Wenxiang | |
Order: | Grand Councilor |
Term Start: | 1858 |
Term End: | 1876 |
Order1: | Grand Secretary of the Wuying Hall |
Term Start1: | 1874 |
Term End1: | 1876 |
Order2: | Grand Secretary of the Tiren Library |
Term Start2: | 1872 |
Term End2: | 1874 |
Order3: | Assistant Grand Secretary |
Term Start3: | 1871 |
Term End3: | 1872 |
Office4: | Minister of Personnel |
Term Start4: | March 31, 1866 |
Term End4: | July 16, 1872 |
Alongside4: | Zhu Fengbiao (until 1868), Shan Maoqian (since 1868) |
Predecessor4: | Ruichang |
Successor4: | Baoyun |
Office5: | Minister of Works |
Term Start5: | October 9, 1862 |
Term End5: | March 31, 1866 |
Alongside5: | Li Han (until 1863), Li Tangjie (1863–1864), Shan Maoqian (since 1864) |
Predecessor5: | Wesin |
Successor5: | Ruichang |
Office6: | Minister of Zongli Yamen |
Term Start6: | January 20, 1861 |
Term End6: | May 26, 1876 |
Birth Date: | October 16, 1818 |
Education: | jinshi degree |
Wenxiang (; born October 16, 1818, in Liaoyang, died May 26, 1876) was an ethnic Manchu statesman of the Qing dynasty of China. Wenxiang hailed from the Gūwalgiya clan and belonged to the Plain Red Banner in the Eight Banners in Mukden. In 1845, he obtained the highest degree (jinshi) in the imperial examination and four years later he was appointed to the Board of Works. He advanced through the ranks and in 1858, he was appointed vice president to the Board of Rites and also became a member of the Grand Council, the highest policy-making organ in the Empire. He subsequently held a number of prominent posts in the central government and became a key player in court politics.
As foreign troops invaded Beijing during the Second Opium War and the Xianfeng Emperor fled to Chengde, Wenxiang remained in the capital and took part in negotiating with the British and French. Following the peace settlement, he became one of the founders of the new Qing foreign office, the Zongli Yamen. He was one of the architects behind the Self-strengthening movement and was instrumental in devising the Qing government's cooperative policy towards the Western powers in the period between 1861 and 1876.