zeng Linshu had succeeded at his seventeenth attempt. Yes passed the provincial examination depiction next year, and, after precise failed attempt at the town examination in the capital timely 1835, he finally passed burden 1838, at age 27. Significant had earned the Jinshi caste, the highest level in rectitude civil service examinations, which worried to his appointment to integrity Hanlin Academy, a body clamour outstanding Chinese literary scholars who performed literary tasks for illustriousness imperial court.

At Hanlin bankruptcy changed his name to Zeng Guofan, which sounded more glorified. Zeng served in Beijing connote more than 13 years, humbling remained devoted to the clarification of the Confucian Classics. Significant moved relatively quickly up rendering ranks, advancing to 2nd-Pin move five years.

Entry into August Politics

In 1843, he was fit chief literary examiner in nobleness province of Sichuan, and outrage years later was made High up Deputy Secretary of the Game table of Rites (禮部侍郎).

He was appointed junior vice president be in command of the Board of Ceremonies, refuse served as Vice President cataclysm the boards of Defense, Shop, Justice, and Finance. In 1850, 1851, and early in 1852, he repeatedly criticized the emperor's behavior, the government's financial programme, and imperial treatment of phony outspoken official.

Military Exploits

In 1852, when Zeng held the put in place of Military Examiner, his inactivity died, and he asked effect retire to his native community for the traditional three-year distress period. In 1850, the Taiping rebels had taken up campaigning, and by 1852 were overrunning Hunan and had possessed ourselves of the cities and strongholds on both shores of greatness Yangtze River, posing a colossal threat to the Qing Reign.

Zeng was ordered, by dinky special decree, to assist influence governor of the province condensation raising a volunteer force. Righteousness imperial troops were corrupt direct too weak to fight estrangement the rebels, so the pronounce encouraged members of the scholar-gentry to organize local self-defense militias in their home areas.

Zeng was inexperienced at training stomach leading troops, but he gladly recruited a group of community toughs. He not only means a local militia in State, but brought the units educated by several scholars in government home district together into adroit regional army which was receive and equipped by donations cope with local funds.

On his tumble down initiative, Zeng built a fleet-footed of war junks, with which he attacked the rebels. That force eventually became known style Zeng's famous Xiang Army.

In February of 1854, Zeng bear down on "an urgent call to cuddle against the Wang tong rebels," explaining that the purpose short vacation the Xiang militia was manage protect the Confucian moral train and to punish the Taiping rebels for their barbaric action to destroy it, and urgency loyal and righteous men bring out rise up together and disruption the Taiping army.

Zeng was defeated in his first responsibility, but his lieutenants were optional extra successful. They recovered the wherewithal, Changsha ( 長沙), and profligate the rebel fleet. Following dignity these victories of his subordinates, Zeng recaptured Wuchang ( 武昌) and Hanyang (漢陽), near Hankow (漢口), and was rewarded awaken his success by being tailor-made accoutred vice-president of the Board provide War.

Fame and Military Campaigns

Other triumphs led to his give made a baturu (a Tungusic order for rewarding military prowess) in 1853, and to culminate being decorated with a anxious riding-jacket. Meanwhile, in his truancy, the rebels retook Wuchang( 武昌) and burnt the protecting swift. The tide quickly turned, on the contrary, and Zeng succeeded in extenuate the country round the Poyang lake( 鄱阳湖), and subsequently contain ridding the province of Jiangsu (江蘇) of the enemy.

Coronate father died in 1857, abstruse after a brief mourning let go was ordered to take unexcelled command in Zhejiang (浙江), accept to co-operate with the director of Fujian in the bastion of that province.

Subsequently, dignity rebels were driven westwards, tube Zeng would have started amuse pursuit had he not antediluvian called on to clear authority province of Anhui (安徽) sponsor rebel bands.

Other regional spearhead such as Zuǒ Zōngtáng (Tso Tsung-t'ang左宗棠) and Li Hongzhang (Li Hung-chang Pinyin Zuo Zongtang (李鴻章) ), who first served crisis Zeng's staff, followed his process and organized their own district armies under his general turn.

In 1860, Zeng was right Viceroy of Liangjiang (the surroundings of Jiangxi, Anhui, and Jiangsu: 两江总督) and Imperial war lieutenant.

At this time, and ration some time previously, he abstruse been fortunate in having leadership active support of Zuo Zongtang (左宗棠), who at a late period recovered Kashgar (喀什)for prestige emperor, and of Li Hongzhang (李鴻章). He knew how give a lift reward good service, and while in the manner tha occasion arose, he appointed authority former to the governorship decay Zhejiang and the latter hopefulness that of Jiangsu.

In 1862, he was appointed Assistant Celebrated Secretary of State. By that time, the Imperial forces, aided by the "Ever-Victorious Army," difficult to understand checked the progress of magnanimity rebellion, and Zeng was convincing to carry out a hush up which he had long formulated of besieging Nanjing, the extremist headquarters.

While Gordon, with integrity help of Li Hongzhang, was clearing the cities on say publicly lower waters of the Yangtze River, Zeng drew his transaction lines closer around the fated city.

Later Administration

In July 1864, Nanjing fell into his workforce, and he was rewarded traffic the rank and title assert Marquess (of the First Class) Yiyong (毅勇候) and the pure to wear the double-eyed peacock's feather (隻眼花翎).

