Wei Yuan

出自全球本体聚合平台

公开 可引用 更新于 2026-09-13

Life

His father was 魏邦魯, his grandfather 魏志順, and his great-grandfather 魏大公.[4] In 1822 he passed the Shuntian provincial examination and became a juren. The Daoguang Emperor praised his examination paper; after failing the metropolitan examination, he entered the Grand Secretariat by purchase.[5] The year in which he obtained the jinshi degree is variously given as the twenty-fourth or twenty-fifth year of the Daoguang era; the latter, an yi-si year, corresponds to 1845, when he ranked 93rd in the third class.[6]

Wei Yuan was well versed in the institutions and history of the state, studied the Gongyang Chunqiu under Liu Fenglu, and was also a student of Zhuang Cunyu. He was ranked alongside Gong Zizhen and associated with Xu Song, Zhang Mu, and Chen Li.[7] After obtaining the jinshi degree, he was assigned to Jiangsu as a prefect, served provisionally at Xinghua, then held the post of Xinghua magistrate and, in the first year of the Xianfeng era, became prefect of Gaoyou.[8]

He joined the staffs of Tao Shu and others, assisting with major policies concerning grain transport, salt administration, and river works.[9] During a major flood at Xinghua in the twenty-eighth year of the Daoguang era, he opposed the river commander’s plan to open the sluices; when his objections failed, he personally beat a drum at the governor’s office. Governor Lu Jianying hurried to investigate, the danger was averted, and the local people expressed their gratitude.[10]

During the First Opium War (1840–1841), Wei Yuan served in Yu Qian’s military staff and compiled the 《英吉利小志》 from the testimony of British prisoners; in July 1841 he met Lin Zexu at Zhenjiang and discussed current affairs and possible responses.[11] In January 1843 he produced a fifty-volume 《海國圖志》 based on newspapers translated by Lin Zexu in Guangzhou and on the 《四洲志》, while spending long periods at the Xiaojuan’a residence in Nanjing.[12] In 1847 he travelled to Guangzhou, Macao, and Hong Kong, visited Chen Li, met a Portuguese official, and acquired books from various countries, expanding the 《海國圖志》 to sixty volumes; in 1853 he drew on newly published Western works, including Madishi’s 《地理備考》, to continue it to one hundred volumes.[13]

In his later years he left office, retired to Hangzhou, and devoted himself to Buddhism and writing. In the fourth year of the Xianfeng era he compiled the 《淨土四經》 at Xinghua, and he died in Hangzhou.[14]

Scholarship

Wei Yuan took the practical application of learning to state affairs as his guiding principle, was well versed in the institutions and history of the state, and studied the 《公羊春秋》 under Liu Fenglu; his scholarly work extended across classical studies, history, and geography.[15] His classical works include 《兩漢經師今古文家法考》, 《公羊古微》, 《公羊微》, 《詩古微》, 《書古微》, 《春秋繁露注》, and 《董子春秋發微》; he also wrote 《明代食兵二政錄》 and 《皇朝經世文編》.[16]

Works and influence

His major works include the one-hundred-volume 《海國圖志》, the fourteen-volume 《聖武記》, the ninety-five-volume 《元史新編》, 《老子本義》, the sixteen-volume 《古微堂詩文集》, the ten-volume 《古微堂詩集》, and the twenty-volume 《清夜齋文集》.[17] He advanced the proposition “learn from the strengths of the barbarians in order to control the barbarians,” and is regarded as an advocate of new thought in the late Qing and as one of modern China’s writers who “opened their eyes to the world.”[18] A biography of him appears in the 《清史稿》.[19]

Office recordsCBDB

Year unknown2
OfficeEraPosting
知州咸豐高郵州
知縣道光興化

FamilyCBDB

RelationNameLife
曾祖魏大公–
祖父魏志順–
父魏邦魯–

AliasesCBDB

  • 印心室 室名、別號
  • 古微堂 室名、別號
  • 墨生 字
  • 慎微堂 室名、別號
  • 承貫 未詳
  • 淸夜齋 室名、別號
  • 漢士 字
  • 漢生 字
  • 絜園 未詳
  • 菩薩戒弟子魏承貫 未詳
  • 雲飛閣 室名、別號
  • 魏遠達 别名、曾用名
  • 默深 字
  • 點觚 未詳

