Weng Tonghe (翁同龢)

Overview

Weng Tonghe was a Qing Official.

PeriodQing

IdentityHistorical · Male

Roles

Found in

Other names

Type	English	Chinese	Pinyin
Courtesy name	Shuping	叔平	Shuping
Posthumous name	Wengong	文恭	Wengong

Life and dates

Death

AD 1904 光緒三十年
At at home 家 · Age Value: 75 · Reckoning: Sui
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 436, passage 160

Attested activity

AD 1894 二十年
Dated from the passage context · Draft History of Qing 466, passages 8-9
AD 1904 光緒三十年
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 436, passage 160
AD 1898 光緒二十四年
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 436, passage 147
AD 1894 光緒二十年
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 436, passage 126
AD 1879 光緒五年
Dated from the passage context · Draft History of Qing 195, passages 76, 81
AD 1875 光緒元年
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 436, passage 115

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AD 1882 光緒八年
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 436, passage 120
AD 1880 光緒六年
Dated from the passage context · Draft History of Qing 468, passage 89
AD 1875 to AD 1879 光緒初
Dated from the passage context · Draft History of Qing 465, passages 167-168
AD 1878 光緒四年
Dated from the passage context · Draft History of Qing 195, passages 65, 70
AD 1878 光緒四年
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 443, passage 4
AD 1890 十六年
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 441, passages 35, 39
AD 1869 同治八年
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 391, passage 61
AD 1851 to AD 1874 咸、同以來
Dated from the passage context · Draft History of Qing 503, passage 217
AD 1856 咸豐六年
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 436, passage 98
AD 1862 子同書、同龢自有傳
Dated from the passage context · Draft History of Qing 385, passage 217
AD 1886 to AD 1889 翁同龢等請試修邊地
Dated from the passage context · Draft History of Qing 437, passage 136

Family

Immediate relationships attested in the translated histories.

Sibling of Weng Tongjue (翁同爵)
brothers 兄弟 · Full siblings
Strongly inferred · Draft History of Qing 385, passage 217
Sibling of Weng Tongshu (翁同書)
brothers 兄弟 · Full siblings
Strongly inferred · Draft History of Qing 385, passage 217
Child of Weng Xincun (翁心存)
father 父
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 436, passages 97, 102
Child of Mother of Weng Tonghe
mother 母
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 436, passage 105
Child of Weng Xincun (翁心存)
son 子
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 385, passage 217

Key source chapters

Origins and identity

Han Chinese 漢
Strongly inferred · Draft History of Qing 195, passage 70

Career and standing

calligrapher 書家
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 503, passage 217
Grand Councillor 樞臣
AD 1894 二十年 · Appointed
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 466, passages 8-9
Grand Councilor 軍機大臣
AD 1894 光緒二十年 · Appointed
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 436, passage 126
Grand Councilor 軍機大臣
AD 1882 光緒八年 · Appointed
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 436, passage 120
Chinese Left Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate 都察院漢左都御史
AD 1878 光緒四年戊寅 · Appointed
Dated from the passage context · Draft History of Qing 195, passage 70
posthumous title Wengong 文恭
Posthumously granted
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 436, passage 162

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Received
AD 1909 宣統元年 · Rank restored
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 436, passage 161
dismissed never to be employed again 革職永不敘用
AD 1898 光緒二十四年十月 · Dismissal · Ordered
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 436, passages 154, 159
leave office and return home 開缺回籍
AD 1898 光緒二十四年四月 · Dismissal · Ordered
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 436, passages 148, 152

Places and affiliations

Qing 清
Relation Served
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 195, passage 70; Draft History of Qing 466, passage 9
Polity Qing 清 · Relation Lived under
Dated from the passage context · Draft History of Qing 503, passage 217
Polity Qing 清 · Relation Served
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 436, passage 97; Draft History of Qing 465, passage 168
At Changshu, Jiangsu 江蘇常熟 · Relation Native of
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 436, passage 97
AD 1894 光緒二十年
At Tianjin 天津 · Relation Traveled to
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 436, passage 132

Learning and skills

Earned
AD 1856 咸豐六年 · Credential Presented Scholar, first of the first class 一甲一名進士
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 436, passage 98
Skill calligraphy of vast transforming scope 規模閎變 · Level renowned · Domain calligraphy 書
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 503, passage 220
Skill calligraphy 書法 · Level renowned
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 436, passage 167

