Biography of Zeng Guofan
- Description:
- Impressions:
Zhang Hongjie’s biography of Zeng Guofan offers a compelling narrative of one of the most influential figures in late Qing China. Zeng, both a statesman and military leader, played a pivotal role in suppressing the Taiping Rebellion while also shaping China’s intellectual and moral landscape. Zhang presents Zeng not as a flawless hero but as a man of contradictions—ambitious yet disciplined, pragmatic yet bound by Confucian ethics. Through detailed analysis and vivid storytelling, the book reveals how Zeng’s perseverance, self-cultivation, and political strategy contributed to both his personal rise and the Qing dynasty’s fragile stability. It is both a biography and a reflection on leadership, character, and cultural identity in times of upheaval.
