Wu Dacheng (吳大澂) | 24 Histories

Overview

Wu Dacheng was a Qing Official.

PeriodQing

IdentityHistorical · Male

Roles

Found in

Other names

Type	English	Chinese	Pinyin
Courtesy name	Qingqing	清卿	Qingqing

Life and dates

Death

AD 1902 二十八年
Age Value: 68
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 450, passage 213

Age

68
Reckoning Sui
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 450, passage 213

Attested activity

AD 1881 七年
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 450, passage 179
AD 1895 二十一年
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 450, passage 205
AD 1902 二十八年
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 450, passage 213
AD 1898 二十四年
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 450, passage 212
AD 1894 二十年
Dated from the passage context · Draft History of Qing 461, passages 49-50
AD 1877 光緒三年
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 450, passage 158

Show 17 more source-backed claims

AD 1880 光緒六年
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 460, passage 119
AD 1871 to AD 1884 光緒初清流黨活動時期
Dated from the passage context · Draft History of Qing 444, passage 142
AD 1885 光緒十一年
Dated from the passage context · Draft History of Qing 195, passages 140, 148
AD 1887 光緒十三年
Dated from the passage context · Draft History of Qing 195, passages 161, 169
AD 1886 光緒十二年
Dated from the passage context · Draft History of Qing 195, passages 151, 159
AD 1889 光緒十五年
Dated from the passage context · Draft History of Qing 195, passages 183, 191
AD 1888 光緒十四年
Dated from the passage context · Draft History of Qing 195, passages 172, 180
AD 1884 光緒十年
Dated from the passage context · Draft History of Qing 195, passages 129, 138
AD 1880 六年
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 450, passage 165
AD 1885 十一年
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 450, passage 188
AD 1886 十二年
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 450, passage 191
AD 1892 十八年
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 450, passage 202
AD 1888 十四年
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 450, passage 195
AD 1884 十年
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 450, passage 181
AD 1862 同治元年秋
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 450, passages 148-149
AD 1878 四年
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 450, passage 161
AD 1860 to AD 1902 與楊沂孫同時
Strongly inferred · Draft History of Qing 503, passage 172

Family

Immediate relationships attested in the translated histories.

Child of Mother of Wu Dacheng
mother 母
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 450, passage 201

Key source chapters

Origins and identity

Han Chinese 漢
Strongly inferred · Draft History of Qing 195, passage 138

Career and standing

Chinese Left Vice Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate 都察院漢左副都御史
AD 1884 光緒十年甲申 · Appointed
Dated from the passage context · Draft History of Qing 195, passage 138
Yellow River commissioner 河道總督
AD 1888 十四年 · Appointed
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 450, passage 195
assistant in Jilin border affairs 佐吉林邊務
Appointed
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 460, passage 119
educational commissioner of Shaanxi and Gansu 陝甘學政
Appointed
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 450, passage 154
governor of Guangdong 廣東巡撫
Appointed
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 450, passage 191
governor of Hunan 湖南巡撫
Appointed
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 450, passage 202

Show 12 more source-backed claims

Hanlin compiler 編修
Appointed
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 450, passage 152
intendant of the Hebei Circuit 河北道
Appointed
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 450, passage 161
Left Vice Censor-in-Chief 左副都御史
Appointed
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 450, passage 181
minister of the Court of the Imperial Stud 太僕寺卿
Appointed
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 450, passage 179
third-rank ministerial status 三品卿銜
Granted
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 450, passage 165
Chinese Left Vice Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate 都察院漢左副都御史
AD 1885 光緒十一年乙酉 · Held
Dated from the passage context · Draft History of Qing 195, passage 148
Chinese Left Vice Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate 都察院漢左副都御史
AD 1887 光緒十三年丁亥 · Held
Dated from the passage context · Draft History of Qing 195, passage 169
Chinese Left Vice Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate 都察院漢左副都御史
AD 1886 光緒十二年丙戌 · Held
Dated from the passage context · Draft History of Qing 195, passage 159
Chinese Left Vice Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate 都察院漢左副都御史
AD 1888 光緒十四年戊子 · Held
Dated from the passage context · Draft History of Qing 195, passage 180
first-rank hat finial 頭品頂戴
Granted
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 450, passage 198
Received
AD 1898 二十四年 · Permanently barred
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 450, passage 212
Received
Dismissed retained
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 450, passage 210

