Wang Kaiyun 1833-1916

A native of Xiangtan in Hunan province, he is best remembered as a poet and a scholar of the classics. He received his juren degree in 1853. Greatly impressed by Wang's literary abilities, the conservative minister Sushun invited Wang to become his aide. Subsequent to the palace coup that took place after Emperor Xianfeng's death in 1861 ended with the execution of Sushun and other ministers, he served for some years as an aide to Zeng Guofan. He was then invited to take charge of well-known colleges in Chengdu, Hengzhou and Changsha. In his old age, honorary official titles were conferred on him, and Yuan Shikai summoned him to join the Office of National History. He died before the work commenced.

         close