Talk:Tan Zhonglin

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Tan Zhonglin (Tan Chung-lin 譚鍾麟, 1822 - 1905 ) is a Qing Dynasty bureaucrat. He was born in Gaolong, Chaling County, Hunan Province. His courtesy name is Wen qing (文卿). He is father of Tan Yankai (譚延闓), a politician of the Republic of China.

In 1856 (the 5th year of Emperor Xianfeng reign) he successfully passed the metropolitan-level imperial exam and was awarded jinshi (進士) rank degree, and was admitted to the Hanlin Academy first with the scholatic title of Shujishi, years later as bianxiu, a compiler and secretary. In 1863, he was yushi, investigating censor; at this position he submitted a memorial, co-signed by other 40 or more official, to Empress Dowager Cixi for her to exonerate Yixin Princess Gong, and Cixi did. Thus, he won his fame and gained from leading politicians as well as the Empress.

In 1866, he was appointed the Prefect of Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province. In 1868, recommended by Li Hongzhang, he was appointed judicial commissioner of Henan Province.

In 1871, recommended by Zuo Zongtang, he became the Provincial Administration Commissioner of Shaanxi, soon he was advanced to be the Acting Governor of Shaanxi. In 1875 (the first year of reign of Emperor Guangxu), Tan was officially appointed the Governor of Shaanxi because of his contribution for the victory by helping the shipment of the military supplies for the General Zuo Zongtang’s army when it battled Muslim rebels in Xinjiang. In 1879, he was appointed the Governor of Zhejiang, with extra rank of the Minister of Military Affairs. During his tenure in Zhejiang, he rebuilt the Imperial Wenlan Pavilion Library, holding one of seven copies of Siku quanshu, The Complete Library of Four Treasure.

In 1881, he was appointed the Viceroy of Shaanxi Province and Gansu Province, worked hard to promote local agriculture.In 1892, he was appointed the Viceroy of Zhejiang Province and Fujian Province, he reformed the Foochow Arsenal. In 1895, he was appointed the Viceroy of Guangdong Province and Guangxi Province. He suppressed the Canton uprising led by Sun Yat-sen and executed Lu Haodong of the Revolutionary Party. Tan reported to the throne against the Hundred Days' Reform, and it was highly appreciated by conservative Empress Dowager Cixi.[1]

In 1899, he resigned as he opposed to Hong Kong's New Territories' Lease to the UK. He died of illness in 1905, but was awarded an honorary posthumous name Wen qin (文勤) due to loyalty and his achievements.

Photo of Tang Zhonglin
I strongly doubt that the photo in the article about Tang Zhonglin is showing the correct person.

1. The photo is dated 1911, he died already in 1905.

2. There is a photo that shows Tang Zhonglin together with the Governor of Hong Kong Sir Henry Arthur Blake (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sir_Henry_Arthur_Blake_and_Viceroy_of_Guangdong.jpg). Both persons met on the 2 April 1899 in Canton. This is the only meeting of both persons known to me. The Chinese person looks completely different to the one given in the Tang Zhonglin article.

So I suggest to check which person the photo (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tan_Zhonglin#/media/File:Tan_Zhonglin.jpg) really is.

--Ion Tichy (talk) 20:55, 25 July 2021 (UTC)