Li Hongzao

Not to be confused with Li Hongzhang or Li Hongzhong.

In this Chinese name, the family name is Li.

Li Hongzao (Chinese: 李鴻藻; 1820–31 July 1897), styled Lansun (蘭孫), pseudonym Shisun (石孫), was a high government official towards the end of the Qing dynasty. One of his sons was Li Shizeng, a prominent politician in the Chinese Nationalist Party.^[1]

Imperial tutor Li Hongzao
Grand Councillor
In office 3 November 1894 – 31 July 1897
Assistant Grand Secretary
In office 2 December 1896 – 31 July 1897
Minister of Zongli Yamen
In office 6 August 1895 – 31 July 1897
Minister of Personnel
In office 3 December 1896 – 31 July 1897 Serving with Xijing
Preceded by	Xu Tong
Succeeded by	Sun Jianai
In office 13 March 1882 – 8 April 1884 Serving with Gengshou
Preceded by	Wan Qingli
Succeeded by	Xu Tong
Minister of War
In office 1 February 1881 – 13 March 1882 Serving with Gengshou (until 1881), Zhihe (since 1881)
Preceded by	Shen Guifen
Succeeded by	Mao Changxi
Personal details
Born	1820 Gaoyang County, Zhili
Died	31 July 1897(1897-07-31) (aged 76–77) Beijing
Education	Jinshi degree in the Imperial Examination (1852)
Courtesy name	Lansun (蘭孫)
Art name	Shisun (石孫)
Posthumous name	Wenzheng (文正)

Official career

Li was born in Gaoyang County, Zhili, in present-day Hebei province. In 1861, the two dowagers empresses chose Li Hongzao, Qi Junzao, and Weng Xincun, who were all Imperial teachers, to instruct the newly enthroned Tongzhi Emperor in the classics. The Emperor, who was less than five years old at the time, displayed little or no interest in his studies, and would concentrate only when Li was instructing him. Li rose to be vice-president of the Board of Revenue and Grand Councilor, and in 1872 became head of the Board of Works. He then retired for a three-year period, 1877-1880, as required by custom and statute at the death of his mother.^[2]

Upon his return to office, he resumed his post with the Grand Council and the Zongli Yamen, which was in effect the dynasty's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In 1884, Li and all the Grand Councillors, such as Yixin, who had been supported by the Empress Dowager, Cixi, were dismissed in a dispute with a group of conservative officials. He was gradually given permission to resume responsibilities, but often criticized for not carrying them out promptly. After the outbreak of the First Sino-Japanese War in 1894, he was given even greater duties, but died in 1897.^{[1] [2]}

Family

He was the father of Li Shizeng.