曾国藩(1811-1872)是一个生于湖南湘乡的农家子弟,他出生的年代正是清王朝由盛转衰的年代。曾国藩早年熟读“四书、五经”,科举入仕,笃信“程朱理学”,而晚年身居高位,却走上了力主向西方学习近代军事、科技与经济,力主派遣幼童赴美游学,并身体力行,积极创办洋务活动的道路。个中原因究竟何在?本文想作一番粗略的研究。 Tseng Kuo-fan (1811-1872), a peasant born in a rural farmhouse in Hunan’s Xiangxiang, was born at a time when the Qing dynasty was deteriorating. In his early years, Zeng Guofan became familiar with the Four Books and the Five Classics, became an official in the imperial examination system, and believed in “Cheng Zhu Neo-Confucianism.” However, in his later years, he took the upper position and learned from master the modern military, technology and economy in the West. He dispatched young children to visit the United States, And do their best to actively establish the path of Westernization activities. What is the reason? This article would like to make a rough study.