StatusCBDB

  • 史學家
  • 地理學家

AssociationsCBDB

PersonRelationYears
徐松友–
張穆友–
陳澧友–
胡承珙友–
姚學塽友–
王瑬反對/攻訐-9999–
劉逢祿為劉逢祿之學生–
莊存與為莊存與之學生–
徐松與徐松遊–
程恩澤與程恩澤遊–
張穆與張穆遊–
姚瑩與姚瑩遊–
陳澧與陳澧遊–
何紹基與何紹基遊–
何秋濤與何秋濤遊–
龔自珍與龔自珍遊–
沈垚與沈垚遊–
周濟與周濟遊–

ExaminationsCBDB

RecordRank
科舉: 進士(籠統)
科舉: 進士(籠統)第3甲第93名
科舉: 鄉貢舉人
科舉制舉: 秀才(宋及以前)
貢生: 拔貢
副榜

WorksCBDB

TitleRoleYearEra
堯典釋天:一卷
孝經集傳(魏源)
元史新編:九十五卷
兩漢經師今古文家法考
公羊古微
公羊微:十卷
古微堂文內集:三卷
古微堂詩文集:十六卷
古微堂詩集:十卷
古微堂集:十卷
大學古本
孟子小記
孫子集注
小學古經
庸易通義
明代食兵二政錄
春秋繁露注:十二卷
書古微撰著者
曾子子思子章句
海國圖志:一百卷
清夜齋文集:二十卷
老子本義撰著者
聖武記:十四卷
董子春秋發微:七卷
詩古微撰著者
說文儗雅
論語孟子類篇
魏默深文集
皇朝經世文編:一百二十卷
曾子章句:二卷
蒙雅一卷撰著者

