Feng Guifen

出自全球本体聚合平台

公开 可引用 更新于 2026-09-13

Life

Born into a wealthy family, Feng was quick-minded and eager to learn; he became known for his literary talent and early on qualified as a shengyuan, a licentiate in the county-school system.[6]

In the twentieth year of the Daoguang reign (1840), he placed second in the first class of the metropolitan examination—the bangyan—and was appointed an editor in the Hanlin Academy. He served as an assistant examiner for Shuntian Prefecture in 1843, as chief examiner for the Guangxi provincial examination in 1844, and as an instructor of shujishi in the twenty-fifth year of Daoguang (1845).[7] He was also a disciple of Lin Zexu.[8]

His official career included you zhongyun (右中允) in the Right Junior Secretariat of the Court of the Heir Apparent, with the honorary rank of a fourth-grade metropolitan official; other titles associated with him included signatory clerk in the Judicial Office, a staff appointment, and consular officer.[9]

At the beginning of the Xianfeng reign he organized militia while residing in his native place. In 1853, when the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom established its capital at Nanjing, he was ordered to organize militia in Suzhou near Nanjing against the Taiping forces and was promoted to you zhongyun (右中允).[10]

When Taiping forces captured Suzhou in 1860, Feng fled to Shanghai and joined the Quanfang Bureau, organized by gentry from Jiangsu and Zhejiang together with British, French, and American consuls. At the beginning of the Tongzhi reign he entered Li Hongzhang’s staff; after 1862 he took part in Li’s Xiang Army to help suppress the Taiping movement and used his experience with British and American weapons to create the Huai Army.[11]

Scholarship and associations

In his youth Feng excelled at parallel prose; from middle age he devoted himself to classical prose and placed particular value on statecraft and practical learning. His central proposition was that Chinese ethical and ritual teachings should remain the foundation, supplemented by the techniques of wealth and strength developed by other countries; he was regarded as a forerunner of reformist thought.[12]

His fields also included calligraphy, mathematics, and traditional Chinese philology. In Shanghai he established the Guangfangyan Institute to cultivate talent in Western learning, and in his later years he successively lectured at academies in Jinling, Shanghai, and Suzhou.[13]

Feng explained to Li Hongzhang the harm caused by Jiangnan’s heavy tax burden; after Li brought the matter before the court, the burden was reduced to some extent. Li Hongzhang also praised the precision and breadth of Feng’s learning.[14]

Feng’s friends included Yu Yue, Yao Ying, Chen Huan, and Chen Shi, while his teachers and mentors included Li Zhaoluo, Lin Zexu, Li Shenqi, and Li Shangzhi.[15] His students included Qin Shuzhang, Guan Ligeng, Yuan Baohuang, Ye Changchi, Wu Dacheng, Wang Songwei, Zhu Peiyuan, Liu Shangxian, Xu Dunren, Xia Congwu, Sun Wenkai, Xu Songfen, Xu Fengxian, Wang Mingqing, Pan Qifeng, Yu Zengru, Chen Qixi, and Huang Lirang.[16] He also wrote prefaces for works by Wu Cai and Zhang Lunying.[17]

Works

His works included 《校邠廬抗議》 in two juan, 《說文解字段注考正》 in fifteen juan, 《顯志堂詩文集》, and 《顯志堂稿》. He also wrote 《說文部首歌》, 《弧矢算術細草圖解》 in one juan, 《周禮職官分屬歌》 in one juan, and 《山海經表目》 in two juan.[18]

Death and posthumous recognition

On the thirteenth day of the fourth month in the thirteenth year of Tongzhi (1874), Feng died of illness at his residence and was buried on Mount Tianchi; in the second year of Guangxu, he was enshrined in the Shrine of Celebrated Officials and Worthies of the Native Place.[19]

TimelineCBDB

  1. 1843 同考官
  2. 1844 鄉試考官

Office recordsCBDB

OfficeFromToEraPosting
同考官1843Era unknown順天府
鄉試考官1844Era unknown廣西省
Year unknown2
OfficeEraPosting
編修Era unknownUnknown
詹事府右春坊右中允咸豐Unknown

FamilyCBDB

RelationNameLife
父馮智懋–
子馮芳植–

AliasesCBDB

  • 十五焦書館 室名、別號
  • 憬叟 未詳
  • 懁叟 室名、別號
  • 懷叟 未詳
  • 敬亭 字
  • 景亭 室名、別號
  • 林一 字
  • 校邠 未詳
  • 校邠廬 室名、別號
  • 獧甫 室名、別號
  • 獨善兼善之室 室名、別號
  • 鄧尉山人 室名、別號
  • 顯志堂 室名、別號

StatusCBDB

  • 書法家
  • 數學家
  • 小學家
  • [為官者：文]

