Evaluation On Tian Wenjing: A Well-known Model Official During Yongzheng Ruling Years

Despite it last only thirteen years, the Yongzheng period (1725-1736) had its own position in Qing Dynasty. It contributed to later development of"Kangxi & Qianlong Prosperity"by launching a series of reforming measures to rectify its ruling. It is of great importance to understand China's feudal system of self-inspection capabilities and its limitations by studying this period of time, furthermore, the study of most representative figures in this period can not be isolated from its historical contexts. As a model official who loyally carried out the emperor's reforming measures in the local areas, Tian Wenjing provides us a vivid epitome to study the officials'political life and their achievements in this period of time.Tian Wanjing (1662-1732), a member of Zhenlanqi in Han Army, was one of the well-known model officials during the Yongzheng period. Tian began his political life as a supervisor of Health and then was promoted to local magistrate, provincial official and senior state official. During the ruling years of former emperor, Kangxi, his political achievement did not attract much attention. He was successively appointed as the Buzhengshi (ie, the state governor) in Shanxi and Henan, circuit inspector in Henan, state governor in Henan and Shandong. He mainly worked in Shanxi, Henan and Shangdong Provinces but his major achievement was gained in Henan.Tian's political life was quite different during the ruling years by the three emperors. As a common official during Kangxi ruling, Tian did not attract much attention. However, he was prompted to important positions and considered as one of the model officials during Yongzheng ruling. Emperor Yongzheng thought highly of his political achievement and his loyalty to the empire. But in Qianlong ruling, he was criticized as one of cruelest officials who endeavored to pursue his political goals without actually improving local people's life. His political life has aroused much debate. Before his death, Tian was criticized and impeached by his political enemies. After his death, his achievement was reproached, denied and depreciated. In fact, Tian's twisted experience and people's attitudes towards his achievement were closely related to Yongzhen's reforming work. This article, based on the historical contexts of Yongzheng's reforming years, attempts to present a comprehensive evaluation on his achievement.This article consists of three sections: introduction, body and conclusions.Introduction mainly discusses the significance of studying the case of Tian by introducing people's different attitude towards his achievement. It also includes some research ideas and current research concerning Tian's case.Body includes four sections:Part One mainly introduces the social and political contexts during the changing years between Kangxi and Yongzheng ruling, which paved way s to a close look at the political stage set around Tian.Part Two includes discussion of Tian's political activities. Beginning with his measures to guard against Yellow River's flood, it extends to his policy enforcing gentry and local residents to serve for the local government caused widespread discontent among gentries who refused to participate into examination. Tian made every effort to check local financial deficits and rectify officialdom, which, in turn, caused Tian and Lee,another official, to criticize each other before the emperor. Fortunately, Tian survived during these political struggles because of strong support from Emperor Yongzheng, which made Tian loyally implement Yongzheng's reforming measures concerning consumption of envy to the public or sharing the small-acre in Henan Province. In order to show his absolute loyalty to emperor Yongzheng, he focused on some superstition activities which created a false picture of good harvest during Yongzheng ruling. He even kept the flood confidential and so many local residents became homeless.Part Three analyzes Tian's role and function in Yongzheng's reforming work. By studying Tian's case, it takes a close look at Yongzheng's principles of official appointment and associated strategies to attack the leading scholars and rectify officialdom. It also discusses Tian's influence on the bureaucratic system.Part Four takes a comprehensive look on Tian's political achievement and personality which involves some of his private life and personal writing. It also traced back to the attitudes and official styles set by those who attempted to appraise or criticize Tian.Conclusions present a comprehensive evaluation on Tian's political life based on his achievement and associated influences. This article holds the view that Tian, serious and firm, performed his duty honestly and loyally, carefully handled official affairs without involving personal feeling. In other words, Tian, serious but not too cruel, was good at rectifying officialdom. Instead of being an famous politician with strong political belief, Tian acts as a typical official within the feudal system who loyally performed his duty for the empire.Apart from the detailed analysis on Tian's political life and a comprehensive evaluation on his achievement, this article investigates the local social contexts where Yongzheng's reforming work was implemented and further explores some social development during Yongzheng ruling years.