Zeng Guofan

出自全球本体聚合平台

公开 可引用 更新于 2026-09-13

Life

His birthplace is given as Baiyangping in Changsha Prefecture, now Tianziping in Shuangfeng County, Loudi, Hunan. His genealogical name was Chuanyu, and he was identified as a seventieth-generation descendant of Zengzi through the southern branch of the Zeng clan.[4]

In 1838 he passed the jinshi examination, ranked 42nd in the third class's third rank, was also described as receiving tong jinshi status, and was appointed a Hanlin Academy shujishi.[5] In 1840 he became a Hanlin Academy examiner and was later promoted to shijiang.[6]

His subsequent posts included chief examiner for the Sichuan provincial examination, a collator at the Wenyuan Pavilion, shijiang xueshi, shidu xueshi, an Academician of the Grand Secretariat, and vice ministers in the Boards of Rites, War, and Personnel; he served as a Sichuan provincial examiner in 1843, a co-examiner in 1845, and a Jiangxi provincial examiner in 1852.[7]

In the early Xianfeng reign, while residing in his native place, he was ordered to assist with militia organization and soon formed the Xiang Army. In 1852 he was ordered to organize the Xiang Army to suppress the Taiping movement, becoming its founder and commander.[8] In 1854 the army entered combat; he issued the Proclamation against the Cantonese Bandits and within several years captured major strongholds including Wuhan and Jiujiang.[9]

After the Jiangnan field camp suffered another defeat in 1860 and the Taiping forces moved east toward Suzhou and Changzhou, the Qing court appointed him imperial commissioner and governor-general of Liangjiang to direct the Jiangnan campaign. He captured Anqing in 1861, and after the accession of the Tongzhi Emperor was placed in charge of military affairs in Jiangsu, Anhui, Zhejiang, and Jiangxi.[10]

Zeng Guoquan's assault on Tianjing, Zuo Zongtang's advance into Zhejiang, and Li Hongzhang's campaign from Shanghai against Suzhou and Changzhou were all carried out under Zeng Guofan's direction. After the Xiang Army captured Tianjing in 1864, he was made Grand Tutor to the Heir Apparent and a First-Class Marquis of Yiyong; another formulation gives the honor as Grand Protector to the Heir Apparent, and the title was also made hereditary in perpetuity. He later commanded campaigns against the Nian forces without success.[11]

After Tianjing, the Taiping capital, fell in July 1864, large-scale killing caused many deaths and injuries; in Nanjing, Zeng Guofan and Zeng Guoquan were consequently called “Zeng the Barber” and “Zeng the Butcher,” while another explanation derives “Zeng the Barber” from Zeng Guofan's harsh discipline and the execution of men for minor offenses.[12]

Together with Li Hongzhang he founded the Jiangnan Arsenal and, following Rong Hong's proposal, selected the first group of students to study in the United States. He later supported the Self-Strengthening efforts led by Prince Gong Yixin, encouraged locally sponsored industry, and advocated treating foreign countries through equal diplomacy.[13]

In the seventh year of the Tongzhi reign (1868), he became governor-general of Zhili while serving as Grand Secretary of the Wuying Palace. The Tianjin Church case is dated to the ninth Tongzhi year (1870) in one chronology and to 1871 in another. In the negotiations, he had seventeen people executed and officials sent into exile in an effort to secure a compromise, and was harshly criticized for being seen as yielding to foreign pressure.[14] He returned as governor-general of Liangjiang and died in office at Nanjing in 1872; he was posthumously granted the title Grand Tutor and given the posthumous name Wenzheng.[15]

Thought and writing

He held that moral principle, evidential research, and literary composition were all indispensable, and throughout his life followed the Cheng–Zhu school of Neo-Confucianism.[16]

His prose inherited the Tongcheng tradition of Fang Bao and Yao Nai while developing it, and he became a founder of the late-Qing Xiangxiang school of prose.[17] His selections Jing Shi Bai Jia Za Chao and Shi Ba Jia Shi Chao circulated widely.[18]

His writings and compilations included 《曾文正公家書》, 《曾文正公全集》, 《求闕齋文集》, 《詩集》, 《讀書錄》, 《日記》, 《奏議》, 《家調》, and 《求闕齋詩集》. Other titles included 《讀儀禮錄》, 《孟子要略》, 《曾文正公家訓》, 《曾文正公雜著》, 《曾文正公雜著鈔》, 《曾文正公日記》, 《求闕齋日記類鈔》, 《求闕齋日記》, and 《求闕齋讀書錄》.[19]

