Later generations compiled and published the articles written by Zeng Guofan, a famous minister of the late Qing Dynasty, and named it "The Complete Works of Zeng Wenzheng". Some people may wonder why the name of the anthology refers to Zeng Guofan as "Zeng Wenzhenggong", is this Zeng Guofan's number or character?
Of course, this is not, Zeng Guofan character BoHan, the number of Di Sheng. "Wenzheng" was his courtesy name, which was given by the emperor after his death. Therefore, when Old Master Zeng was alive, he did not know that people in the future would honor him as "Wen Zhenggong".
When it comes to the title of "Wenzheng", although it is not an official position, the emperor will not give it to people easily.
In ancient times, after the literati became officials, they could get the title of "Wenzheng" after their deaths, which was a dream thing in their lifetime, because it meant that the imperial court gave him the highest evaluation.
In the Ming Dynasty, when a university scholar named Li Dongyang heard Yang Yiqing, the head of the cabinet who had come to visit him, tell him that he would be given a "Wenzheng" title after his death, the dying Li Dongyang actually prostrated his head to Yang Yiqing on the bed. It can be seen that the ancient literati attached great importance to this nickname.
The Northern Song Dynasty writer Sima Guang pointed out: "The text is the most beautiful thing that cannot be repeated. He believes that literature is a moral knowledge, it is Jing Gong who is in his position, the ultimate of the morality of the literati, and it is very rare for people to deserve it.
The nickname "Wenzheng" first appeared in the Northern Wei Dynasty, when the word used was "Wenzhen". The first person to be posthumously awarded the title of "Wenzhen" by Tuoba Hong, the Emperor Xiaowen of Northern Wei, was Cui Hong.
Cui Hong was a famous minister in the Northern Wei Dynasty, he was brilliant and intelligent from childhood, known as the prodigy of Jizhou, after he became an adult, many dignitaries and dignitaries had to visit him and invite him to come out as an official, after he became an official, his political achievements were outstanding, although in the era of military chaos, his reputation has been rising, no matter how frequent the change of dynasties, the rulers must ask him to assist the government, when Tuoba Jue established the country, he was invited to be an official, and the name of the country of Northern Wei was also named by him. Cui Hong not only has outstanding political achievements, but also his calligraphy is a family of his own, and he is good at writing cursive, subordinate, and writing, which is highly valued by the world. When Cui Hong died, Tuoba Hong, the Emperor Xiaowen of Northern Wei, posthumously gave him the posthumous title of "Wen Zhen".
In the Tang Dynasty, only a few famous courtiers were posthumously honored as "Wenzhen", such as Wei Zheng, Lu Xiangxian, Song Jing, Zhang Shuo and others.
The nickname "Wenzhen" evolved into "Wenzheng" during the reign of Emperor Renzong of Song, because Song Renzong's name was Zhao Zhen, and in order to avoid secrecy, "Wenzhen" was changed to "Wenzheng".
So what kind of people are entitled to the title of "Wenzheng"?
According to the provisions of the ancient "Law of Rumors", only those who meet the following conditions are eligible to use the nickname "Wenzheng":
Text: Jingwei Tiandi Yuewen; Daode Bowen Yuewen; Cihui Aimin Yuewen; Huanmin Huili Yuewen; Zhimin Huili Yuewen; Zhimin Knighthood Yuewen; Diligent study and good questioning Yuewen; Bowen Duozhi Yuewen; Faithful Receiving Yuewen; Neng ding ceremony Yuewen; Jingbang Dingyu Yuewen; Sensitive and Good Learning Yuewen; Shi Erzhong Li Yuewen; Xiu De Lai Yuan Yuewen; Gang rou Xiang Ji Yue Wen; Xiu Zhi Zhi Wen; Xiu Mei Cai Yue Wen; Wanbang WeiXian, Emperor Deyun Guang yue wen; Strong and not violent Yue Wen; Hui Rou Yi Gong Yue Wen; Sheng Mo Pi Xian Yue Wen; Transformed into Tianxia Yue Wen; Pure Mu Zhi Yue Wen ;Ke Si Hui Yin Yue Wen; Jing Zhi Ci Hui Yue Wen; Tong Sheng Yue Wen; Shao Xiu Sheng Xu Yue Wen; ShengJiao Si Zhen Yue Wen.
Zheng: The internal and external guests serve the right; the great worry is the right; the internal and external use of emotion is right; the innocence is kept clean; the tuguo forgets the death is right; the inside and outside are not cherished; the straight road is not scratched; the jing gong is the right position; the yi is not righteous; the jing is not righteous; the jing shuang qi su yue is righteous; the sincerity is not righteous; the zhuang is the rate of the right; the evil litigation is right; the main pole is upright; the tens of thousands are reasonable; the shu cautious holds the right; the upright style is correct; the heart is unbiased and correct; and the keeping of the tao is not moved.
Therefore, only a few people in the past dynasties were given the title of "Wenzheng" by the emperor.
The only people in the Song Dynasty who received the title of "Wenzheng" were Li Fang, Fan Zhongyan, Sima Guang, Wang Dan, Wang Zeng, Cai Bian, Huang Zhongyong, Zheng Juzhong, and Cai Shen.
The only six people in the Yuan Dynasty who received the title of "Wenzheng" were Wu Cheng, Yelü Chucai, Liu Bingzhong, Xu Heng, Lian Xixian, and Jia Juzhen.
In the Ming Dynasty, only five people, including Fang Xiaoru, Li Dongyang, Xie Qian, Ni Yuanlu, and Liu Lishun, received the title of "Wenzheng" (文正).
In the Qing Dynasty, only tang bin, Liu Tongxun, Zhu Jue, Cao Zhenyong, Du Shoutian, Zeng Guofan, Li Hongzao, Sun Jianai, and eight other people received the title of "Wenzheng" in the Qing Dynasty.
The last person in China to receive the title of "Wenzheng" was sun Jia Nai, a famous minister of the late Qing Dynasty, who was a native of Shou County, Anhui Province, who was born in Zhuangyuan, and successively served as a waiter in the Ministry of Works, a department of work, a ceremonial department, a household department, a bureaucrat, a criminal department Shangshu, etc., and later founded the Beijing Normal University Hall (the predecessor of Peking University), and died in 1909.
In history, most of the people who could get the title of Wenzheng were the objects of admiration of the literati at that time. Therefore, although "Wenzheng" is not an official position, the emperor will not easily give this title to people, and it is precisely because of scarcity that it is even more precious.
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