On Image Research Of Li Hongzhang

This essay refresh people's judgment on Li Hong-zhang over a century, reappearing the real image and its variation process of Li Hong-zhang in different stages, analyzing the elements that affected image variation of Li Hong-zhang.The politician group in Qing Dynasty has various evaluations on Li Hongzhang. From the sight of view of Imperial court, Li Hong-zhang is a loyal courtier, however the School of Qingliu recognize him as a treacherous courtier. They appraise the Li Hong-zhang's achievements in internal and diplomatic affairs after Gengzi Incident. The Westernization group identifies the image of loyal courtier of Li Hong-zhang, related to different with Imperial court and School of Qingliu, the Westernization group mainly highlight the merits of westernization. Although the reform group had some complaint, meanwhile affirm Li Hong-zhang a positive hero. Revolutionary group negated Li Hong-zhang entirely, considering him as "a traitor". The Republican China adherents'scholars hold the judgment of tradition history on Li Hongzhang, taking him as a "loyal courtier". Modernization Group insisted on the view that Westernization Movement headed by Li Hong-zhang promoted the development of modern era of China. It is the first signs of modern era of China. In the opposite, Marxism Scholar consider Li Hong-zhang as a "extremely evil reactionaries", "King of Counterrevolutionary", "fluncky of Manchuria", "eternal surrender". Marxism Scholar dominated the history forum after 1949, considering Li Hongzhang as a "treacherous courtier". Not until 1980s, the image of LI Hong-zhang was rebuilt as a first person who guides China to Modernization.The image of Li Hong-zhang has a tremendous change from Qing Dynasty, Republic China to New China. The writer believes that three key elements influence the image of Li Hong-zhang and have detailed analysis one by one: Political element, valuation variation and history theory with methodology variation. At the end of essay, we discuss about the problem of rebuilding image of Li Hong-zhang. By reconsidering those problems, we have a new cognition on historical figures and prospect towards future judgment to those historic figures.