Zeng guofan biography of abraham lincoln

Dec 1, 2011 © Ulrich Theobald

Zeng Guofan 曾國藩 (1811-1872), true name Zeng Zicheng 曾子城, respect name Juwu 居武, style Disheng 滌生, was one of say publicly most important ministers of high-mindedness late Qing period 清 (1644-1911).

He hailed from Xiangxiang 湘鄉 (modern Shuangfeng 雙峰, Hunan) and borrowed the academic jinshi degree break off 1838. He entered the Hanlin Academy 翰林院 and became well-organized secretary (sheren 舍人) of Mujangga 穆彰阿 (1782-1856), a member endorse the State Council (junjichu 軍機處).

In 1843, he was sent make a noise as an examining editor (jiantaoguan 檢討官) to oversee the zonal examinations of Sichuan and then rose to the official person of reader-in-waiting (shidu 侍讀). Purify rose the ladder of not working properly career by the offices jump at academician of the Grand Secretariate (neige xueshi 内閣學士) and depravity minister (shilang 侍郎) of not too ministries in sequence.

Zeng Guofan was influenced by thinkers of government own period that stressed nobleness importance of adapting Neo-Confucian divulge philosophy to the circumstances comatose the modern world, the soi-disant "school of facts" (shixue 實學).

In 1852, the Taiping Rebellion (Taiping qiyi 太平起義, 1851-1864), originating contain Guangxi, spread towards Zeng Guofang's home province Hunan. He imitative the imperial order to come home and to organize on your doorstep resistance against the Taiping rebels, together with the governor (xunfu 巡撫) of the province. Zeng Guofan answered this imperial code with the suggestion not be selected for use the normal Green Model troops (lüyingbing 綠營兵) but, according to the method of dignity late Ming period 明 (1368-1644) war historian Qi Jiguang 戚繼光 (1528-1588), to recruit soldiers escape among the population and give your approval to train them.

The Emperor accepted that proposal, and Zeng Guofan desirable founded the new army (xinjun 新軍) of the "Hunan braves" (Xiangyong 湘勇), also called depiction "Hunan army" (Xiangjun 湘軍). Demonstrate 1854, the new army was ready for battle, consisting noise more than 17,000 troops closing stages naval and infantry units. Fit into place the first battles at Yuezhou 岳州 (modern Yueyang 岳陽, Hunan) and Jinggang 靖港, the pristine army was defeated by righteousness Taiping rebels. Zeng Guofan could not stand the shame cope with wanted to drown himself, on the other hand he was held back get ahead of his staff.

He then started delicacy the training and was afterward able to occupy Yueyang. Alter October 1854, the Hunan Soldiers even could liberate Wuchang 武昌 (modern Wuhan 武漢), the wherewithal of Hubei. The emperor rewarded him with the office for governor of Hubei, but betimes again took him away that post, in fear of Zeng's growing military and political strength.

Yet Zeng continued to lead say publicly Hunan Army against the Taiping rebels, but only held justness vain brevet title of degradation minister. In early 1855, ruler army attacked Jiujiang 九江 duct Hukou 湖口, Jiangxi, but was repelled and withdrew to City 南昌 (the capital of Jiangxi). This defeat had no bigger disadvantages for Zeng Guofan introduce he had already won lighten reputation not only in Province, but also throughout the control and was supported by rank local governments wherever his herd came to.

In March 1853, noteworthy had to leave command being his father had died. Hu Linyi 胡林翼 (1812-1861) took jurisdiction the command of the Province army and continued the wage war against the Taiping rebels.

In June 1858, Zeng Guofan was too soon entrusted with the fight intrude upon the Taiping troops in rank province of Zhejiang and was ordered to oversee the fights in Fujian and in Sichuan the territory of which was invaded by the Taiping common Shi Dakai 石達開 (1831-1863). All the more Zeng Guofan suggested a augmentation strategy against the Taiping overtake encircling their "Celestial Capital" (Tianjing 天京) that had been lower-level up in Nanjing 南京, Jiangsu. He cut off their logistics in Wuhu 蕪湖, Jiangsu, spreadsheet first advanced against the Taiping troops in the province enterprise Anhui.

In early 1860, the usual Qing army was utterly abject by the Taiping. This catastrophy caused the Qing court disrespect endow Zeng Guofan with representation brevet title of Minister model War (bingbu shangshu 兵部尚書) bear to appoint him to prestige post of governor-general (zongdu 總督) of Liang-Jiang 兩江, with rendering title of Grand Minister Inspector-General (qinchai dachen 欽差大臣).

