Guan Wen (官文) | 24 Histories

Overview

Guan Wen was an official.

Other names

Type	English	Chinese	Pinyin
Courtesy name	Xiufeng	秀峰
Posthumous name	Wengong	文恭

Life and dates

Death

AD 1871 同治十年
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 388, passage 199

Attested activity

AD 1854 四年
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 397, passage 97
AD 1854 to AD 1871 AD 1854-1871
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 388, passage 256
AD 1857 to AD 1861 AD 1857-1861
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 388, passage 163
AD 1862 to AD 1871 AD 1862-1871
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 388, passage 181
AD 1858 八年
Dated from the passage context · Draft History of Qing 387, passages 9, 22
AD 1868 同治七年
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 436, passage 47

Show 13 more source-backed claims

AD 1864 同治三年
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 388, passage 189
AD 1862 同治元年
Dated from the passage context · Draft History of Qing 424, passages 135, 139
AD 1871 同治十年
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 388, passage 199
AD 1853 咸豐三年
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 388, passage 112
AD 1855 咸豐五年
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 388, passages 133, 138
AD 1856 咸豐六年
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 388, passages 141, 145
AD 1861 咸豐十一年
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 388, passages 176, 178
AD 1854 咸豐四年
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 388, passages 113, 116
AD 1854 咸豐四年八月
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 388, passage 132
AD 1854 咸豐四年六月
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 388, passage 118
AD 1859 咸豐間
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 405, passage 113
AD 1858 官文檄凝學間道遏剿
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 432, passage 149
AD 1841 道光二十一年
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 388, passage 110

Family

Ancestor of Xingen (興恩)
grandson 孫 · 2 generations
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 388, passage 218

Key source chapters

Origins and identity

Ethnicity Manchu 滿洲
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 388, passage 108
Lineage Wanggiya clan 王佳氏
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 388, passage 108

Career and standing

Governor-General of Huguang 湖廣總督
AD 1855 咸豐五年 · Appointed
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 388, passage 133
Imperial Commissioner 欽差大臣
AD 1855 咸豐五年 · Appointed
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 388, passage 138
Grand Secretary of the Wenyuan Pavilion 文淵閣大學士
AD 1861 咸豐十一年 · Appointed
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 388, passage 176
Governor-General of Huguang 湖廣總督
AD 1857 咸豐七年 · Held
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 388, passage 163
Governor-General 總督
Held
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 424, passage 139
Deputy Lieutenant-General of the Guangzhou Han Army 廣州漢軍副都統
AD 1841 道光二十一年 · Posted
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 388, passage 110

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General of Jingzhou 荊州將軍
AD 1854 咸豐四年 · Promoted
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 388, passage 113
Grand Guardian of the Heir Apparent 太子太保
AD 1861 咸豐十一年 · Granted
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 388, passage 178
First-class Earl Guowei 一等果威伯爵
AD 1864 同治三年 · Granted
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 388, passage 189

Places and affiliations

Polity Qing 清 · Relation Served
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 387, passage 22; Draft History of Qing 388, passages 108, 118; Draft History of Qing 397, passage 97; Draft History of Qing 405, passage 113; Draft History of Qing 424, passage 139; Draft History of Qing 432, passage 149
Polity Qing 清 · Relation Served
Strongly inferred · Draft History of Qing 388, passages 163, 181, 256
At Manchu Plain White Banner 滿洲正白旗 · Relation Banner affiliation
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 388, passage 108

Works and attributed material

Memorial · Co author · With Hu Linyi (胡林翼)
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 388, passage 147
Memorial · Author
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 388, passages 119, 123-125, 127-129
Narrative · Subject · silent-subject continuation
Strongly inferred · Draft History of Qing 388, passages 109-110, 113, 116-117, 132, 134, 139-143

