Weng Tonghe (; 1830–1904),
courtesy name
A courtesy name ( zh, s=字, p=zì, l=character), also known as a style name, is an additional name bestowed upon individuals at adulthood, complementing their given name. This tradition is prevalent in the East Asian cultural sphere, particula ...
Shuping (), was a Chinese
Confucian
Confucianism, also known as Ruism or Ru classicism, is a system of thought and behavior originating in ancient China, and is variously described as a tradition, philosophy, religion, theory of government, or way of life. Founded by Confucius ...
scholar and imperial tutor who lived in the
Qing dynasty
The Qing dynasty ( ), officially the Great Qing, was a Manchu-led Dynasties of China, imperial dynasty of China and an early modern empire in East Asia. The last imperial dynasty in Chinese history, the Qing dynasty was preceded by the ...
. In 1856, he obtained the position of ''
zhuangyuan'' (or top scholar) in the
imperial examination
The imperial examination was a civil service examination system in History of China#Imperial China, Imperial China administered for the purpose of selecting candidates for the Civil service#China, state bureaucracy. The concept of choosing bureau ...
and was subsequently admitted to the prestigious
Hanlin Academy
The Hanlin Academy was an academic and administrative institution of higher learning founded in the 8th century Tang China by Emperor Xuanzong in Chang'an. It has also been translated as "College of Literature" and "Academy of the Forest of Pen ...
.
Weng's father, Weng Xincun, was an official who had been persecuted by an influential faction in the Qing imperial court led by
Sushun. Weng Xincun was a tutor of the Daoguang Emperor's sons,
Yihui and
Yihe. However, in 1861,
a coup took place, bringing about the deposition of Sushun and his faction, and the new government, led by
Prince Gong,
Empress Dowager Ci'an and
Empress Dowager Cixi
Empress Dowager Cixi ( ; 29 November 1835 – 15 November 1908) was a Manchu noblewoman of the Yehe Nara clan who effectively but periodically controlled the Chinese government in the late Qing dynasty as empress dowager and regent for almost 50 ...
, placed the senior Weng to high office.
In 1865, Weng was appointed as a tutor to the
Tongzhi Emperor,
[Kwong, Luke S.K. ''A Mosaic of the Hundred Days: Personalities, Politics and Ideas of 1898'' (Harvard University Study Center, 1984).] joining another tutor by the name of Wo Ren,
[Seagrave, Sterling ''Dragon Lady: the Life & Legend of the Last Empress of China'' (New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1992) pg. 117] as well as a lecturer to the two empress dowagers.
The Tongzhi Emperor formally took over the reins of power from his regents in 1873 but died two years later.
Weng had apparently been exonerated from the disastrous failure of the education of the Tongzhi Emperor, as he was appointed as a tutor to the Tongzhi Emperor's successor, the
Guangxu Emperor
The Guangxu Emperor (14 August 1871 – 14 November 1908), also known by his temple name Emperor Dezong of Qing, personal name Zaitian, was the tenth Emperor of China, emperor of the Qing dynasty, and the ninth Qing emperor to rule over China ...
.
As a tutor to the Guangxu Emperor, Weng emphasized the boy-emperor's filial duties to Empress Dowager Cixi, making her an object of fear and reverence for him.
Along with his role as tutor, Weng accrued increased political power, occupying several important posts in the Qing administration, including Vice President and later President of the Board of Revenue, Director of the Censorate and President of the Board of Punishments. He also served on the
Grand Council 1882–84 and participated in decisions made in the
First Sino-Japanese War
The First Sino-Japanese War (25 July 189417 April 1895), or the First China–Japan War, was a conflict between the Qing dynasty of China and the Empire of Japan primarily over influence in Joseon, Korea. In Chinese it is commonly known as th ...
.
Weng was also known for being a patron of
Kang Youwei
Kang Youwei (; Cantonese: ''Hōng Yáuh-wàih''; 19March 185831March 1927) was a political thinker and reformer in China of the late Qing dynasty. His increasing closeness to and influence over the young Guangxu Emperor sparked confli ...
, a man whom he began to dissociate with by the spring of 1898,
and in light of this connection, it has been argued that Empress Dowager Cixi removed him from office. However, apparently it was the Guangxu Emperor himself who removed Weng from office in June 1898 after they got into a quarrel.
Weng is the great-great-grandfather of Wango Weng (翁萬戈; 1918–2020), a well-known art historian, art collector, calligrapher, film maker and poet, who inherited many of the artistic masterpieces collected by Weng Tonghe, and who has donated many of them to major museums.
References
*
Weng Tonghe (1830-1904) Calligraphy Gallery*
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Weng, Tonghe
1830 births
1904 deaths
Artists from Suzhou
Chinese scholars
Politicians from Suzhou
Qing dynasty calligraphers
People from Changshu
Burials in Suzhou
Grand Councillors of the Qing dynasty
Assistant grand secretaries
Ministers of Zongli Yamen
Imperial tutors in Qing dynasty
Qing dynasty zhuangyuan