Family and network

His younger brother was Zeng Guoquan (1824–1890); his eldest son was Zeng Jize (1839–1890), and his second son was Zeng Jihong (1848–1881).[20]

His recorded friends included Yu Yue, Mo Youzhi, Wu Tingdong, He Guizhen, Li Shanlan, Shao Yichen, Jiang Zhongyuan, Wu Minshu, Mei Zengliang, and Dai Junheng.[21]

His students included Wu Rulun, Xue Fucheng, Li Yunlin, Li Hongzhang, Wu Kunxiu, and Zhang Yuzhao[22]; his disciples included Yu Yue, Wu Rulun, Zuo Zongtang, Li Shuchang, Huang Pengnian, Li Hongzhang, and Liu Shunian[23]. Wu Changqing privately followed his learning, while Cheng Hongzhao, Yang Xiangji, and Zhou Tenghu served on his staff, and Zhu Kongzhang and Xiao Mu served under him.[24]

Influence

The Xiang Army became an important support of the late-Qing regime and expanded the power and political networks of provincial commanders. Zeng Guofan was paired with Hu Linyi as “Zeng and Hu” and, with Li Hongzhang, Zuo Zongtang, and Zhang Zhidong, was counted among the “Four Great Late-Qing Ministers.”[25]

His prose influenced writers of the late Qing and early Republic, including Yan Fu, Lin Shu, Tan Sitong, and Liang Qichao. In his youth Mao Zedong called Zeng Guofan the modern figure he admired above all others, while in later life he called him the most formidable figure of the landlord class; Chiang Kai-shek regarded Zeng's principles of conduct as a model for politicians, used the Zeng-Hu Military Principles as a textbook for senior officers, and kept the Complete Works of Zeng Wenzheng beside him for lifelong reading.[26]

TimelineCBDB

  1. 1843 鄉試考官
  2. 1845 同考官
  3. 1852 鄉試考官
  4. 1861 總督 咸豐

Office recordsCBDB

OfficeFromToEraPosting
鄉試考官1843Era unknown四川省
同考官1845Era unknown
鄉試考官1852Era unknown江西省
總督1861咸豐江蘇省、江西省
Year unknown3
OfficeEraPosting
侍講學士Era unknownUnknown
侍讀學士Era unknownUnknown
內閣學士Era unknownUnknown

FamilyCBDB

RelationNameLife
父曾A–
弟曾國荃1824–1890
長子; 第一子曾紀澤1839–1890
次子曾紀鴻1848–1881

AliasesCBDB

  • 伯涵 字
  • 文正 諡號
  • 曾子城 别名、曾用名
  • 求闕齋 室名、別號
  • 滌生 室名、別號
  • 滌筌 未詳
  • 養德養身綿綿穆穆之室 室名、別號

StatusCBDB

  • [為官者：文]

AssociationsCBDB

PersonRelationYears
俞樾友–
莫友芝友–
吳廷棟友–
何桂珍友–
李善蘭友–
邵懿辰友–
江忠源友–
吳敏樹友–
梅曾亮友–
戴鈞衡友–
林普晴推薦–
孫式榮欣賞/器重-9999–
吳汝綸學生為吳汝綸–
薛福成學生為薛福成–
李雲麟學生為李雲麟–
李鴻章學生為李鴻章–
吳坤修學生為吳坤修–
張裕釗學生為張裕釗–
俞樾弟子為俞樾–
吳汝綸弟子為吳汝綸–
左宗棠弟子為左宗棠–
黎庶昌弟子為黎庶昌–
黃彭年弟子為黃彭年–
李鴻章弟子為李鴻章–
劉書年弟子為劉書年–
程鴻詔幕僚為程鴻詔-9999–
楊象濟幕僚為楊象濟–
周騰虎幕僚為周騰虎-9999–
柯鉞幕僚為柯鉞–
吳鴻勳幕僚為吳鴻勳–
張振之幕僚為張振之–
何緝熙幕僚為何緝熙-9999–
彭世洙為彭世洙作傳-9999–
吳長慶其學為吳長慶所私淑–
朱孔彰下屬為朱孔彰–
蕭穆下屬為蕭穆–
程恆生下屬為程恆生–