Events and relationships

Conveyed edict and executed
AD 1854 四年 · Legal · Executioner · With Qing Lin (青麟) · At Jingzhou 荊州
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 397, passages 97-98
Ordered intercept
AD 1858 官文檄凝學間道遏剿 · Military · Order giver · With Jiang Ningxue (蔣凝學)
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 432, passage 149
Recovered Hanyang
AD 1856 咸豐六年十一月 · Military · Commander
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 388, passage 145
Tried case and cleared Hongbin
Legal · Judge · With Mao Hongbin (毛鴻賓)
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 424, passage 139
Relation Colleague of · Person Hu Linyi (胡林翼)
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 388, passages 166, 256
Relation Colleague of · Person Zeng Guofan (曾國籓)
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 388, passage 256

Show 1 more source-backed claim

Relation Commander of · Person Jiang Ningxue (蔣凝學)
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 432, passage 149

Assessments and attributes

Assessment promoted-worthies-and-secured-Yangzi-with-Zeng-and-Hu · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 388, passage 256

Source notes

Historicity historical
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 397, passage 97

References in the histories

Search passages

History

33 passages

Draft History of Qing, Chapter 387Volume 387 Biographies 174: Zong Shisushun, Mu Yin, Kuang Yuan, Jiao Youying, Chen Fuen · 1 passage

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左宗棠為官文所劾，賴其調護免罪，且破格擢用。 When Zuo Zongtang was impeached by Guan Wen, Sushun shielded him from punishment and even secured his exceptional promotion.

Draft History of Qing, Chapter 388Volume 388 Biographies 175: Gui Liang, Rui Lin Son: Huai Tabu, Guan Wen, Wen Yu · 27 passages

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官文，字秀峰，王佳氏，滿洲正白旗人，先隸內務府正白旗漢軍。 Guan Wen, styled Xiufeng, was a Wanggiya Manchu of the Plain White Banner who had earlier belonged to the Han Plain White Banner under the Imperial Household Department.

咸豐三年，將軍台湧駐防德安，命官文專統荊州防兵。 In Xianfeng 3 General Tai Yong garrisoned De'an while Guan Wen was given sole command of Jingzhou's defense force.

監利又陷，官文遣軍復之； When Jianli fell again, Guan Wen sent troops and recovered it;

六月，武昌复失守，命官文統籌全局，規复武漢。 In the sixth month Wuchang fell again. Guan Wen was ordered to take overall command and plan the recovery of Wuhan.

尋曾國籓克岳州，賊艘悉出大江，官文遣涼州副都統魁玉、總兵楊昌泗赴螺山防江，殲賊甚多。 Soon Zeng Guofan took Yuezhou and rebel boats poured into the main river. Guan Wen sent Vice Commander Kuiyu and Regional Commander Yang Changsi to Luoshan, where they destroyed many rebels.

五年，總督楊霈師潰德安，漢陽、漢口復陷，德安、隨州繼之，詔褫霈職，授官文湖廣總督。 In Xianfeng 5 Governor-General Yang Pei was routed at De'an. Hanyang and Hankou fell again, then De'an and Suizhou. Yang Pei was dismissed and Guan Wen was made governor-general of Huguang.

秋，西凌阿戰德安失利，乃命官文代為欽差大臣，馳援德安。 That autumn Xiling'a was defeated at De'an, and Guan Wen replaced him as imperial commissioner and rushed to relieve the city.

十一月，約同日水陸大舉，分攻武、漢，官文督軍分路進，水師擊漢陽東門，破五顯廟賊卡，李孟群又敗龜山援賊，王國才、楊昌泗由西門攻入，遂復漢陽，俘偽將軍等五百餘人。 In the eleventh month they launched a coordinated land-and-water assault on Wuhan. Guan Wen led columns inland while the fleet struck Hanyang's east gate and broke the Wuxian Temple stockade. Li Mengqun defeated Guishan reinforcements; Wang Guocai and Yang Changsi entered through the west gate. Hanyang was recovered and more than five hundred rebel officers were captured.