AssociationsCBDB

PersonRelationYears
俞樾友–
姚瑩友–
陳奐友–
陳時友–
李兆洛為李兆洛之學生–
林則徐為林則徐之學生–
李申耆為李申耆之學生–
李尚之為李尚之之學生–
秦綬章學生為秦綬章–
管禮耕學生為管禮耕–
袁寶璜學生為袁寶璜–
吳茝為吳茝所著書作序–
張綸英為張綸英所著書作序–
林則徐為林則徐之弟子–
葉昌熾弟子為葉昌熾–
吳大澂弟子為吳大澂–
王頌蔚弟子為王頌蔚–
朱培源弟子為朱培源–
柳商賢弟子為柳商賢–
袁寶璜弟子為袁寶璜–
徐敦仁弟子為徐敦仁–
管禮耕弟子為管禮耕–
夏從鋙弟子為夏從鋙–
孫文楷弟子為孫文楷–
徐誦芬弟子為徐誦芬–
徐鳳銜弟子為徐鳳銜–
汪銘清弟子為汪銘清–
潘其鳳弟子為潘其鳳–
郁曾儒弟子為郁曾儒–
陳其錫弟子為陳其錫–
黃禮讓弟子為黃禮讓–
劉澂從劉澂遊-9999–
許德蘋為許德蘋作傳–

ExaminationsCBDB

RecordRank
科舉: 進士(籠統)第1甲第2名
科舉: 鄉貢舉人
縣學生員

WorksCBDB

TitleRoleYearEra
說文部首歌撰著者
蘇州府志
顯志堂稿
丈田繪圖章程
使粵行記
兩淮鹽法志
夢奈詩存
弧矢算術細草圖解:一卷撰著者
校正李氏恆星圖
校邠廬抗議:二卷
校邠廬逸箋三種
測定咸豐紀元中星表:一卷
甲辰新憲赤道恆星圖
西算新法直解:八卷
說文段注考正:十五卷
顥志堂稿:十二卷
顯志堂集
說文解字段注考證
周禮職官分屬歌 一卷撰著者
山海經表目二卷撰著者