Places and affiliations

Qing 清
Relation Served
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 195, passage 138
Polity Qing 清 · Relation Lived under
Strongly inferred · Draft History of Qing 503, passage 172
Polity Qing 清 · Relation Served
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 444, passage 142; Draft History of Qing 461, passage 49
At Wu County in Jiangsu 江蘇吳縣
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 450, passage 147
Organization Qingliu Party 清流黨 · Relation Member of
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 444, passage 142

Learning and skills

Earned
AD 1868 後六年 · Credential Presented Scholar 進士
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 450, passage 152
Skill seal and bronze script 篆籀 · Level accomplished
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 450, passage 214
Skill seal and large-seal script 篆、籀 · Level highly-regarded
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 503, passage 172

Works and attributed material

bronze pillar inscription 銅柱銘
Relation Author
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 450, passage 189
collected prose and poetry 齋詩文集
Relation Author
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 450, passage 215
Hengxuan's Record of Ancient Bronzes 恆軒古金錄
Relation Author
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 450, passage 215
Inquiry into Ancient Jade 古玉圖考
Relation Author
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 450, passage 215
Inquiry into Weights and Measures 權衡度量考
Relation Author
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 450, passage 215
Supplement to Ancient Seal Script 古籀補
Relation Author
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 450, passage 215

Show 4 more source-backed claims

Memorial · Author · Topic elevate Prince Chun honors · With Yiyi (奕枻)
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 450, passage 199
Memorial · Author · Topic frugality and integrity
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 450, passages 150-151
Speech · Speaker · With Han Xiaozhong (韓效忠)
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 450, passage 174
Speech · Speaker · Quote I truly cannot command troops
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 450, passage 209

Events and relationships

Added to sacrificial canon
Ritual · Proposer · With Cangjie (倉頡)
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 450, passage 154
Closed Zhengzhou breach
Public works · Commissioner
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 450, passage 196
Defeat and attempted suicide
Military · Commander
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 450, passages 208-209
Defeated and fled inside the Pass
Military · Commander
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 461, passage 50
Discovered Russian encroachment
Diplomatic · Negotiator · At Hunchun Hundingzi 琿春黑頂子
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 450, passages 166-167
Discussed current affairs
Political speech · Speaker
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 444, passage 142

Show 20 more source-backed claims

Famine relief
Relief · Commissioner · At Shanxi and Shaanxi
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 450, passages 158-159
Garrisoned
Military · Officer · At Leting and Changli 樂亭、昌黎
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 450, passage 180
Led Hunan army
Military · Commander · At Haicheng 海城
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 450, passages 204-205
Memorialized to cut wedding costs
Political · Remonstrator · With Emperor Muzong (穆宗)
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 450, passage 153
Ordered to assist Liu Kunyi with Song Qing
Military · Commander
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 461, passage 49
Persuaded surrender
Diplomatic · Envoy · With Han Xiaozhong (韓效忠)
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 450, passages 173-178
Restored encroached border
Diplomatic · Boundary commissioner · With Yike Tang'a (伊克唐阿)
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 450, passages 188-190
Settled Korea disorder
Diplomatic · Envoy · With Xuchang (續昌)
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 450, passages 182-187
Transferred
AD 1889 光緒十五年己丑 · Personnel · Officeholder
Dated from the passage context · Draft History of Qing 195, passage 191
Relation Friend of · Person Yiyi (奕枻)
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 450, passage 198
Relation Recommended by · Person Li Hongzhang (李鴻章)
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 450, passage 160
Relation Recommended by · Person Zeng Guoquan (曾國荃)
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 450, passage 160
Relation Subordinate of · Person Tu Zongying (塗宗瀛)
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 450, passages 163-164
Relation Recommended by · Person Zuo Zongtang (左宗棠)
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 450, passage 160
Relation Subordinate of · Person Liu Kunyi (劉坤一)
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 461, passage 49
Relation Patron of · Person Dai Zongqian (戴宗騫)
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 460, passages 119, 125
Relation Colleague of · Person Song Qing (宋慶)
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 461, passage 49
Relation Colleague of · Person Ming'an (銘安)
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 450, passage 165
Relation Recommender of · Person He Ruilin (賀瑞麟)
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 450, passage 155
Relation Recommender of · Person Yang Shuchun (楊樹椿)
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 450, passage 155