Works and attributed material

Pinglu Studio poetry drafts, 8 juan 瓶廬詩稿八卷
Relation Author
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 436, passage 166
Pinglu Studio prose drafts, 20 juan 文稿二十卷
Relation Author
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 436, passage 166
Memorial · Author
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 436, passages 107-109; Draft History of Qing 465, passages 168-169
Speech · Speaker · With Guangxu Emperor (光緒帝)
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 436, passage 137

Events and relationships

Halted Yuanmingyuan repairs
Political · Remonstrator
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 436, passages 111-114
Joined petition on Confucian temple sacrifices
Petition · Co petitioner
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 443, passage 6
Opposed ceding territory in peace treaty
AD 1894 光緒二十年 · Diplomatic · Negotiator
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 436, passages 137, 143-144
Pressed for war
Political · Advocate
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 466, passage 9
Taught the emperor with Sun Jianai
Tutoring · Tutor · With Sun Jianai (孫家鼐)
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 443, passage 4
Transferred
AD 1879 光緒五年己卯 · Personnel · Officeholder
Dated from the passage context · Draft History of Qing 195, passage 81

Show 4 more source-backed claims

Relation Teacher of · Person Emperor Tongzhi (同治帝)
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 436, passage 103
Relation Co memorialist with · Person Xu Tong (徐桐)
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 465, passage 168
Relation Teacher of · Person Guangxu Emperor (光緒帝)
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 436, passage 116
Relation Successor of · Person Sun Yuwen (孫毓汶)
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 466, passage 9

Assessments and attributes

Assessment incurred dislike for deciding matters on his own authority · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 436, passage 201
Assessment long monopolized decisions; later suffered slander and dismissal · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 436, passages 163-165
among the three most celebrated calligraphers from Xianfeng-Tongzhi onward 以書名者三家最著
Assessment most-celebrated · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 503, passage 217
grand transforming scope unbound by schools; sustaining force of a generation 規模閎變，不為諸家所囿，為一代後勁
Assessment sustaining-force-of-generation · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 503, passage 220

Source notes

Historicity historical
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 195, passage 70; Draft History of Qing 385, passage 217
treated in other biographies 並見他傳
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 503, passage 217

References in the histories

Search passages

History

36 passages

Draft History of Qing, Chapter 195Volume 195 Tables 35: Ministers of Boards and Courts Chronological Table 9 Lower · 2 passages

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徐桐五月戊辰遷。翁同龢左都御史。 On the wuchen day of the fifth month, Xu Tong was transferred. Weng Tonghe: Left Censor-in-Chief.

翁同龢正月庚午遷。潘祖蔭左都御史。三月乙卯遷。童華左都御史。 On the gengwu day of the first month, Weng Tonghe was transferred. Pan Zuyin: Left Censor-in-Chief. On the yimao day of the third month, was transferred. Tong Hua: Left Censor-in-Chief.

Draft History of Qing, Chapter 385Volume 385 Biographies 172: Du Shoutian Son: Han, Qi Junzao Son: Shi Zhang, Weng Xincun, Peng Yunzhang · 1 passage

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子同書、同龢自有傳，同爵官湖北巡撫。 His sons Tongshu and Tonghe have their own biographies; Tongjue was governor of Hubei.

Draft History of Qing, Chapter 391Volume 391 Biographies 178: Wo Ren, Li Tangjie, Wu Tingdong · 1 passage

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八年，疏言大婚典禮宜崇節儉，及武英殿災，复偕徐桐、翁同龢疏請勤修聖德，停罷一切工程，以弭災變，並嘉納之。 In 1869 he urged frugality for the imperial wedding rites; after fire struck the Hall of Martial Glory, he joined Xu Tong and Weng Tonghe in asking the emperor to deepen his virtue and halt all building projects to appease Heaven's warning—and the court welcomed their counsel.

Draft History of Qing, Chapter 436Volume 436 Biographies 223: Shen Guifen, Li Hongzao, Weng Tonghe, Sun Yuwen · 22 passages

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與翁同龢皆主戰，並爭和約，卒不能阻。 He and Weng Tonghe both favored war and fought the peace treaty together, but in the end could not stop it.

翁同龢，字叔平，江蘇常熟人，大學士心存子。 Weng Tonghe, courtesy name Shuping, was from Changshu in Jiangsu, son of Grand Secretary Weng Xincun.

