Tseng Kuo-fan And Modern Hunan Culture

From the angle of relation between an individual intellectual and a regional culture, the article approaches tentatively the relation between Zeng Guofan and the modern Huxiang Culture, and strives to reveal the reasons why the Huxiang culture appeared like an awl sticking out through a bag and occupied an important position in the beginning course of modern sino-West cultural exchange. Thus it clears the great cultural effect of his historical appearance at the critical moment. The article discusses it from 3 parts. The first part expounds the historical show of Huxiang Culture and Zeng in the course of modern turn. Facing with rather serious political, economical, international conditions, the Culture stood in the forefront of traditional culture circulation. Zeng, who was affected deeply by the Culture, synthesized the traditional culture to its highest development, and raised the flag of Lixue Jinshi, would distinguish himself quickly for suiting to the voice of the time. The second part focuses discussion on his important effect on the modern Culture. Firstly he helped to facilitate the formation and practice of the basic Culture spirits. Secondly he noticed to spread ancient records and academic spirits of the culture, Next by the means of the Office of his Commanding General, he brought about a modern cultural talented group with a large scale. At last he richened greatly the academic intension in the fields of philosophy, literature and history. Furthermore he helped to prompt the course of culture turn of Culture and even the whole China culture with strive in the fields of diplomatic sense, industrial technology, educational pattern. The third part discusses the concrete symbols of historical status of modern Culture. In one hand, to some extent, his thought and cause made modern Culture develop to be elegant and become a mainstream culture. In the other hand, they caused the responsibility and confidence, suffering and enterprising sense to expand. Since then the persons with high ideals went out of Hunan in large scale, and talent groups came forth in large numbers, which affected modern China greatly. Modern Hunan culture started by Zeng high lifted unprecedented. Obviously, in the completely new conditions, Zeng merged learning, political technique, govern skills and made somehow progress in handling the time topic on modern sino-West culture, and succeeded in promoting the modern changing of Culture and even traditional culture to some extent, and advanced development. Though there some culture nervous and flaws, class and history limit in him, we must affirm his academic status and cultural signification to certain extent.