Ruan Yuan, 1764-1849: The Life and Work of a Major Scholar-Official in Nineteenth-Century China before the Opium WarThis book explores the life and work of Ruan Yuan (1764–1849), a scholar-official of renown in mid-Qing China prior to the Opium War, before traditional institutions and values became altered by incursions from the West. His distinction as an official, scholar, and patron of learning has been recognized by both his contemporaries and modern scholars. He was also exulted as an honest official and an exemplary man of the 'Confucian persuasion'. His name is mentioned in almost all the works on Qing history or Chinese classics because of the wide range of his research and publications. A number of these publications are still being reprinted today. This is the first full-length biography of Ruan Yuan in English, and the only one focusing on all aspects of the man's life and work in the context of his time. It follows Ruan Yuan from his childhood in Yangzhou, expansion of his intellectual horizons and political network in Beijing, his long service in the provinces handling some of the most thorny issues of the day in security and control, to the glory as a senior statesman in the capital, and retirement in Yangzhou. |
Contents
1 | |
17 | |
Piracy Suppression | 81 |
Investigations of Secret | 109 |
Management of Foreign Relations at Canton 181726 | 139 |
Tables | 183 |
Ruan Yuans Social Welfare Programmes | 187 |
Scholar and Patron of Learning of the MidQing | 205 |
The Women in Ruan Yuans Life | 239 |
Grand Secretary in Beijing 18358 | 261 |
Retirement in Yangzhou 183849 | 283 |
Conclusions | 305 |
Ruan Genealogy | 318 |
The Liu Fenggao Affair | 336 |
367 | |
381 | |
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Additional Supplement baojia Beijing biography Bitan Board British Cai Qian Canton century Chen China classical coastal collection compiled concubines Confucian court Daoguang Emperor Director of Studies Diziji Draft Poems Earth Society edition essays father Forbidden City foreign Fujian gentry Governor-General Grand Council Grand Secretary gruel Guangdong Guangdong and Guangxi Guangxi Guizhou Hanlin Academy Heaven and Earth hong merchants household Huang imperial Jiang Jiangxi Jiaqing Emperor Jiaqing reign Jinshi Kong Luhua learning Leitang Liang Manchu marine force memorial from Ruan metropolitan examination metropolitan graduate mid-Qing Ming opium Palace pirates programme provinces Qianlong Qing dynasty Qingdai rank record rice Ruan Fu Ruan Yuan scholarly scholars scholarship secret societies Shandong Shilu ships taels Taipei Tang Tiandihui trade tradition vessels Waijiao Shiliao Wang women Xiao Xuehaitang Yangzhou Yangzi Yanjiu YJSJ Yuan's Yunnan YZBT Zhang Zhejiang Zhong Zhu Gui Zhu Maoli