Assessments and attributes

Assessment famous for river control but ruined by empty arrogance in military affairs · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 450, passage 219

Source notes

Historicity historical
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 195, passage 138; Draft History of Qing 461, passage 49
Has a separate biography in this history
Directly stated · Draft History of Qing 503, passage 172

References in the histories

Search passages

History

34 passages

Draft History of Qing, Chapter 195Volume 195 Tables 35: Ministers of Boards and Courts Chronological Table 9 Lower · 6 passages

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陳蘭彬免。八月乙亥吳大澂左副都御史。沈源深署。 Chen Lanbin was removed from office. On the yihai day of the eighth month, Wu Dacheng: Left Deputy Censor-in-Chief. Shen Yuanshen served in an acting capacity.

吳大澂沈源深仍署。 Wu Dacheng; Shen Yuanshen continued to serve in an acting capacity.

吳大澂 Wu Dacheng.

吳大澂遷。二月丁亥薛福成左副都御史。五月己酉病解。六月戊寅徐致祥左副都御史。 Wu Dacheng was transferred. On the dinghai day of the second month, Xue Fucheng: Left Deputy Censor-in-Chief. On the jiyou day of the fifth month, was relieved due to illness. On the wuyin day of the sixth month, Xu Zhixiang: Left Deputy Censor-in-Chief.

Draft History of Qing, Chapter 444Volume 444 Biographies 231: Huang Tifang, Zong Shibaoting, Zong Shishengyu, Zhang Peilun, Deng Chengxiu, Xu Zhixiang · 1 passage

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是時吳大澂、陳寶琛好論時政，與寶廷、鄧承修輩號「清流黨」，而佩綸尤以糾彈大臣著一時。 At this time Wu Dacheng and Chen Baochen were outspoken on current affairs; with Baoting, Deng Chengxiu, and others they were known as the "Qingliu Party", while Peilun was especially famed for impeaching senior officials.

Draft History of Qing, Chapter 450Volume 450 Biographies 237: Li Henian, Wen Bin, Ren Daorong, Xu Zhenyi, Wu Dacheng · 21 passages

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吳大澂，字清卿，江蘇吳縣人。 Wu Dacheng, styled Qingqing, was a native of Wu County in Jiangsu.

大澂方為諸生，入都應京兆試。 Dacheng was then a common student and had come to the capital for the metropolitan district examination.

時詔修頤和園，大澂復言時事艱難，請停止工作。 When the court ordered repairs to the Summer Palace, Dacheng again argued that times were hard and asked that the work be halted.

惟大澂能判決如巡撫恉。 Only Dacheng enforced the governor's policy as intended.

大澂週曆要隘，始知琿春黑頂子地久為俄人侵占。 Touring the strategic passes, Dacheng discovered that the Hundingzi territory of Hunchun had long been occupied by Russia.

大澂單騎抵其巢，留宿三日，勸效忠出，效忠猶豫，意難之。 Dacheng rode alone into their stronghold, stayed three days, and urged Xiaozhong to surrender; Xiaozhong hesitated, troubled by the request.

大澂曰：「我不疑若，若乃疑我耶？」 Dacheng said: "I do not doubt you — do you doubt me?"

大澂挺以自任，遂與效忠出，奏給五品頂戴，子七品，孫登舉有平寇功，授參將。 Dacheng pledged to take personal responsibility, and Xiaozhong came out with him; the court granted Xiaozhong a fifth-rank hat finial, his son seventh rank, and his grandson Dengju, credited with pacifying the bandits, the rank of brigade commander.

大澂謂續昌曰：「是蔑我也！」 Dacheng said to Xuchang: "This is an insult to me!"

大澂持不可，條上駁議，不報。 Dacheng objected and submitted a detailed rebuttal, but received no response.

