A Comparison of Hong Xiuquan's and Zeng Guofan's Cultural Views

Hong Xiuquan denied and attached to the traditional culture of China, while Zeng Guofan maintained and surpassed the traditional culture of China. Hong Xiuquan lacks a comprehensive understanding of Deng's transformation and utilization of religious theology in western culture. Zeng Guofan rejected western culture, but at the same time agreed with the material style dominated by science and technology, which is the main difference of their cultural views.

Judging from Hong Xiuquan and Zeng Guofan, two political and military opponents, Hong Xiuquan seems to believe in God and destiny more, with a stronger idealism and romanticism, and often becomes a heresy in the eyes of the world. Zeng Guofan, on the other hand, knew more about China society and believed in the importance of traditional strength and personal efforts. He won the understanding and support of the world, especially intellectuals, with his overall cultural taste and personal personality strength. Their political struggle has become history, and the historical choice is somewhat tragic. But their cultural choices can always be used for reference by history.

First, Zeng Guofan attached importance to Neo-Confucianism and became the representative of the political forces of Confucian scholars and landlords.

Zeng Guofan attached great importance to the study of Neo-Confucianism for a long time, carried out academic exchanges with Neo-Confucianism as the main content, and formed a group of literati who talked about Neo-Confucianism around him. When the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom Movement broke out, they gathered in the camp of Xiang Army, forming an important cultural group of Xiang Army in the cultural history of the late Qing Dynasty, which made Xiang Army have strong adaptability in internal and external activities. Finally, a group of die-hard followers gathered around him, enabling him to concentrate on dealing with the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom until he won the final victory.

Secondly, Zeng Guofan paid attention to defending the famous religion and catered to the traditional intellectuals' life beliefs.

Traditional intellectuals in China all take "self-cultivation, keeping the family in order, governing the country and leveling the world" as their own responsibility, and all have their own life beliefs and value pursuits. There is a long-standing doubt that the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom destroyed tradition, destroyed famous religions and abandoned Confucianism. Zeng Guofan sized up the situation, under the banner of defending the famous religion and inheriting the tradition of Chinese studies, communicated with the hearts of many intellectuals and aroused their life beliefs and value orientations, which was very appealing. This not only won the moral strength, but also won the hearts of traditional intellectuals.

Thirdly, Zeng Guofan paid attention to recruiting talented people and formed a knowledgeable cultural group.

In order to suppress the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom movement and realize one's life ambition, great attention was paid to recruiting and cultivating all kinds of talents, especially cultural talents. Hong Rong, who had been to the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, described the talent pageantry of the Xiang Army Camp, saying: "At that time, there were more than 200 officers from all over the country gathered in the Ceng Wenzheng Camp, most of whom came for the purpose, including about 100 of the governor's shogunate. Outside the shogunate, there are alternate officials, gifted scholars, experts in law, mathematics, astronomy and machinery. And talents from almost all over the country are gathered here. " The praise is all in it, which is completely different from his evaluation of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom. In the Xiang Army, not only did they attach importance to talents, but Hu Linyi and Zuo also attached great importance to finding and selecting talents. A considerable number of these people were outstanding talents in the cultural circles in the late Qing Dynasty, or celebrities who stayed in school or newcomers to western learning. Although they were not famous, they were the most religious intellectuals at that time. They often become a cold-hearted expert. In the end, most of them became the military and political backbone of the Xiang army, which made great contributions to Zeng Guofan's suppression of the Taiping Army. In contrast, Hong Xiuquan is very poor, and almost no accomplished intellectuals have entered his account. Even Li Xiucheng thought that the shortcoming of Taiping Army was that "officers and men read more books, but Taiping Army didn't study".

Fourthly, Zeng Guofan paid attention to the cultivation of personal humanistic character, which made him have the will and ability to carry forward with heavy burdens.

Zeng Guofan not only has a good family education and profound cultural accumulation, but also attaches great importance to the cultivation of personal morality. He is not only a learner and practitioner of China traditional culture, but also deeply influenced by Huxiang culture, forming his unique personality. In his letter to his family, he said: "The brave bite their teeth and swallow blood." These two words are the secret of my determination. "Zeng Guofan was reviled every time he was defeated." There were so many times when he lost his tooth, and every time he swallowed it with blood. "At the same time, he also stressed that to be a good person, we must be' tolerant'." If it is not valued by the big government, it is important to be cold; It is important to be resistant to smells. "It is with such tough psychological quality that Zeng Guofan has the character of perseverance and perseverance. On the other hand, Zeng Guofan inherited the tradition of "cautious independence" of Neo-Confucianism in Song and Ming Dynasties, and developed the character of diligence and humility. Zeng Guofan worked hard in accordance with these creeds all his life, and reached the state of winning without arrogance, losing with grace, being prepared for danger in times of peace, and not being impetuous. It is with this character that he won the praise of the world and the success of his career. Hong Xiuquan, tired of governing the country and indulging in luxury and religious superstition, not only lacks cultural background, but also lacks moral integrity. To defeat Zeng Guofan in character, there are not only congenital deficiencies, but also the gap in efforts made the day after tomorrow.