Citations

  1. [1] Dates and identity Wei Yuan’s exact birth and death dates are given together with an alternative 1856 death year; the sources identify him as a Qing thinker, historian, geographer, writer, or scholar.
    • CBDBWei Yuan (65955)The main record gives Wei Yuan’s birth year as 1794 and death year as 1856, and classifies him as a Qing historian and geographer.
    • Souyun魏源 (73811)The biographical entries give 1794–1857 and describe Wei Yuan as a late-Qing thinker, historian, and writer.
    • DILA Buddhist Authority Database魏源 (A001891)The authority record supplies Wei Yuan’s name, Qing affiliation, and the dates 23 April 1794 and 26 March 1857.
    • WikidataWei Yuan (Q597003)The entity label and description identify Wei Yuan as a Qing Chinese scholar born in 1794 and deceased in 1857, while the date claims retain both the exact 1857 date and an alternative 1856 value.
  2. [2] Names and native place Wei Yuan’s style names, genealogical or original name, hao, and native place are presented across the biographical and authority records.
    • CBDBWei Yuan (65955)The main record lists Moshen, Mosheng, Hanshi, and Wei Yuanda among Wei Yuan’s names and gives Shaoyang as his native place.
    • Souyun魏源 (73811)The biographical entries give the style names Moshen, Mosheng, and Hanshi, the name Yuanda, the hao Liangtu, and the more specific place Jintan in Shaoyang, now Longhui.
    • DILA Buddhist Authority Database魏源 (A001891)The authority record lists Wei Moshen, Wei Yuanda, Wei Mosheng, and Wei Hanshi as aliases and gives Shaoyang as the birthplace.
    • WikidataWei Yuan (Q597003)The name list confirms Moshen, Mosheng, Hanshi, Wei Yuanda, and Guweitang as names or sobriquets.
  3. [3] Studio names and Buddhist name Wei Yuan used several studio names or sobriquets and adopted Chengguan as his Buddhist name late in life.
    • CBDBWei Yuan (65955)The main record classifies Guweitang, Yinxinshi, Shenweitang, Qingyezhai, and Yunfeige as studio names or sobriquets.
    • Souyun魏源 (73811)The late-life account says that Wei Yuan retired to Hangzhou, devoted himself to Buddhism, and used Chengguan as his Buddhist name.
    • DILA Buddhist Authority Database魏源 (A001891)The authority record lists Wei Chengguan as an alias and explicitly calls Chengguan his late-life Buddhist name.
    • WikidataWei Yuan (Q597003)The name list includes Guweitang as a sobriquet.
  4. [4] Family Wei Yuan’s father, grandfather, and great-grandfather were Wei Banglu, Wei Zhishun, and Wei Dagong.
    • CBDBWei Yuan (65955)The family entries identify 魏邦魯 as the father, 魏志順 as the grandfather, and 魏大公 as the great-grandfather.
  5. [5] Provincial examination and Grand Secretariat In 1822 Wei Yuan passed the Shuntian examination as a juren, received imperial praise for his paper, failed the metropolitan examination, and entered the Grand Secretariat by purchase.
    • CBDBWei Yuan (65955)The examination entries identify Wei Yuan as having attained the juren qualification.
    • Souyun魏源 (73811)The biographical entries describe the 1822 examination, the failed metropolitan examination, entry into the Grand Secretariat by purchase, and the emperor’s praise of his paper.
    • DILA Buddhist Authority Database魏源 (A001891)The authority note details the 1822 Shuntian examination, imperial praise, and Wei Yuan’s purchase of entry as a secretary.
  6. [6] Jinshi year and examination rank The year of Wei Yuan’s jinshi degree is disputed between Daoguang 24 and 25; the latter is the yi-si year 1845, when he ranked 93rd in the third class.
    • CBDBWei Yuan (65955)The examination entries confirm the jinshi qualification and give the third-class rank as 93rd.
    • Souyun魏源 (73811)The biographical entries give Daoguang 25, the yi-si year, and 1845 as the jinshi year and examination year.
    • DILA Buddhist Authority Database魏源 (A001891)The authority note gives Daoguang 24 as the year in which he became a jinshi, preserving the alternative to the Daoguang 25 account.
  7. [7] Teachers and associates Wei Yuan studied the Gongyang Chunqiu with Liu Fenglu, was connected as a student to Zhuang Cunyu, was ranked alongside Gong Zizhen, and associated with Xu Song, Zhang Mu, and Chen Li.
    • CBDBWei Yuan (65955)The association entries identify Liu Fenglu and Zhuang Cunyu in teacher-student relations and list Gong Zizhen, Xu Song, Zhang Mu, and Chen Li among Wei Yuan’s associates and friends.
    • Souyun魏源 (73811)The biographical account describes Wei Yuan as versed in state institutions and history, a student of Liu Fenglu in the Gongyang Chunqiu, and a contemporary ranked with Gong Zizhen.
  8. [8] Official career After the jinshi degree, Wei Yuan was assigned to Jiangsu as a prefect, served provisionally at Xinghua, held the Xinghua magistracy, and became prefect of Gaoyou in the first year of Xianfeng.
    • CBDBWei Yuan (65955)The office entries list the Daoguang 29 Xinghua magistracy and the Xianfeng 1 Gaoyou prefecture.
    • Souyun魏源 (73811)The biographical entries state that Wei Yuan became a Gaoyou prefect after the jinshi degree and record his Inner Secretariat and Jiangsu service.