Citations

  1. [1] Name and dates The name Feng Guifen and the years 1809–1874 are supplied by the basic record, the biographical profile, and the English label.
    • CBDBFeng Guifen (30238)The basic record gives the English name and the birth and death years 1809 and 1874.
    • Souyun馮桂芬 (57778)The profile and biographical text identify the person and give the life span 1809–1874.
    • WikidataFeng Guifen (Q5443379)The English label gives the name Feng Guifen.
  2. [2] Identity Feng Guifen is described as a Chinese scholar, a Qing thinker, and an essayist.
    • WikidataFeng Guifen (Q5443379)The English description calls him a Chinese scholar.
    • Souyun馮桂芬 (57778)The profile places him in the Qing dynasty, while the biographical text describes him as a thinker and essayist.
  3. [3] Style name and native place Feng Guifen’s style name was Linyi, his sobriquet was Jingting, his late sobriquet was Dengwei Shanren, and his native place was Mudu Town in Wuxian, Suzhou, Jiangsu.
    • CBDBFeng Guifen (30238)The basic record gives the romanized and Chinese forms of Linyi, Jingting, and Dengwei Shanren, and gives Wuxian as the native place.
    • Souyun馮桂芬 (57778)The profile and biographies give Linyi, Jingting, Dengwei Shanren, and the detailed Mudu Town location.
    • WikidataFeng Guifen (Q5443379)The alias data also contains Linyi, Jingting, and Dengwei Shanren.
  4. [4] Other names He used additional names including Jingting, Jingsou, Xuansou, Huaisou, Xiaobin, and Xuanfu, as well as four studio names or sobriquets.
    • CBDBFeng Guifen (30238)The names record lists the additional names and studio names used in the sentence.
    • WikidataFeng Guifen (Q5443379)The alias data independently contains the corresponding Chinese names and studio names.
  5. [5] Family Feng Zhimao was Feng Guifen’s father, and Feng Fangzhi was his son.
    • CBDBFeng Guifen (30238)The kinship data identifies Feng Zhimao as father and Feng Fangzhi as son.
  6. [6] Early life Feng Guifen came from a wealthy family, was eager to learn, became known for his literary talent, and was an early shengyuan.
    • Souyun馮桂芬 (57778)The biographical text describes his family background, eagerness to learn, literary reputation, and early status as a shengyuan.
    • CBDBFeng Guifen (30238)The examination record identifies him as a county-school shengyuan.
  7. [7] Examination and early offices In 1840 Feng Guifen ranked second in the first class and became an editor; he later served as an assistant examiner, a Guangxi provincial examiner, and an instructor of shujishi.
    • CBDBFeng Guifen (30238)The examination and office data provide the first-class second rank, the editorship, the 1843 Shuntian appointment, and the 1844 Guangxi examination appointment.
    • Souyun馮桂芬 (57778)The biographies give the 1840 metropolitan examination, Hanlin editorship, 1844 Guangxi examination, and 1845 shujishi instruction.
  8. [8] Lin Zexu Feng Guifen was identified as a disciple of Lin Zexu.
    • Souyun馮桂芬 (57778)The biography explicitly calls Feng Guifen a disciple of Lin Zexu.
    • CBDBFeng Guifen (30238)The relationship data records Lin Zexu in student or disciple relationships with Feng Guifen.
  9. [9] Official titles Feng Guifen held the post of you zhongyun with a fourth-grade honorary rank, and was also associated with several other official titles.
    • CBDBFeng Guifen (30238)The office data gives the post of 右中允 in the Right Junior Secretariat and places it in the Xianfeng era.
    • Souyun馮桂芬 (57778)The profile and biographical text provide the titles signatory clerk, staff official, fourth-grade honorary rank, 右中允, and consular officer.
  10. [10] Militia organization At the beginning of Xianfeng Feng Guifen organized militia, and in 1853 he organized militia in Suzhou against the Taiping forces and was promoted to you zhongyun.
    • Souyun馮桂芬 (57778)The biographies describe the early Xianfeng militia organization and the 1853 Suzhou operation, opposition to the Taiping forces, and promotion.
  11. [11] Shanghai and the Huai Army After Suzhou fell in 1860, Feng Guifen went to Shanghai, joined the Quanfang Bureau, entered Li Hongzhang’s staff, and after 1862 participated in the Xiang Army and created the Huai Army using British and American weapons experience.
    • Souyun馮桂芬 (57778)The biographies describe the 1860 flight to Shanghai, participation in the Quanfang Bureau, entry into Li Hongzhang’s staff, and the post-1862 Xiang and Huai Army activities.
  12. [12] Literary and statecraft thought Feng Guifen moved from parallel prose to classical prose, valued practical statecraft, and argued for combining Chinese ethical teachings with techniques of national wealth and strength from other countries; he was regarded as a forerunner of reformist thought.
    • Souyun馮桂芬 (57778)The biography describes his prose development, emphasis on statecraft, proposition about Chinese ethical teachings and other countries’ techniques, and role in reformist thought.
  13. [13] Scholarship and education His fields included calligraphy, mathematics, and traditional philology; he founded the Guangfangyan Institute and later lectured at academies in Jinling, Shanghai, and Suzhou.
    • CBDBFeng Guifen (30238)The status data labels him a calligrapher, mathematician, and scholar of traditional philology.
    • Souyun馮桂芬 (57778)The biographies describe the Guangfangyan Institute, its cultivation of Western-learning talent, and his lectures at academies in Jinling, Shanghai, and Suzhou.
  14. [14] Tax discussion and Li Hongzhang’s appraisal Feng Guifen raised Jiangnan’s heavy tax burden with Li Hongzhang, after which the burden was reduced to some extent; Li also praised the precision and breadth of his learning.
    • Souyun馮桂芬 (57778)The biographies recount his discussion of Jiangnan’s heavy taxes, Li’s appeal to the court, the subsequent reduction, and Li’s praise of his learning.
  15. [15] Friends and teachers Feng Guifen’s recorded friends included Yu Yue, Yao Ying, Chen Huan, and Chen Shi; his teacher relationships included Li Zhaoluo, Lin Zexu, Li Shenqi, and Li Shangzhi.
    • CBDBFeng Guifen (30238)The association data gives the four friendships and four teacher or student relationships named in the sentence.
  16. [16] Students Feng Guifen’s students included Qin Shuzhang, Guan Ligeng, Yuan Baohuang, Ye Changchi, Wu Dacheng, Wang Songwei, Zhu Peiyuan, Liu Shangxian, Xu Dunren, Xia Congwu, Sun Wenkai, Xu Songfen, Xu Fengxian, Wang Mingqing, Pan Qifeng, Yu Zengru, Chen Qixi, and Huang Lirang.
    • CBDBFeng Guifen (30238)The association data identifies the students named in the sentence, including the relationship marker for the student group.
  17. [17] Prefaces Feng Guifen wrote prefaces for works by Wu Cai and Zhang Lunying.
    • CBDBFeng Guifen (30238)The relationship data identifies Wu Cai and Zhang Lunying as authors whose works received his prefaces.
  18. [18] Works Feng Guifen’s works included the named essays, philological works, literary collections, mathematical treatise, and studies of ritual offices and the Classic of Mountains and Seas.
    • Souyun馮桂芬 (57778)The biographical texts name 校邠廬抗議, 說文解字段注考正, 顯志堂詩文集, and 顯志堂稿 as his works.
    • CBDBFeng Guifen (30238)The works data marks 說文部首歌, 弧矢算術細草圖解, 周禮職官分屬歌, and 山海經表目 as authored works and gives the two-juan and fifteen-juan title variants.
  19. [19] Death and posthumous recognition Feng Guifen died of illness at his residence on the thirteenth day of the fourth month in the thirteenth year of Tongzhi (1874), was buried on Mount Tianchi, and was enshrined in the shrine of celebrated officials and native-place worthies in the second year of Guangxu.
    • Souyun馮桂芬 (57778)The biography supplies the Tongzhi date, death at home, burial on Mount Tianchi, and Guangxu enshrinement.