Study On Zeng Guofan's Thought

Zeng Guofan,an outstanding thinker,politician,militarist in the modern history of china,whose thought made a profound and far-reaching impact on the development of china's society.Therefore,it is necessary to conduct a study on Zeng Guofan's thought.This paper will make a study on Zeng Guofan's philosophical thought,academic thought,ethical thought and political thought.In philosophical thought,although Zeng Guofan advocates destiny,he stresses manpower over destiny;Zeng Guofan's theory of knowledge and practice is characterized by stressing the importance of practice.In academic thought,Zeng Guofan had the greatest esteem for the Song Learning,but he didn't deify the Cheng Zhu School of the Neo-Confucianism,however,he made a compromise between the Han Learning and the Song Learning and absorbed the merits of various academic schools;Zeng Guofan's academic thought,characterized by concerning reality and applying,had a positive impact on the modern history of china.In ethical thought,in order to save ruling crisis,Zeng Guofan advocated to rectify feudal morals among which Zeng Guofan put special emphasis on loyalty,diligence,forgiveness,and sincerity,at the same time,Zeng Guofan advanced some methods of moral-cultivation.In political thought,in order to suppress peasant uprisings,Zeng Guofan advocated to adopt two ways of governing —— rule by rites and rule by laws,and he put more emphasis on the iron fist of brutality;after comprehensive and continuous considerations,Zeng Guofan adopted a foreign policy of compromise and yielding;in order to realize national self-improvement,Zeng Guofan initiated Westernization Movement in the modern history of china;attaching importance to talents played a very important role in the political success of Zeng Guofan who had his original viewson talent selection and talent management.From a general view,Zeng Guofan's thoughts are characterized by compatibility,openness and backwardness.It is precisely because of compatibility and openness of Zeng Guofan's thoughts that Zeng Guofan,honoured as a pefect man of meritorious service,high moral values and great wringts,realized the politics ideality of the internal sage and external king.It is undeniable that Zeng Guofan's thoughts are characterized by conservatism and backwardness in a sense.Compared with the diehards,Zeng Guofan's thoughts are indeed open and progressive.But,the openness and progress of Zeng Guofan's thoughts are limited in a certain degreee.As one member of the landlord class,Zeng Guofan aimed to defend the stratified feudal hierarchy all along.Therefore,it is inevitable that Zeng Guofan's thoughts have characteristics of conservatism and backwardness,even some elements of ignorance and feudal dross.Nonetheless,Zeng Guofan's thoughts have some beneficial elements transcending the times and class.Zeng Guofan's interpretation of traditional morality of loyalty,diligence,forgiveness,and sincerity,etc.has an important consulting significance to carry forward Chinese traditional virtues.In a word,Zeng Guofan's thoughts not only made an important impact on modern chinese society,but also made a profound and far-reaching impact on the development of china's society.