The Study Of Zeng Guofan's Prose Writing Skill

Zeng Guofan,as a great master in ancient Chinese prose writing,had an unique writing style.There are three major causes.First,he was a genius born in Hunan province,therefore,he was deeply influenced by its regional culture,which made his literary talent so outstanding.Second,Zeng Guofan epitomized the thought of neo-confucianism of late-Qing dynasty,so he obeyed the traditional rite and rules under the influences of Cheng brothers and Zhu Xi ‘s neo-ocnfucianism.Third,as a famous official and strategist,he made the resurgence of the late-Qing dynasty in big crisis,and this allows his prose show great gumption.All these specific roles and experiences make his unique prose style.For one thing,Zeng Guofan's prose can be seen as prose of confucian,which was very precise and strictly ordered.He called himself “study personally under Tong Cheng's masters,and took Yao Nai as teacher”,hence he inherited the school of Tong Cheng ‘s disciplines obviously.His article was ordered,methodical,evidential,at the same time follow pure,natural,classical,and elegant features,which make his style of writing clean and clear like ice and snow.For another thing,Zeng Guofan ‘s prose also can be seen as prose of military strategist;it means he used many military strategies in writing prose.Though,Zeng was a scholar,he set up Hunan Army and succeed in suppressing rebellions.He led the troops and fought battles,defeated enemies by surprise actions.When he wrote articles,he put many military strategies in them,and made his prose sometimes surprising and miraculous.Finally,Zeng ‘s prose is prose of genius.It is very elegant,talented and magnificent;it is with great charm and always in pursuit of happiness.Zeng put the writing skill of Fu and Pian into prose writing,then make prose has more rythm.Therefore,Zeng's prose can be a model for a generation of articles.