初，官文由荊州將軍調總督，凡上游荊、市、襄、鄖諸郡兵事餉事悉主之。 When Guan Wen moved from Jingzhou general to governor-general, he controlled military affairs and supplies in the upper Jing, Shi, Xiang, and Yun prefectures.

武昌既复，林翼威望日起，官文自知不及，思假以為重，林翼益推誠相結納，於是吏治、財政、軍事悉聽林翼主持，官文畫諾而已。 After Wuchang was recovered, Hu Linyi's prestige grew daily. Guan Wen knew he could not match him and sought to share in his authority; Hu Linyi responded with genuine cooperation. Civil administration, finance, and military affairs all passed to Hu Linyi, while Guan Wen merely assented.

七月，胡林翼丁母憂，官文疏請留林翼治軍，改為署理，從之。 In the seventh month Hu Linyi entered mourning for his mother. Guan Wen asked that he remain to command the army in an acting capacity, and the court agreed.

命官文暫行兼署巡撫，尋以湖廣總督協辦大學士。 Guan Wen was ordered to act temporarily as governor and soon received associate grand secretary rank while remaining governor-general of Huguang.

官文分兵扼蘄州、廣濟、麻城諸隘，固守九江、彭澤，水師嚴防江面，人心始定。 Guan Wen posted troops at Qizhou, Guangji, and Macheng, held Jiujiang and Pengze firmly, and had the navy guard the river—steadying public morale.

時大軍圍安慶急，陳玉成、李秀成先後分兵犯湖北境，冀掣動局勢，遣將迭破之，所陷諸郡縣皆复。 While the main army pressed Anqing, Chen Yucheng and Li Xiucheng sent columns into Hubei to relieve the pressure. Guan Wen's generals defeated them repeatedly and recovered every fallen county.

官文疏陳沛霖包藏禍心，罪大惡極，請伸天討。 Guan Wen memorialized that Peilin harbored treasonous intent, his crimes were extreme, and heaven's punishment should fall on him.

荊州將軍多隆阿方督師赴陝西，官文以楚兵不敷分佈，奏調回援。 General of Jingzhou Duolong'a was campaigning in Shaanxi; Guan Wen, finding Hubei troops too thinly spread, asked that he be recalled.

六月，克復江寧，曾國籓奏捷，推官文列名疏首。 In the sixth month Nanjing was recovered. Zeng Guofan reported victory and placed Guan Wen's name first on the memorial.

詔嘉官文徵兵籌餉，推賢讓能，接濟東征，不分畛域，錫封一等伯爵，號果威，世襲罔替，升入正白旗滿洲，賜雙眼花翎。 The court praised Guan Wen for raising troops and funds, deferring to able colleagues, and aiding the eastern campaign without regard to boundaries. He was made a hereditary first-class earl with the designation Guowei, enrolled in the Manchu Plain White Banner, and awarded double peacock feathers.

四年，僧格林沁剿捻戰歿於山東，詔追論前年發、捻擾湖北，官文不能就地殲除，僅驅出境，以致蔓延益熾，下嚴議，降三級調用，改革職留任，褫宮銜、花翎。 In Tongzhi 4 Senggelinqin was killed fighting the Nian in Shandong. The court reviewed the previous year's Taiping-Nian raids on Hubei: Guan Wen had failed to destroy them locally and merely drove them out, allowing the rebellion to spread. He was severely censured, demoted three ranks while kept in office, and stripped of palace rank and peacock feathers.

湖北巡撫曾國荃劾官文貪庸驕蹇，命尚書綿森、侍郎譚廷襄往按，坐動用捐款，議革職，詔念前勞，原其尚非貪污欺罔，優與保全，解總督，仍留大學士、伯爵，罰伯俸十年。 Hubei Governor Zeng Guoquan impeached Guan Wen for greed, incompetence, arrogance, and obstinacy. Ministers Miansen and Tan Tingxiang investigated and found misuse of donated funds. The court deliberated dismissal but, recalling his earlier service and finding no outright corruption, relieved him of the governorship while retaining his grand secretary title and earldom, with ten years' earldom stipend forfeited.

