Fang Guodong (方國棟)

Overview

The translated histories identify Fang Guodong as an administrator and official. This record brings together 10 passages from 1 chapter across 1 history, with names, dates, relationships, offices, and events preserved as source-backed claims.

Names

Type	English	Chinese	Pinyin
Personal	Fang Guodong	方國棟	Fang Guodong
Courtesy	Ganxiao	幹霄	Ganxiao
Given	Guodong	國棟

Identity

Historicity: Historical
Identification: Named
Sex: Male

Sex: male
Explicit · qingshigao:247:s0094

Roles

Administrator
Official

Life and dates

Death

Date Context: Source Date: Text: 康熙十六年 · Western Year: AD 1677
Explicit · qingshigao:247:s0119

Attested activity

Source Date: Text: 康熙六年 · Western Year: AD 1667
Explicit · qingshigao:247:s0104
Source Date: Text: 康熙十六年 · Western Year: AD 1677
Explicit · qingshigao:247:s0119
Source Date: Text: 順治三年 · Western Year: AD 1646
Explicit · qingshigao:247:s0095
Source Date: Text: 順治十六年 · Western Year: AD 1659
Explicit · qingshigao:247:s0097

Career and standing

Label: County instructor of Li / 蠡縣教諭 · Action: appointed · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 順治三年 · Western Year: AD 1646
Explicit · qingshigao:247:s0095
Label: Intendant of Haibei Circuit, Guangdong / 廣東海北道僉事 · Action: appointed · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 順治十六年 · Western Year: AD 1659
Explicit · qingshigao:247:s0097
Label: Assistant instructor in the Imperial Academy / 國子監助教 · Action: appointed
Explicit · qingshigao:247:s0096
Label: Director in the Ministry of Punishments / 刑部郎中 · Action: promoted
Explicit · qingshigao:247:s0096
Label: Assistant administrator of Susongchang Circuit, Jiangnan / 江南蘇松常道參議 · Action: reassigned · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 康熙六年 · Western Year: AD 1667
Explicit · qingshigao:247:s0104
Label: Assistant administrator of Ningwu Circuit, Shanxi / 山西寧武道參議 · Action: transferred
Explicit · qingshigao:247:s0103

Places and affiliations

Place: Wanping, Shuntian / 順天宛平
Explicit · qingshigao:247:s0094

Learning and skills

Credential: Provincial graduate / 舉人 · Action: earned · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 順治三年 · Western Year: AD 1646
Explicit · qingshigao:247:s0095

Works and attributed material

Kind: speech · Role: speaker · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 順治十六年 · Western Year: AD 1659
Explicit · qingshigao:247:s0101
Kind: memorial · Role: author
Explicit · qingshigao:247:s0110, qingshigao:247:s0111, qingshigao:247:s0112

Events and relationships

Kind: military · Role: commander · Action: captured · Other Person Id: Deng Yao (鄧耀) · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 順治十六年 · Western Year: AD 1659
Explicit · qingshigao:247:s0099
Kind: legal · Role: judge · Action: punished-ringleaders · Place: Yixing / 宜興
Explicit · qingshigao:247:s0116
Kind: administration · Role: official · Action: relocated-barracks · Place: Suzhou / 蘇州
Explicit · qingshigao:247:s0114
Kind: administration · Role: official · Action: repaired-dikes · Place: Lake Tai / 太湖
Explicit · qingshigao:247:s0105

Assessments and attributes

Assessment: tempered stern measures with mercy; fulfilled his duty · Provenance: Mode: historian-judgment
Explicit · qingshigao:247:s0225
Item: shrine at Tiger Hill / 虎丘山麓祠 · Relation: commemorated-at
Explicit · qingshigao:247:s0120

References in the histories

Open any source group to read the Chinese and English passage in context.

Draft History of Qing, Chapter 247Volume 247 Biographies 34: Peng Ershu, Lu Zhenfen, Yao Yanzhu, Bi Zhenji, Fang Guodong, Yu Pengju, Wang Tianjian, Yue Tingbiao · 10 passages

Open chapter

方國棟，字幹霄，順天宛平人。 Fang Guodong, courtesy name Ganxiao, came from Wanping in Shuntian.

國棟以三千人分五道進剿，檄鄰道出兵扼要隘，擒耀，解散餘黨。 Guodong took three thousand men in five columns against them, called on neighboring circuits to block the key passes, captured Yao, and broke up the remaining band.

事平，雷、廉兩部諸富人為賊所誣，械系者眾，國棟察其冤，為辨雪。 After order was restored, many wealthy men in Lei and Lian prefectures had been framed by the pirates and thrown in chains; Guodong found them innocent and secured their release.

諸富人裒千金為報，國棟曰：「吾憫若無辜，柰何污我？」 The wealthy men pooled a thousand taels to thank him; Guodong said, "I pitied your innocence—why would you try to bribe me?"

師下閩、粵，徵調旁午，國棟一意與民休息，每遇急徵，從容部署。 As imperial forces marched into Fujian and Guangdong, requisitions poured in without pause; Guodong was determined to give the people respite, and whenever urgent demands arrived he met them with calm planning.

國棟言：「古今生財之說，開與節二者而已。 Guodong wrote: "Throughout history, raising revenue has come down to only two things: finding new sources and cutting expenses.

國棟以兵民雜居難久安，持不可，乃改營南城隙地，民便之。 Guodong argued that soldiers and civilians could not live mixed together in stability and firmly opposed the plan; the barracks were moved to open ground in the southern city instead, to the people's relief.

國棟單騎馳往，得首禍寘法，餘無所問。 Guodong rode out alone, arrested the ringleaders and punished them under the law, and pressed no further inquiries.

吳俗健訟，喜投缿告密，國棟輒不問，即有所案，亦從寬。 The people of Wu were litigious and fond of anonymous denunciations; Guodong generally ignored them, and even when he took up a case he dealt leniently.

延著、國棟、廷標當治亂用重之日，濟之以寬仁，雖以是罷貶，甚或中危法，而一不自卹，是皆能舉其職者。 Yanzhu, Guodong, and Tingbiao served when governing turmoil demanded stern measures, yet they tempered authority with mercy. Some were dismissed or demoted for it, and some even faced capital charges, but none thought of themselves—these were men who truly did their duty.