The Inner World of a Great Man (Excerpt)

By Tang Haoming

Trans. by Fu Baiyu (符白羽)

A dozen years ago, the publication of The Complete Works of Zeng Guofan and literary works with Zeng as the protagonist immediately sparked a nationwide interest in a man who once changed the course of Chinese history, as if a rare cultural relic had been unearthed. Very soon, to say something about Zeng Guofan began to be viewed as cultured as well as fashionable among officials, scholars, businesspeople, soldiers, and even ordinary folks. The enthusiasm was also embraced by Chinese people living abroad, with overseas Chinese media competing to introduce Zeng Guofan, who had long since passed into oblivion, though given a posthumous title “Wenzheng” (literally meaning “literary uprightness”, the highest honor ever conferred on a late civil official).

Of countless figures who wielded enormous influences in modern Chinese history, what is it that makes Zeng Guofan stand out to gain attention from a wide spectrum of people? It seems that something can always be said about him by any Chinese. It is attributable not only to his legendary experiences, but more importantly, to the fact that he was somewhat the embodiment of the characteristics of traditional Chinese nation and Chinese culture.

In an era of global economic integration, Western culture, on the strength of economic power, is sweeping across every corner of the world, putting other cultures under threat of being overwhelmed and even superseded. Under such circumstances, how can Chinese culture, which has remained glorious for five thousand years, hold its ground? Can it justify its existence? Will the Chinese nation still need to rely on it for moral perfection? Is it possible for traditional Chinese culture to develop any further? People of vision are now struggling to find answers to these questions that never arose in the past.

Zeng Guofan is generally acknowledged as the last representative of traditional culture in modern Chinese history. The revived interest in him shows that, somewhat restless though we are in a time of transformation, many Chinese are still longing for the nourishment of domestic culture. What we aspire for more than anything else is to be inspired by successful people bred in this culture. Sharing the Chinese ancestry with them, we feel a close affinity for their edifying examples which, in turn, work better on us.

The general interest in Zeng Guofan is indeed a great encouragement for all of us who are dedicated to Chinese culture: we are thus more confident about a promising future.

Nevertheless, Chinese culture is profoundly sophisticated. Besides, an era characterized by information explosion and keen competition renders even a minute too valuable to be wasted while offering ample opportunities. Gone are the days when people had an idyllically tranquil mood and the leisure to read in seclusion for months or even for years. Then, how can those who are occupied seeking quick results today truly appreciate the wisdom of Chinese culture? In my view, it is advisable for a willing mind to try the following approach: concentrate on a representative figure for a period of time, make a thorough study of him, and then apply the knowledge of him or her to understanding other historical figures. Buddhism has it: It is a wisdom to see a bodhi tree in a leaf and a world in a flower, just the way the ancient Chinese people advocated that the fundamental knowledge about the segment is always the key to understand the whole.

As one of the representatives of Chinese culture, Zeng Guofan is a constant source of inspiration from different perspectives. For all his short lifespan of sixty years and frail health as an individual of flesh and blood, he accomplished so many achievements, and left behind a wealth of thinking. Where did his extraordinary energy come from? As a leader, he started from scratch to create a team independent of the royal court and led it to an ultimate success after tiding over all sorts of dire straits. What were the strategies he employed? As a father and an elder brother, he wrote more than a thousand letters to his children and younger brothers. Even in treacherousmilitary situations with dark clouds of death hanging overhead, he never stopped showing his warm concern for his children and brothers and giving them earnest instructions. What were the motivations for his untiring devotion? When many of his contemporaries were living in a fog of ignorance, uncertain about where the future lay, as a high-ranking official, he proposed the idea to learn from the West with a view to building up the strength of the nation, and put his idea into practice within the best of his capacity. How did this foresight come into being? All these questions call for careful study on the part of today’s people.

(From the Preface to Tang Haoming’s Review of Zeng Guofan’s Family Letters, by Tang Haoming, Yuelu Publishing House, 2002)