同龢居講席，每以憂勤惕厲，啟沃聖心。 At the lectern Tonghe constantly urged diligence and restraint upon the young emperor and nurtured his mind.

同龢面陳江南輿論，中外人心惶惑，請聖意先定，待時興修。 Tonghe reported in person the public mood in Jiangnan: officials and people at home and abroad were anxious; he asked the emperor to settle his mind first and undertake repairs when the time was right.

明年四月，上典學毓慶宮，命授讀，再辭，不允。 The following April the emperor began his studies at the Palace of Accumulated Joy; Tonghe was ordered to tutor him, declined twice, and was not allowed to refuse.

六年，廷臣爭俄約久不決，懿旨派惇親王、醇親王及同龢與潘祖廕每日在南書房看摺件電報，擬片進呈取進止，至俄約改定始止。 In 1880 the court disputed the Russian treaty for months; an imperial decree assigned Princes Dun and Chun, together with Tonghe and Pan Zuyin, to review memorials and telegrams daily in the Southern Library and draft recommendations for the throne, continuing until the treaty was revised.

十年，法越事起，同龢主一面進兵，一面與議，庶有所備。 In 1884 war broke out between France and Vietnam; Tonghe argued for advancing troops while negotiating, so the court would not be caught unprepared.

同龢善伺上意，得遇事進言。 Tonghe was skilled at reading the emperor's mind and seized occasions to offer counsel.

每事必問同龢，眷倚尤重。 On every matter he consulted Tonghe; his reliance on him was especially heavy.

時日韓起釁，同龢與李鴻藻主戰，孫毓汶、徐用儀主和。 When war broke out between Japan and Korea, Tonghe and Li Hongzao favored fighting while Sun Yuwen and Xu Yongyi favored peace.

會海陸軍皆敗，懿旨命赴天津傳諭李鴻章詰責之，同龢並言太后意決不即和。 When both navy and army were defeated, an imperial decree sent him to Tianjin to rebuke Li Hongzhang; Tonghe also reported that the Empress Dowager was firmly set against immediate peace.

於是命恭親王督辦軍務，同龢、鴻藻等會商辦理。 Prince Gong was then ordered to supervise military affairs, with Tonghe, Hongzao, and others to consult and handle matters jointly.

及和議起，同龢與鴻藻力爭改約稿，並陳：「寧增賠款，必不可割地。」 When peace talks began, Tonghe and Hongzao fought vigorously to revise the draft treaty, arguing together: "Better to increase indemnities than to cede territory."

同龢以俄、英、德三國謀阻割地，請展期換約，以待轉圜。 Tonghe argued that Russia, Britain, and Germany were working to block territorial cession and asked to postpone ratification in hope of a better outcome.

四月，硃諭：「協辦大學士翁同龢近來辦事多不允協，以致眾論不服，屢經有人參奏。 In April an edict in vermilion ink stated: "Associate Grand Secretary Weng Tonghe has of late handled affairs in ways that accord poorly with others, provoking widespread dissatisfaction and repeated impeachments.

翁同龢著即開缺回籍，以示保全。」 Weng Tonghe is forthwith to leave office and return home, as an act of leniency."

十月，又奉硃諭：「翁同龢授讀以來，輔導無方，往往巧藉事端，刺探朕意。 In October another vermilion edict read: "Since Weng Tonghe began tutoring, his guidance has been inept; he often craftily seized pretexts to probe my intentions.

前令其開缺回籍，實不足以蔽辜，翁同龢著革職，永不敘用，交地方官嚴加管束。」 The earlier order to send him home in truth does not cover his guilt; Weng Tonghe is dismissed from office, never to be employed again, and handed over to local officials for strict supervision."

後追諡文恭。 He was later given the posthumous title Wengong.

同龢久侍講幃，參機務，遇事專斷。 Tonghe long served at the imperial lectures and on confidential affairs, deciding matters on his own authority.

翁同龢、李鴻藻主緩，俄、法、德三國亦請毋遽換約。 Weng Tonghe and Li Hongzao favored delay; Russia, France, and Germany also asked that ratification not be rushed.

桂芬以持重見賞，同龢以專斷致嫌。 Guifen was valued for his steadiness; Tonghe incurred dislike for deciding matters on his own authority.