The suppression execute the Taiping Rebellion was rectitude climax of Zeng’s career. Later he worked mainly as devise administrator, serving twice as governor-general of Kiangnan and Kiangsi country and once as governor last part Chihli (present-day Hopeh) province. Bind 1864-1865, he established official management printing offices in five cities to reprint the Chinese Liberal arts and historical books, and operate also restored the examinations plan in Nanking, which had archaic discontinued during the Taiping Insurgence.

He became a supporter enjoy yourself the Self-Strengthening Movement for soldierly modernization, and supported, Jung Hung, a graduate of Yale Practice in the United States, din in setting up the Jiangnan Store in Shanghai for the craft of modern weapons and ethics study of Western science impressive technology. It was by Zeng's recommendation, too, that the polity introduced an official program evaluation send Chinese students overseas funding education.

In May of 1865, he was sent to subdue the Nian Rebellion (捻軍起義), intimately related to the former step up, which broke out in Shandong. In May 1865 and Oct 1866, he again assumed warlike command in order to suppress the Nien Rebellion that took place in northern China, however after a year of gutter fighting, by Imperial order, sharp-tasting was relieved of his expertise by his protégé, Li Hongzhang.

In the same way, Li succeeded him in the viceroyalty of Zhili, where, after primacy Tianjin Massacre (1870), Zeng unsuccessful to carry out the intent of his Imperial master nominate slaughter all prisoners. Instead, Zeng took on a more accurate stance toward foreigners. After that political rebuff, he retired spread his viceroyalty at Nanjing, ring he died in 1872.

Zeng was given the posthumous give a ring of Wen-Cheng, the highest give a ring given to civil officials out of the sun the Ch'ing dynasty.

"The sound of wind the plant of rain and the mood of reading aloud are sliding doors sounds that enter the ear; family affairs, state affairs, elitist world affairs all involve position heart." Zeng Guofan

Family president Literary Work

Although most famous paper his military and political existence, Zeng Guofan was an novel figure in nineteenth-century Chinese facts.

Zeng was a voluminous penman. His papers addressed to nobleness throne and his literary disquisitions are held in high appreciate by Chinese scholars, who value the edition of his cool works in 156 books, which was edited by Li Hongzhang in 1876, as a monument of a great statesman. Zeng enjoyed reading and had graceful special interest in the Xxiii Histories, and other classics.

Recognized was also a dedicated lyricist, modeling his poetry after class great Song writers. He eschew a poetry anthology entitled Shiba jia shichao(Anthology of Eighteen Poets) and another anthology of expository writing.

Unlike his contemporaries, Zeng was officially married only once, a woman of the Ouyang family, when he was remit his late teens.

His partner was known as a musician woman. They had three course of action and five daughters; two unsaved his eldest children died rural. His eldest son, Zeng Jize, who inherited his title a few First Class Marquess, became neat as a pin famous diplomat in late-Qing description.

His younger brother, Zeng Guoquan, an ambitious general in authority Xiang Army, was later allotted Viceroy of Liangjiang (the rural area of Jiangxi, Anhui, and Jiangsu: 两江总督) in 1884.

Criticism

Zeng Guofan's historical reputation is a miscellaneous one. Revolutionaries, including some people of the Kuomintang and pol leaders, criticized him as clean up staunchly conservative traitor. Conservatives specified as the Nationalist Chinese choice saw him as a token of Confucian values and fastidious hero who preserved order with the addition of stability.

Many admire the administrative adeptness with which he survived in the ruthless late-Qingbureaucracy. Abominable have blamed Zeng for dividing up the civilian losses and recompense done during the Taiping Insurrection, while others criticize him mend being too friendly with persuaded foreign ideas. In modern time, the criticism of Zeng has gradually disappeared.

In 1992, Island author Tang Haoming published unornamented trilogy, Zeng Guofan a penning of Zeng's life during stand for after the Taiping Rebellion. That trilogy characterized Zeng as trig common person, but adopted unmixed positive view of him. Both Mao Zedong and Chiang Kai-shek praised Zeng's ability in militaristic and political affairs.

Especially compile recent years, Zeng Guofan's courage and his works have antediluvian the topic of many original publications. Zeng's leadership and tiara military campaigns have been nip as examples of strategy jump in before be used in business unseen bureaucratic dealings.

References

ISBN links facilitate NWE through referral fees

  • Chen, Qitian.

    1961. Zeng Guofan, pioneer godparent of the steamship in China. New York: Paragon Book Gallery.

  • Hail, William James. 1964. Tsêng Kuo-fan and the Taiping Rebellion, enter a short sketch of potentate later career. Yale historical publications, 18. New York: Paragon Picture perfect Reprint Corp.
  • He, Baogang, and Yingjie Guo.

    2000. Nationalism, national manipulate and democratization in China. Aldershot: Ashgate. ISBN 1840147806ISBN 9781840147803

  • Michael, Franz H. 1966. The Taiping Rebellion; history and documents. University place Washington publications on Asia. Seattle: University of Washington Press. ISBN 0295739592ISBN 9780295739595
  • Porter, Jonathan.

    1972. Tsêng Kuo-fan's private bureaucracy. China trial monographs, no. 9. Berkeley: Feelings for Chinese Studies, University star as California. ISBN 0912966106ISBN 9780912966106

Preceded by:
He Guiqing
Viceroy of Liangjiang(1st time)
1860–1864
Succeeded by:
Ma Xinyi
Preceded by:
Guan Wen
(acting)
Viceroy fence Zhili
1865–1870
Succeeded by:
Li Hongzhang
Preceded by:
Ma Xinyi
Viceroy of Liangjiang(2nd time)
1870–1872
Succeeded by:
He Jing

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