Zeng Guofan

Zeng Guofan First Class Marquis of Yiyong
Zeng Guofan
Grand Secretary of the Wuying Hall
In office 1868–1872
Assistant Grand Secretary
In office 1862–1868
Viceroy of Liangjiang
In office 1870–1872
Preceded by	Ma Xinyi
Succeeded by	He Jing
In office 1860–1864
Preceded by	He Guiqing
Succeeded by	Ma Xinyi
Viceroy of Zhili
In office 1868–1870
Preceded by	Guanwen
Succeeded by	Li Hongzhang
Personal details
Born	(1811-11-26)26 November 1811 Xiangxiang, Hunan Province, Qing Empire
Died	12 March 1872(1872-03-12) (aged 60) Nanjing, Qing Empire
Children	sons: Zeng Jize, Zeng Jihong; daughter: Zeng Jifen
Relatives	Zeng Guoquan (brother)
Education	Jinshi degree in the Imperial Examination
Occupation	Statesman, general
Military service
Allegiance	Qing Empire
Branch/service	Xiang Army
Years of service	1853–1872
Battles/wars	Taiping Rebellion Nian Rebellion Tianjin Massacre

Zeng Guofan, Marquis Yiyong (traditional Chinese: 曾國藩; simplified Chinese: 曾国藩; pinyin: Zēng Guófān; Wade–Giles: Tseng¹ Kuo²-fan¹;^[2] 26 November 1811 – 12 March 1872), birth name Zeng Zicheng, courtesy name Bohan (伯涵), was a Chinese statesman and military general of the late Qing dynasty. He is best known for raising and organizing the Xiang Army to aid the Qing military in suppressing the Taiping Rebellion and restoring the stability of the Qing Empire. Along with other prominent figures such as Zuo Zongtang and Li Hongzhang of his time, Zeng set the scene for the Tongzhi Restoration, an attempt to arrest the decline of the Qing dynasty.^[3] Zeng was known for his strategic perception, administrative skill and noble personality on Confucian practice, but also for his ruthlessness in repressing rebellions.