Draft History of Qing, Chapter 437Volume 437 Biographies 224: Rong Lu, Wang Wenshao, Zhang Zhidong, Qu Hongji · 1 passage

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翁同龢等請試修邊地，便用兵； Weng Tonghe and others proposed trial lines in frontier regions to facilitate troop movement;

Draft History of Qing, Chapter 441Volume 441 Biographies 228: Pan Zuyin, Li Wentian, Sun Yijing, Xia Tongshan, Zhang Jiaxiang, Zhang Yinglin, Zhang Renfu, Zhang Hengjia · 1 passage

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時與翁同龢並稱翁潘雲。 At the time he and Weng Tonghe were jointly styled the Weng-Pan clouds.

Draft History of Qing, Chapter 443Volume 443 Biographies 230: Sun Jianai, Zhang Baixi, Tang Jingchong, Yu Shimei, Shen Jiaben · 2 passages

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光緒四年，命在毓慶宮行走，與尚書翁同龢授上讀。 In the fourth year of Guangxu he was ordered to serve at the Yuying Palace, and together with Minister Weng Tonghe he taught the emperor his lessons.

江西學政陳寶琛疏請以先儒黃宗羲、顧炎武從祀文廟，議者多以爲未可，家鼐與潘祖蔭、翁同龢、孫詒經等再請，始議准。 When the Jiangxi educational commissioner Chen Baochen memorialized that the earlier Confucians Huang Zongxi and Gu Yanwu be admitted to sacrifices in the Confucian temple, many officials argued against it. Jianai joined Pan Zuyin, Weng Tonghe, Sun Yijing, and others in petitioning again, and only then was the proposal approved.

Draft History of Qing, Chapter 465Volume 465 Biographies 252: Xu Tong With: Yu Shi, Yu Shi Son: Cheng Yu, Gang Yi, Zhao Shuqiao, Qi Xiu, Ying Nian, Yu Lu With: Ting Yong, Yu Xian With: Li Tingxiao · 1 passage

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主事吳可讀請豫定大統，以屍諫，桐與翁同龢等謂其未悉本朝家法：「當申明列聖不建儲彝訓，俾知他日紹膺大寶之元良，即為承繼穆宗之聖子。 When Principal Clerk Wu Kedu petitioned to settle the succession in advance and died remonstrating, Xu Tong and Weng Tonghe argued he misunderstood dynastic law: "The ancestral rule against naming an heir in advance should be reaffirmed, so all would know the heir who one day receives the throne is the son who succeeds Emperor Muzong.

Draft History of Qing, Chapter 466Volume 466 Biographies 253: Xu Yongyi, Xu Jingcheng, Yuan Chang, Li Shan, Lian Yuan · 2 passages

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日朝搆为，舉朝爭議和戰，樞臣孫毓汶被劾罷，翁同龢繼入，主戰益力。 When Japan provoked conflict, the court split over peace and war; Grand Councillor Sun Yuwen was impeached out of office, and Weng Tonghe took his place and argued for war even harder.

用儀論事與同龢忤，遂出樞廷，並解總署事。 Because Yongyi's policy views clashed with Weng Tonghe's, he was expelled from the Grand Council and stripped of his Yamen post as well.

Draft History of Qing, Chapter 468Volume 468 Biographies 255: Chong Qi Son: Bao Chu Deng, Zhi Jun, Yan Mao Younger Brother: Yan Zhi, Se Pu Zheng E, Wang Yirong, Xi Yuan, Zong Shibaofeng, Zong Shishoufu Younger Brother: Shou Fandeng, Song Chengxiang, Wang Tieshan · 1 passage

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懿榮泛涉書史，嗜金石，翁同龢、潘祖廕並稱其博學。 Yirong read widely in history and loved epigraphy; Weng Tonghe and Pan Zuyin both praised his learning.

Draft History of Qing, Chapter 503Volume 503 Biographies 290: Yi Shu Er · 2 passages

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其後包氏之學盛行，咸、同以來，以書名者，何紹基、張裕釗、翁同龢三家最著，並見他傳。 Later the Bao school flourished widely; from the Xianfeng and Tongzhi reigns onward, the most celebrated calligraphers were He Shaoji, Zhang Yuzhao, and Weng Tonghe—all treated in other biographies.

同龢規模閎變，不為諸家所囿，為一代後勁雲。 Weng Tonghe worked on a grand and ever-changing scale, unbound by earlier schools, and stood as the great sustaining force of his generation.