Zeng Guofan (November 26, 1811 – March 12, 1872), originally named Zicheng, went by the courtesy name Bohan and the sobriquet Disheng. He was born in Xiangxiang, Hunan. A prominent statesman, strategist, scholar of principle, and literary figure during the late Qing dynasty in China, Zeng also served as the leader of the Xiang Army, a Han Chinese militia force raised by local landlords in the final years of the Qing dynasty.

Zeng Guofan passed the imperial examination in 1838, the 18th year of the Daoguang reign, and was subsequently appointed to the Hanlin Academy. He later advanced through the ranks to become a Cabinet Scholar, Vice Minister of the Ministry of War, and Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites. In 1852, he was ordered to travel south to oversee the provincial-level civil service exams—but en route, his mother passed away. Granting him leave to return home and observe the mandatory period of mourning, Zeng dedicated himself to filial piety during this time. Zeng was renowned for his emphasis on "morality" and "benevolence," deeply admiring the Cheng-Zhu school of Neo-Confucianism. In 1853, he received another imperial decree to recruit and organize local militia forces from Hunan, which would become known as the "Xiang Army." The following year, he led his troops to a decisive victory against the Taiping rebels at Tianjia Town. By 1864, the Xiang Army had successfully captured Tianjing, the Taiping capital. In the subsequent year, Zeng was tasked with leading military campaigns in the north to suppress the Nian Rebellion. In 1866, he was bestowed by the Qing court with the prestigious title of First-Class "Yi Yong" Marquis, becoming the first civilian official in history to receive such an honor. That same year also saw the establishment of the Jiangnan Arsenal under his supervision. During this period, Zeng further strengthened his educational initiatives by setting up state-run academies at his Anqing headquarters, where he oversaw the reprinting of classic Confucian texts and historical works. In 1867, Zeng was elevated to the position of Grand Secretary. The following year, he was appointed Governor-General of Zhili Province. In 1870, Zeng was assigned to investigate and resolve the infamous "Tianjin Incident," adopting a pragmatic approach aimed at negotiating peace with Western powers. For this diplomatic effort, he was soon recalled to his previous post in Nanjing. Tragically, Zeng passed away in 1872 while still serving in office.

Zeng Guofan's rise had a profound impact on the Qing Dynasty, influencing its political, military, cultural, and economic spheres in significant ways. Under Zeng's initiative, China's first steamship was built, the nation's first military-industrial academy was established, and the first group of students was sent to study in the United States. Moreover, the emergence of the Han Chinese landlord-based "Jingshi" faction, led by Zeng Guofan, prompted a shift in the ethnic balance among Qing Dynasty officials at the local level, marking the beginning of a trend toward "external lightness and internal weight." Zeng also founded the influential "Xiangxiang School" of classical prose during the late Qing period. Often paired with Hu Linyi as "Zeng and Hu," he is collectively regarded alongside Li Hongzhang, Zuo Zongtang, and Zhang Zhidong as one of the "Four Great Ministers Who Revived the Late Qing Dynasty."