ExaminationsCBDB

RecordRank
科舉: 進士(籠統)第3甲第42名
科舉: 鄉貢舉人

WorksCBDB

TitleRoleYearEra
曾文正公文鈔
三十家詩鈔:六卷
勸誡淺語:一卷
十八家詩鈔:二十卷
奏議(曾國藩):三十二卷
批牘(曾國藩):六卷
日記類鈔:二卷
書札:三十三卷
曾文正公文集:四卷
曾文正公詩集:三卷
曾文正奏稿:三十二卷
求闕齋讀書錄:四卷
湘軍水陸戰紀:十六卷
經史百家簡編:二卷
經史百家雜鈔:二十卷
讀儀禮錄:一卷撰著者
長江圖說:十二卷
雜著:二卷
鳴原堂論文:二卷
孟子要略 五卷 附錄 一卷撰著者
曾文正公家訓二卷撰著者
曾文正公雜箸二卷撰著者
曾文正公雜著鈔一卷撰著者
曾文正公日記 二卷撰著者
求闕齋日記類鈔 二卷撰著者
求闕齋日記 一卷撰著者
求闕齋讀書錄 十卷撰著者

Citations

  1. [1] Name and dates The biographical fields and complete date values jointly confirm Zeng Guofan's name and dates of birth and death.
    • CBDBZeng Guofan (34344)The biographical fields give the name Zeng Guofan and the years 1811 and 1872.
    • Souyun曾國藩 (64155)The profile gives the person's name and the birth and death years 1811 and 1872.
    • DILA Buddhist Authority Database曾國藩 (A007457)The authority entry supplies the complete dates 1811-11-26 and 1872-03-12.
    • WikidataZeng Guofan (Q189512)The English label and date claims confirm the name and both complete dates.
  2. [2] Identity He is identified as a Qing statesman, military commander, Neo-Confucian scholar, and writer.
    • Souyun曾國藩 (64155)The profile identifies the dynasty as Qing, while the biographical description calls him a military man, Neo-Confucian scholar, politician, and literary figure.
    • DILA Buddhist Authority Database曾國藩 (A007457)The authority entry identifies him as a Qing-period politician and literary figure.
    • WikidataZeng Guofan (Q189512)The entity descriptions identify him as a Chinese politician and military commander and as a Qing politician.
  3. [3] Names and aliases He was originally Zeng Zicheng, used the courtesy name Bohan and style name Disheng, and received the posthumous name Wenzheng; he was from Xiangxiang in Hunan and had several other recorded aliases.
    • CBDBZeng Guofan (34344)The name fields identify Zeng Zicheng, Bohan, Disheng, Wenzheng, Qiuquezhai, Diaoquan, Yangdeyangshenmianmumuzhishi, and Xiangxiang.
    • Souyun曾國藩 (64155)The profile and biographies give Hunan Xiangxiang and the names Zeng Zicheng, Bohan, Disheng, and Wenzheng.
    • DILA Buddhist Authority Database曾國藩 (A007457)The authority aliases list Zicheng, Bohan, Disheng, and Wenzheng.
    • WikidataZeng Guofan (Q189512)The alias collection gives the romanized forms Qiuquezhai, Diaoquan, Disheng, and Yangdeyangshenmianmumuzhishi among other names.
  4. [4] Birthplace and lineage The birthplace and lineage are given as Baiyangping in Changsha Prefecture, with a genealogical name Chuanyu and descent from Zengzi through the southern Zeng branch.
    • Souyun曾國藩 (64155)The biographical text gives Baiyangping, its modern location, the genealogical name Chuanyu, and descent from Zengzi through the southern branch.
    • DILA Buddhist Authority Database曾國藩 (A007457)The birthplace field identifies Changsha Prefecture.
  5. [5] Examination and first appointment He passed the jinshi examination in 1838, ranked 42nd in the third class's third rank, was described as receiving tong jinshi status, and became a Hanlin Academy shujishi.
    • CBDBZeng Guofan (34344)The examination fields list the jinshi degree and third-class, forty-second-place rank.
    • Souyun曾國藩 (64155)The biographies identify him as a Daoguang eighteenth-year and Wuxu-year jinshi.
    • DILA Buddhist Authority Database曾國藩 (A007457)The authority note describes the 1838 tong jinshi status and appointment as Hanlin Academy shujishi.
  6. [6] Early office In 1840 he became a Hanlin Academy examiner and was later promoted to shijiang.
    • Souyun曾國藩 (64155)The biography records his appointment as jianxiu and subsequent promotions.
    • DILA Buddhist Authority Database曾國藩 (A007457)The authority note explicitly dates his appointment as Hanlin Academy jianxiu to 1840 and says he later became shijiang.
  7. [7] Official career His subsequent offices included examination and Hanlin posts, the Wenyuan Pavilion, the Grand Secretariat, and vice ministries in the Boards of Rites, War, and Personnel; he also held three dated examination posts.
