Wenxiang (Chinese: 文祥; pinyin: Wénxiáng, Manchu: ᠸᡝᠨᠰᡳᠶᠠᠩ, Möllendorff: Wensiyang, Abkai: Wensiyang; born October 16, 1818, in Liaoyang, died May 26, 1876) was an ethnic Manchu statesman of the Qing dynasty of China. Wenxiang hailed from the Gūwalgiya clan and belonged to the Plain Red Banner in the Eight Banners in Mukden. In 1845, he obtained the highest degree (jinshi) in the imperial examination and four years later he was appointed to the Board of Works. He advanced through the ranks and in 1858, he was appointed vice president to the Board of Rites and also became a member of the Grand Council, the highest policy-making organ in the Empire. He subsequently held a number of prominent posts in the central government and became a key player in court politics.
Wenxiang | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Grand Councilor | |
| In office 1858–1876 | |
| Grand Secretary of the Wuying Hall | |
| In office 1874–1876 | |
| Grand Secretary of the Tiren Library | |
| In office 1872–1874 | |
| Assistant Grand Secretary | |
| In office 1871–1872 | |
| Minister of Personnel | |
| In office March 31, 1866 – July 16, 1872 Serving with Zhu Fengbiao (until 1868), Shan Maoqian (since 1868) | |
| Preceded by | Ruichang |
| Succeeded by | Baoyun |
| Minister of Works | |
| In office October 9, 1862 – March 31, 1866 Serving with Li Han (until 1863), Li Tangjie (1863–1864), Shan Maoqian (since 1864) | |
| Preceded by | Wesin |
| Succeeded by | Ruichang |
| Minister of Zongli Yamen | |
| In office January 20, 1861 – May 26, 1876 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | October 16, 1818 |
| Died | May 26, 1876 (aged 57) |
| Education | jinshi degree |
As foreign troops invaded Beijing during the Second Opium War and the Xianfeng Emperor fled to Chengde, Wenxiang remained in the capital and took part in negotiating with the British and French. Following the peace settlement, he became one of the founders of the new Qing foreign office, the Zongli Yamen. He was one of the architects behind the Self-strengthening movement and was instrumental in devising the Qing government's cooperative policy towards the Western powers in the period between 1861 and 1876.
References
edit- Fang, Chao-Ying (1943). . In Hummel, Arthur W. Sr. (ed.). Eminent Chinese of the Ch'ing Period. United States Government Printing Office.
- Crossley, Pamela Kyle, Orphan Warriors' (1990), 141–146..
- "Wen-hsiang." Encyclopedia of World Biography, 2nd ed., vol. 16, Gale, 2004, pp. 202-203. Gale eBooks, link.gale.com/apps/doc/CX3404706807/GVRL?u=sacr16736&sid=bookmark-GVRL&xid=e037079c. Accessed 15 Aug. 2023.
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