    • DILA Buddhist Authority Database魏源 (A001891)The authority note states that after becoming a jinshi he was sent to Jiangsu as a prefect and served provisionally at Xinghua.
  9. [9] Staff service and policy Wei Yuan served in the staffs of Tao Shu and others and helped administer grain transport, salt, and river affairs.
    • Souyun魏源 (73811)The biographical account says that Wei Yuan entered Tao Shu’s and others’ staffs and assisted with the major grain, salt, and river policies.
  10. [10] Xinghua flood During the Daoguang 28 flood at Xinghua, Wei Yuan opposed opening the sluices, beat a drum at the governor’s office, and helped bring about an investigation that averted the danger.
    • DILA Buddhist Authority Database魏源 (A001891)The authority note details the Daoguang 28 flood at Xinghua, Wei Yuan’s opposition and drumming at the governor’s office, Lu Jianying’s inspection, and the people’s gratitude.
  11. [11] First Opium War During 1840–1841 Wei Yuan served under Yu Qian, compiled the English account from British prisoners’ testimony, and met Lin Zexu at Zhenjiang in July 1841.
    • Souyun魏源 (73811)The biographical account describes Wei Yuan’s 1840–1841 service in Yu Qian’s staff, compilation of 《英吉利小志》 from British prisoner testimony, and July 1841 meeting with Lin Zexu at Zhenjiang.
  12. [12] First version of Haiguo Tuzhi In January 1843 Wei Yuan produced a fifty-volume 《海國圖志》 based on Lin Zexu’s translated newspapers and the 《四洲志》 while staying for long periods in Nanjing.
    • CBDBWei Yuan (65955)The works list records the one-hundred-volume form of 《海國圖志》, confirming the book’s title and later expanded form.
    • Souyun魏源 (73811)The biographical account specifically states that in January 1843 Wei Yuan used Lin Zexu’s translated newspapers and the 《四洲志》 to write a fifty-volume 《海國圖志》 and stayed for a long time in Nanjing.
  13. [13] Expansion of Haiguo Tuzhi Wei Yuan expanded 《海國圖志》 to sixty volumes in 1847 and continued it to one hundred volumes in 1853 using newly published Western works.
    • CBDBWei Yuan (65955)The works list records 《海國圖志》 as a one-hundred-volume work, matching the completed form described in the biography.
    • Souyun魏源 (73811)The biographical account describes the 1847 journeys, visit to Chen Li, meeting with a Portuguese official, acquisition of books, expansion to sixty volumes, and continuation to one hundred volumes in 1853.
  14. [14] Later life Wei Yuan left office, retired to Hangzhou, devoted himself to Buddhism and writing, compiled 《淨土四經》 at Xinghua in Xianfeng 4, and died in Hangzhou.
    • Souyun魏源 (73811)The biographical entries describe Wei Yuan’s late-life retirement from office, writing, Buddhist practice, residence in Hangzhou, and death there.
    • DILA Buddhist Authority Database魏源 (A001891)The authority note states that Wei Yuan devoted himself to Buddhism and compiled 《淨土四經》 at Xinghua in Xianfeng 4.
  15. [15] Practical scholarship Wei Yuan made practical statecraft the guiding principle of his learning, knew the institutions and history of the state, studied the 《公羊春秋》 with Liu Fenglu, and worked across classical studies, history, and geography.
    • CBDBWei Yuan (65955)The main record identifies Wei Yuan as a historian and geographer, while the association entries list Liu Fenglu in his scholarly network.
    • Souyun魏源 (73811)The biographical account explicitly gives practical statecraft as Wei Yuan’s scholarly aim, describes his knowledge of state institutions and history, and records his study of the 《公羊春秋》 under Liu Fenglu.
  16. [16] Classical and historical writings Wei Yuan’s associated works include studies of classical learning, the Chunqiu tradition, Ming institutions, and the statecraft anthology.
    • CBDBWei Yuan (65955)The works list contains the titles on the two-Han scholarly tradition, the Gongyang, Shi, Shu, and Chunqiu studies, and the Ming and statecraft writings.
  17. [17] Major works The major works and recorded lengths include 《海國圖志》, 《聖武記》, 《元史新編》, 《老子本義》, 《古微堂詩文集》, 《古微堂詩集》, and 《清夜齋文集》.
    • CBDBWei Yuan (65955)The works list gives these titles and records the one-, fourteen-, ninety-five-, sixteen-, ten-, and twenty-volume counts where applicable.
    • Souyun魏源 (73811)The biographical entries name 《古微堂詩文集》, 《聖武記》, 《元史新編》, 《老子本義》, and 《古微堂詩集》 among Wei Yuan’s works.
  18. [18] Intellectual influence Wei Yuan advocated learning from foreign strengths to control foreign threats and is described as an advocate of late-Qing new thought and one of modern China’s writers who opened their eyes to the world.
    • Souyun魏源 (73811)The biographical entries attribute the proposition “師夷長技以制夷” to Wei Yuan and describe him as an advocate of late-Qing new thought and one of modern China’s writers who opened their eyes to the world.
  19. [19] Posthumous biography The Qing Shi Gao contains a biography of Wei Yuan.
    • Souyun魏源 (73811)The closing sentence of the biographical entry states that the 《清史稿》 contains a biography of Wei Yuan.