    • Souyun曾國藩 (64155)The biographies list the Sichuan examination, Wenyuan Pavilion, Hanlin, Grand Secretariat, and vice-minister offices.
    • DILA Buddhist Authority Database曾國藩 (A007457)The authority note lists the Sichuan chief examiner, Wenyuan Pavilion, Hanlin, and vice-minister appointments.
    • CBDBZeng Guofan (34344)The office fields give the Grand Secretariat, Hanlin, co-examiner, and dated Sichuan and Jiangxi examination appointments.
  8. [8] Founding the Xiang Army In the early Xianfeng reign he assisted with militia organization, then formed the Xiang Army; in 1852 he was ordered to organize it against the Taiping movement and became its founder and commander.
    • Souyun曾國藩 (64155)The biographies describe the early-Xianfeng militia appointment, the 1852 organization of the Xiang Army, and his role as its founder and commander.
    • DILA Buddhist Authority Database曾國藩 (A007457)The authority note says that he led the Xiang Army against the Taiping forces.
  9. [9] Early campaigns The Xiang Army fought in 1854, when he issued the Proclamation against the Cantonese Bandits, and captured Wuhan, Jiujiang, and other strongholds in the following years.
    • Souyun曾國藩 (64155)The biography records the 1854 campaign, the proclamation, and the capture of Wuhan and Jiujiang.
  10. [10] Liangjiang command After the 1860 defeat of the Jiangnan field camp, he became imperial commissioner and governor-general of Liangjiang, captured Anqing in 1861, and was placed in charge of four provinces' military affairs.
    • Souyun曾國藩 (64155)The biography gives the defeat, Liangjiang appointment, Anqing campaign, and four-province military command.
    • CBDBZeng Guofan (34344)The office fields identify a 1861, eleventh-Xianfeng-year governor-generalship covering Jiangsu and Jiangxi.
    • DILA Buddhist Authority Database曾國藩 (A007457)The authority note lists the Liangjiang governor-generalship and campaigns against the Taiping forces.
  11. [11] Tianjing campaign and honors The campaigns of Zeng Guoquan, Zuo Zongtang, and Li Hongzhang were carried out under Zeng Guofan's direction; after Tianjing fell in 1864 he received major honors, and his later campaigns against the Nian forces failed.
    • Souyun曾國藩 (64155)The biographies describe the three campaigns, the 1864 capture of Tianjing, the honors, hereditary succession, and unsuccessful Nian campaigns.
    • DILA Buddhist Authority Database曾國藩 (A007457)The authority note confirms the Xiang Army campaigns and the Taizi Taibao honor.
  12. [12] Tianjing violence and nicknames The account describes mass killing after the fall of Tianjing and the resulting nicknames, while also giving an alternative explanation based on severe military discipline.
    • Souyun曾國藩 (64155)The biographical text gives the July 1864 capture, killing, deaths and injuries, nicknames, and the alternative explanation of “Zeng the Barber.”
  13. [13] Industry and overseas study He founded the Jiangnan Arsenal with Li Hongzhang, selected the first students to study in the United States after Rong Hong's proposal, and supported Self-Strengthening, local industry, and equal diplomacy.
    • Souyun曾國藩 (64155)The biographies describe the Jiangnan Arsenal, the first overseas students, support for the Self-Strengthening efforts, local industry, and equal diplomacy.
    • CBDBZeng Guofan (34344)The association entry identifies Li Hongzhang as his student and confirms the close working relationship.
  14. [14] Zhili and Tianjin He became governor-general of Zhili in 1868, handled the Tianjin Church case in 1870 or, in another dating, 1871, and was criticized for the compromise settlement.
    • Souyun曾國藩 (64155)The biographies give the seventh-year Zhili appointment, the ninth-year Tianjin negotiations, the alternative 1871 dating, the executions and exiles, and the criticism.
    • CBDBZeng Guofan (34344)The office fields confirm his governor-general office in the broader official career.