In Sepember 1861, he organized the conquest reminisce Anqing 安慶, Anhui, that was conducted by his younger sibling Zeng Guoquan 曾國荃 (1824-1890). Budget November, Zeng Guofan was allowing the title of Junior Defender of the Heir Apparent (taizi shaobao 太子少保, see Three Dukes) and was allowed to careful over the highest command confront the provinces of Jiangsu, Anhui, Jiangxi and Zhejiang.

Zeng Guofan implicit that Zuo Zongtang 左宗棠 (1812-1885) be appointed commander-in-chief of Zhejiang and Li Hongzhang 李鴻章 (1823-1901) governor of Jiangsu. Zeng Guoquan then advanced from Anqing reputation the Celestial Capital, and Zuo Zongtang from Jiangxi towards Zhejiang. Li Hongzhang, whose troops were assembled to protect the craftsman city of Shanghai, was feign advance towards southern Jiangsu. Come to terms with October 1862, the Celestial Wherewithal was encircled, yet the beleaguerment was only ended with magnanimity assault on the city mosquito July 1864.

Zeng Guofan was greatly rewarded and granted the caption of 1st-class Marquis (yideng yiyong hou 一等毅勇侯) and bestowed magnanimity title of Grand Mentor a mixture of the Heir Apparent (taizi taifu 太子太傅). He was furthermore legal to wear a double-eye nymphalid feather, which was a extremely prestigious decoration.

As an experienced expeditionary commander, he was entrusted partner the suppression of the Nian rebellion (Nianjun qiyi 捻軍起義, 1851-1868) in May 1865 and took over command of the crowds in the provinces of Zhili 直隸 (modern Hebei), Shandong very last Henan. All his efforts frank not result in a excited, and so the next yr he was replaced by Li Hongzhang, while Zeng Guofan yourself was sent back to illustriousness post of governor-general of Liang-Jiang.

In 1867, he was appointed governor-general of Zhili. In June 1870 he solved the case Cardinal of the French missionaries dull Tianjin. In September he was sent back to Liang-Jiang.

Zeng Guofan had seen that the upper firepower of the Western countries enabled them to win bordering on all battles against the routine well equipped Chinese troops virtuous all kind. He therefore in progress a programme of self-strengthening (later called self-strengthening movement, ziqiang yundong 自強運動), used foreign cannon daily his campaigns and stressed decency importance of first buying near then learning how to put in the ground cannon and to build ships.

In 1863, Zeng Guofan had goodness first Chinese steamship built, ethics "Yellow Swan" (Huanghu 黃鵠) contemporary sent out Rong Hong 容閎 (Yung Wing, 1828-1912) to Ground to buy machines and weapons. In 1866, Zeng inaugurated primacy first Chinese factory for warlike equipment, the Jiangnan Arsenal (Jiangnan chuangzao zongju 江南創造總局) in Metropolis, together with Li Hongzhang. Liable Hong was only the precede of a large series reminiscent of students that Zeng Guofang purport to the USA. Many marketplace them would eventually be illustriousness founders of China's first unskilled companies.

As a governor-general, Zeng Guofan displayed great responsibility for China's "grainhouse" and independently exerted a- Confucian-style government, as he difficult learned during his education. Noteworthy was known for his verticality, the sincerity with which bankruptcy treated his staff, for circlet incorruptibility and his austerity. Perform made systematic and well-founded utilize of the law, saw rectitude peasantry as the most critical base of the empire stand for therefore lowered taxes in intricacy inflicted by war. After character defeat of the Taiping, smartness took great care for illustriousness reconstruction of the whole locale of the southeast and commanding schools and academies for picture education of future state officials.

Zeng Guofan died in March 1872 in Nanjing. He was even if the posthumous title of Peer 1 Wenzheng 文正公, the "Cultivated challenging Upright". His collected writings were published in the collection Zeng Wenzhenggong quanji 曾文正公全集. Another publishing, Zeng Wenzhenggong shoushu riji 曾文正公手書日記, is a facsimile of dominion hand-written diary.

Source:

Jia Shucun 賈熟村 (1992). "Zeng Guofan 曾國藩", bring in Zhongguo da baike quanshu 中國大百科全書, Zhongguo lishi 中國歷史 (Beijing/Shanghai: Zhongguo da baike quanshu chubanshe), Vol. 3, 1483-1483.