十年，卒，優詔賜卹，贈太保，賜金治喪，遣惠郡王奠醊，祀賢良祠，諡文恭。 He died in Tongzhi 10. The court granted exceptional mourning honors, posthumously titled him Grand Tutor, funded his funeral, sent Prince Hui to offer libations, enshrined him in the Temple of Worthies, and gave him the posthumous name Wengong.

當官文之在湖北，事事聽林翼所為，惟馭下不嚴，用財不節，林翼憂之。 While Guan Wen was in Hubei he let Hu Linyi decide everything, but his lax discipline over subordinates and lavish spending troubled Hu Linyi.

官文心無成見，兼隸旗籍，每有大事，正可藉其言以伸所請。 Guan Wen has no fixed prejudices and belongs to the banners; on major matters you can use his voice to advance your requests.

及林翼歿，督撫不相能，官文劾嚴樹森去之； After Hu Linyi died, governor-general and governor clashed. Guan Wen impeached Yan Shusen and removed him;

而曾國荃又劾官文去之。 then Zeng Guoquan impeached Guan Wen and removed him in turn.

官文晚節建樹不能如曩時，然林翼非官文之虛己推誠，亦無以成大功，世故兩賢之。 Guan Wen's later achievements did not match his early years, yet without Guan Wen's sincere deference Hu Linyi could not have succeeded; the world therefore esteems both men.

官文雖無過人之才，推賢讓能，奠安江漢，與曾國籓、胡林翼和衷規畫，竟完戡定之功。 Guan Wen lacked surpassing talent but deferred to able men, secured the Yangzi heartland, and planned in harmony with Zeng Guofan and Hu Linyi to complete the pacification.

Draft History of Qing, Chapter 397Volume 397 Biographies 184: Lu Jianying, Yang Wending, Qing Lin, Chong Lun, He Guiqing · 1 passage

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俟到荊州時，交官文傳旨正法。」 When he reaches Jingzhou, Guanwen is to convey the edict and execute him."

Draft History of Qing, Chapter 405Volume 405 Biographies 192: Ceng Guofan · 1 passage

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上慮四川且有變，林翼亦以湖北餉倚川鹽，而國籓又久治兵，無疆寄，乃與官文合疏請國籓援蜀。 The emperor feared Sichuan might also be unsettled; Hu Linyi argued that Hubei's supplies depended on Sichuan salt, and that Zeng Guofan, long at war, held no territorial post—he and Guan Wen jointly memorialized asking that Zeng Guofan be sent to relieve Sichuan.

Draft History of Qing, Chapter 424Volume 424 Biographies 211: Wu Zhenyu, Zhang Liangji, Mao Hongbin, Zhang Kaisong · 1 passage

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椿齡京控，訐鴻賓借貸不遂，鴻賓自請查辦，下總督官文鞫訊，得白。 Chunling appealed in Beijing, claiming Hongbin had retaliated over a refused loan; Hongbin asked for an inquiry; Governor-General Guan Wen tried the case and cleared him.

Draft History of Qing, Chapter 432Volume 432 Biographies 219: Xiao Qijiang, Zhang Yunlan, Tang Xunfang, Jiang Ningxue, Chen Shi, Li Yuandu · 1 passage

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十月，李續賓三河軍覆，官文檄凝學間道遏剿。 In the tenth month, when Li Xubin's army was destroyed at Sanhe, Guanwen ordered Ningxue to move by a side route and block the enemy.

Draft History of Qing, Chapter 436Volume 436 Biographies 223: Shen Guifen, Li Hongzao, Weng Tonghe, Sun Yuwen · 1 passage

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直隸總督官文專顧省城，籌備諸軍餉需，以資接濟； Governor-General Guanwen of Zhili should remain at the provincial capital to provision the armies;