Jump to content

Xu Chengyu

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Xu Chengyu
徐承煜
Senior Deputy Minister of Justice
In office
16 November 1898 – 13 February 1901
Serving with Akdan (until 1899), Puting (1899), Chongxun (since 1899)
Preceded byLi Peiyuan
Succeeded byXue Yunsheng
Senior Deputy Minister of Rites
In office
30 July – 12 November 1900 (acting)
Serving with Ronghui
Preceded byZhang Baixi
Succeeded byLi Fuzao
In office
9 October – 16 November 1898 (acting)
Serving with Kuoputongwu
Preceded byWang Xifan (acting)
Succeeded byGe Baohua (acting)
Minister of Court of Imperial Sacrifices
In office
15 September 1896 – 1897
Serving with Qingfu
Preceded byKung Chao-Yuan
Succeeded byChen Bangrui
Minister of Court of the Imperial Stud
In office
10 January – 15 September 1896
Serving with Song'an
Preceded byYang Yü
Succeeded byLiu Enpu
Personal details
Born1838
Died26 February 1901(1901-02-26) (aged 62–63)
Caishikou Execution Grounds, Beijing, Qing Empire
Parent
EducationImperial Academy
Occupationpolitician
Courtesy nameNanshi (楠士)
Military service
AllegianceQing dynasty
Branch/serviceHan Chinese Plain Blue Banner
Battles/warsBoxer Rebellion

Xu Chengyu (Chinese: 徐承煜, 1838–1901[1]), courtesy name Nanshi (楠士), was a Qing dynasty official from the Han Chinese Plain Blue Banner. He was a son of Xu Tong.

Xu Chengyu obtained the xiucai (秀才) degree in the imperial examination and was selected a gongsheng (貢生) of the Imperial Academy[2] in 1861.[3] He had served as director of the Ministry of Revenue Shaanxi Bureau (戶部陝西司郎中), staff of Huiling Mausoleum construction office (惠陵工程處隨同辦事), Minister of the Court of the Imperial Stud (太僕寺卿), Assistant Commissioner of Transmission (通政使司參議), associate director of the Court of the Imperial Clan (宗人府府丞) and other positions.[1] He was promoted to the Senior Deputy Minister of Justice (刑部左侍郎) in 1898.[3]

Like his father, Xu Chengyu stood in the way of Hundred Days' Reform. Although he was hostile to Western culture, he was quite accepting of Western things in terms of material life enjoyment. It was said that he bought Western-style furniture and smoked cigars, for which he was scolded by his father.[4] During the Boxer Rebellion, Xu Chengyu supported to use the Boxers to fight against Western countries. He was appointed the execution witness (監斬官) of Xu Yongyi, Lishan, Xu Jingcheng, Lianyuan and Yuan Chang.[5] When Beijing fell to the Eight-Nation Alliance in 1900, Xu Chengyu persuaded his father to commit suicide with him. However, after Xu Tong committed suicide, he regretted it. He buried his father's body in the backyard and tried to fled from the capital[4] however, was captured by Japanese soldiers. In the next year, the victorious Eight-Nation Alliance named him as one of the masterminds behind the rebellion and demanded that he be executed.[6] Zhang Zhidong suggested to the Empress Dowager Cixi that Xu Chengyu should be returned to the Qing court for trial, and then force him commit suicide.[7] Xu Chengyu was dismissed from all official positions and later, executed at the Caishikou Execution Grounds together with Qixiu on 26 February 1901.[8][9] Xu Chengyu was so frightened that he fainted and fell unconscious during the execution. Unlike him, Qixiu accepted the fate very calmly.[2]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "Xu Chengyu".
  2. ^ a b Works related to 清史稿/卷465 at Wikisource (Draft History of Qing Volume 465)
  3. ^ a b "徐承煜".
  4. ^ a b "徐桐父子".
  5. ^ Works related to 夢蕉亭雜記 at Wikisource
  6. ^ Works related to Peace Agreement between the Great Powers and China. at Wikisource
  7. ^ 李國祁 (1984). 張之洞的外交政策. 中央硏究院近代史硏究所. p. 254.
  8. ^ "北淸事變に関する最終議定書(北清事変に関する最終議定書,北京議定書)" (in Japanese).
  9. ^ "諭 宣言刑量 承諾公書 淸國全權委員에게 送達 件".