  15. [15] Death and posthumous honors He returned to the Liangjiang governor-generalship, died in office at Nanjing in 1872, and received the posthumous title Grand Tutor and name Wenzheng.
    • Souyun曾國藩 (64155)The biographies give his return to Liangjiang, death in office at Nanjing, posthumous Grand Tutor honor, and Wenzheng name.
    • DILA Buddhist Authority Database曾國藩 (A007457)The authority entry confirms the 1872 death and Wenzheng name.
    • WikidataZeng Guofan (Q189512)The date claim confirms 1872-03-12 as the death date.
  16. [16] Intellectual principles He treated moral principle, evidential research, and literary composition as indispensable and followed the Cheng–Zhu school of Neo-Confucianism.
    • Souyun曾國藩 (64155)The biography states that principle, evidential study, and literary composition could not be lacking.
    • DILA Buddhist Authority Database曾國藩 (A007457)The authority note says that he followed Cheng–Zhu Neo-Confucianism throughout his life.
  17. [17] Xiangxiang school His prose developed the Tongcheng tradition of Fang Bao and Yao Nai and established the late-Qing Xiangxiang school of prose.
    • Souyun曾國藩 (64155)The literary biography describes his development of the Tongcheng tradition and his founding role in the Xiangxiang school.
    • DILA Buddhist Authority Database曾國藩 (A007457)The authority note names Fang Bao and Yao Nai as the Tongcheng predecessors and calls him a founder of the Xiangxiang school.
  18. [18] Selected works His selections Jing Shi Bai Jia Za Chao and Shi Ba Jia Shi Chao circulated widely.
    • Souyun曾國藩 (64155)The biographies identify the two selections and say that they circulated widely.
    • CBDBZeng Guofan (34344)The title fields list Shi Ba Jia Shi Chao and Jing Shi Bai Jia Za Chao.
  19. [19] Writings His collected writings include the major family, literary, diary, reading, and memorial works listed in the text.
    • Souyun曾國藩 (64155)The biographies list the family writings, complete works, literary collections, reading records, diaries, memorials, and the Qiuquezhai poetry collection.
    • CBDBZeng Guofan (34344)The title fields list the named prose, memorial, diary, correspondence, poetry, reading, ritual, family-instruction, and miscellaneous works.
  20. [20] Family His younger brother was Zeng Guoquan, his eldest son Zeng Jize, and his second son Zeng Jihong, with the stated birth and death years.
    • CBDBZeng Guofan (34344)The kinship fields identify the younger brother, eldest son, and second son and give each person's birth and death years.
  21. [21] Friends The association entries identify ten friends in his network.
    • CBDBZeng Guofan (34344)The association fields mark each of these ten people as a friend of Zeng Guofan.
  22. [22] Students His students included Wu Rulun, Xue Fucheng, Li Yunlin, Li Hongzhang, Wu Kunxiu, and Zhang Yuzhao.
  23. [23] Disciples His disciples included Yu Yue, Wu Rulun, Zuo Zongtang, Li Shuchang, Huang Pengnian, Li Hongzhang, and Liu Shunian.
  24. [24] Staff and subordinates Wu Changqing privately followed his learning; Cheng Hongzhao, Yang Xiangji, and Zhou Tenghu served on his staff, while Zhu Kongzhang and Xiao Mu served under him.
    • CBDBZeng Guofan (34344)The association fields identify Wu Changqing as a private follower, three staff members, and two subordinates.
  25. [25] Political and military legacy The Xiang Army became an important support of the late-Qing regime, and Zeng Guofan was grouped with Hu Linyi and with the four major late-Qing ministers.
    • Souyun曾國藩 (64155)The biographies describe the Xiang Army as a late-Qing support, the expansion of provincial power, and the Zeng-Hu and Four Great Late-Qing Ministers groupings.
  26. [26] Literary influence and later assessments The biographies describe the influence of his prose on late-Qing and early-Republic writers and record later assessments by Mao Zedong and Chiang Kai-shek.
    • Souyun曾國藩 (64155)The biographies name the writers influenced by his style and record the assessments, reading habits, and military textbook use attributed to Mao Zedong and Chiang Kai-shek.