十四年，鄭州河再決，上震怒，褫河督李鶴年職，以大澂代之。 In 1888 the Zhengzhou breach opened again; the emperor was furious, dismissed river commissioner Li Henian, and replaced him with Dacheng.

是年冬，河工合龍，大澂力居多。 That winter the breach was closed, and Dacheng's contribution was the largest.

大澂盛負時譽，會海軍議起，以醇親王奕枻為總理。 Dacheng enjoyed great contemporary renown; when plans for a navy were raised, Prince Chun Yixuan was placed in charge.

大澂素與王善，治河功成，實授河道總督，加頭品頂戴。 Dacheng had long been on good terms with the prince; after the river works succeeded he was formally appointed Yellow River commissioner and granted the first-rank hat finial.

大澂遂疏請尊崇醇親王稱號禮節。 Dacheng then memorialized requesting elevated titles and ceremonial honors for Prince Chun.

大澂幾得嚴譴，以母喪歸，乃已。 Dacheng nearly faced severe punishment, but returned home for his mother's mourning, and the affair ended there.

大澂因自請率湘軍赴前敵，優詔允之。 Dacheng volunteered to lead Hunan troops to the front, and the throne graciously approved.

大澂憤湘軍盡覆，拔劍欲自裁，王同愈在側，格阻之，同愈以編修參大澂軍事也。 Enraged that the Hunan army had been wiped out, Dacheng drew his sword to kill himself; Wang Tongyu, who was serving on his staff as a Hanlin compiler, was at his side and stopped him.

光燾請申軍法，大澂歎曰：「餘實不能軍，當自請嚴議。」 Guangtao asked that military law be applied; Dacheng sighed and said: "I truly cannot command troops; I should request severe punishment myself."

大澂善篆籀，罷官後，貧甚，售書畫、古銅器自給。 Dacheng was accomplished in seal and bronze script; after leaving office he was desperately poor and sold calligraphy, paintings, and ancient bronzes to support himself.

大澂治河有名，而好言兵，才氣自喜，卒以虛憍敗，惜哉！ Dacheng was famous for river control, yet loved to talk of military affairs, took pride in his own talent, and in the end was ruined by empty arrogance—a pity indeed!

Draft History of Qing, Chapter 460Volume 460 Biographies 247: Zuo Baogui Younger Brother: Bao Xian, Yong Shan, Deng Shichang, Liu Buchan, Lin Taiceng, Dai Zongqian · 3 passages

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光緒六年，中俄失和，吳大澂被命佐吉林邊務，奏宗騫自隨。 In the sixth year of Guangxu, when relations with Russia broke down, Wu Dacheng was ordered to assist in Jilin border affairs and memorialized that Zongqian accompany him.

大澂兼攝屯政，宗騫為治道路，築砲台，設江防，徙直、東流民，假予產業，分部護之。 Wu also took charge of frontier colonization; Zongqian built roads, erected forts, organized river defenses, resettled refugees from Zhili and the east, lent them land and tools, and posted guards to protect them by district.

大澂上其績狀，遷知府。 Wu reported his achievements and he was promoted to prefect.

Draft History of Qing, Chapter 461Volume 461 Biographies 248: Song Qing, Lv Benyuan, Xu Bangdao, Ma Yukun, Yi Ke Tang A, Rong He, Zhang Shun · 2 passages

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慶凡五攻城弗能拔，朝廷思倚湘軍，命慶與吳大澂佐劉坤一軍。 Qing assaulted the city five times without success; the court turned to the Xiang Army and ordered Qing and Wu Dacheng to serve under Liu Kunyi.

慶率徐邦道、馬玉昆兵萬二千人頓太平山，戰卻之，大澂敗入關。 Qing led Xu Bangdao and Ma Yukun with twelve thousand men at Taipingshan and drove the enemy back; Wu Dacheng was defeated and fled inside the Pass.

Draft History of Qing, Chapter 503Volume 503 Biographies 290: Yi Shu Er · 1 passage

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沂孫同時工篆、籀者，又推吳大澂，自有傳。 Among contemporaries skilled in seal and large-seal script, Wu Dacheng was also highly regarded and has his own biography.