Yuan Chang (official)

In this Chinese name, the family name is Yuan.
Yunqiwei
Yuan Chang
袁昶
Minister of Zongli Yamen
In office
2 October 1898 – 28 July 1900
Minister of Court of Imperial Sacrifices
In office
21 July 1899 – 28 July 1900
Serving with Qingfu (until 1899), Guichun (1899–1900), Lianyuan (1900), Tetušen(1900)
Preceded byLi Zhaowei (acting)
Succeeded byWang Peiyou
Minister of Court of Imperial Entertainments
In office
6 April – 21 July 1899
Serving with Changming
Preceded byLü Haihuan
Succeeded byGuo Cengxin
Personal details
Born
Yuan Zhenchan (袁振蟾)

1846
Tonglu County, Zhejiang, Qing Empire
Died28 July 1900(1900-07-28) (aged 53–54)
Caishikou Execution Grounds, Beijing, Qing Empire
Cause of deathdecapitation
NationalityQing Chinese
Educationjinshi in the imperial examination (1867)
Occupationpolitician, poet

Yuan Chang (Chinese: 袁昶, 1846–1900), courtesy name Shuangqiu (爽秋), was a politician and poet of Qing dynasty. He was a prominent figure of the "Tong–Guang genre" (同光體), a poetry genre popular during the Tongzhi and Guangxu era.[1]

He obtained the jinshi in the imperial examination and was appointed the Main Adviser of the Ministry of Revenue (戶部主事) in 1867. Later he had served as the Military Secretary of the Ministry of Zongli Yamen (總理各國事務衙門章京), editor of Collected Statutes Institute (會典館纂修官), assistant director of Jiangxi Department of the Ministry of Revenue (戶部江西司員外郎) and other positions. He was appointed the intendant of Hui–Ning–Chi–Tai-Guang Circuit (徽寧池太廣道道台) in 1892. During his term, he carried out tax reforms, built water conservancy projects, set up post office, and established academies.[2] As a believer of ti-yong idea, he established several practical learning new departments in Zhongjiang Academy (中江書院) in Wuhu, such as Confucian classics (經史), Xingli (性理), geomancy and fortune-telling (輿算), Physics (格致).

In 1898 he was promoted to the Judicial Commissioner of Shaanxi (陝西按察使), Before taking office, he was made the Administrative Commissioner of Jiangning (江寧布政使) then transferred to Zhili. He was appointed the Minister of Zongli Yamen, the Minister of Court of Imperial Entertainments, then the Minister of Court of Imperial Sacrifices.[2][3]

The Boxers launched a rebellion in Shandong and massacred foreign priests. Empress Dowager Cixi held an imperial meeting in Yiluan Palace (儀鑾宮) and planned to use the Boxers to start a war against the Westerners.[2] Yuan Chang, Xu Jingcheng, and Lishan firmly opposed war with Westerners and believed that declaring war against Western countries would lead to defeat. Yuan Chang issued two memorials, arguing that rebels should not be indulged and foreign envoys should not be killed. However, Cixi did not respond. He and Xu Jingcheng jointly signed a memorial to impeach Prince Duan and other ministers who had caused the turmoil. Before the memorial could be delivered, Prince Duan preemptively detained him at home.[4]

Yuan Chang and Xu Jingcheng were dismissed from office and later, executed on 28 July 1900. During the negotiations for the Boxer Protocol, Xu Yongyi, Lishan, Xu Jingcheng, Lianyuan and Yuan Chang were posthumously rehabilitated by Qing dynasty.[5][6] Yuan was given the posthumous name "Zhongjie" (忠節).[2]

  1. ^ "砥砺问学 克己慎思——日记中的袁昶". gmw.cn (in Chinese).
  2. ^ a b c d Works related to 清史稿/卷466 at Wikisource (Draft History of Qing Volume 466)
  3. ^ "袁昶".
  4. ^ Works related to 景善日記 at Wikisource
  5. ^ Works related to Peace Agreement between the Great Powers and China. at Wikisource
  6. ^ "北淸事變に関する最終議定書（北清事変に関する最終議定書，北京議定書）" (in Japanese).