The Study Of Guo Zizhang’s Governance Ideas And Practices Of Guizhou Province

During the Late-Ming Dynasty, Guizhou Province, in southwestChina, experienced a fierce national conflict and strong socialinstability. Guo Zizhang, a well-known official at that age,took up the post of vice imperial censor to govern Guizhou aswell as to manage military affairs in Shu (Sichuan Province)and Chu (Hubei Province) areas on imperial order in EmperorWanli27year (AD1599). After the Pingbo Battle, Guo remindedin office to deal with follow-up issues that resulted fromsuppressing Guizhou insurgency under orders, during which hemanaged to handle the Pilin Insurgency and Miao People Revolt,contributing to releasing national conflict, maintaining astable society, and developing economy and education to set asolid foundation for Guizhou’ s social stability and to makecontribution to stabilizing border situation in Ming Dynasty.Guo, however, received no praise or honor for his brilliantgovernance and positive influences on Guizhou, and hisachievement was even not recorded in the biographies of theHistory of Ming, let alone academic studies and attentions.This essay based on the analysis of historical materials seeksto comprehensively demonstrate Guo Zizhang’s measures andachievements of maintaining social stability, improvingeconomic development and enhancing cultural constructionduring his governance of Guizhou through systematicorganization and general study of his thoughts and practice. The first part of the essay introduces Guo’s governance ofGuizhou and historical background through his brief biography,the social situation in Emperor Jiawan years and Guo’sgovernance ideas. In the second part, the essay mainly focuseson studying his achievements in building a stable society,including handling minority affairs, laying emphasis on borderconstruction and stable social orders to demonstrate Guo’spolitical and military talents. The third part attachesimportance to his positive measures in improving economicdevelopment, which mainly focuses on improving transportation,building road and bridge, reducing the burden of taxation andcost in order to release people’s burden, develop agricultureand positively pay taxes. The fourth part of the essay studiesspecific measurements of Guo Zizhang to enhance Guizhoucultural construction from improving official education system,developing academy education and paying attention to localculture. The last part in accordance with the above studyresults discusses and analyzes Guo Zizhang’s significantachievements and influences on governing Guizhou Province.