18 Facts About Duanfang

Duanfang, courtesy name Wuqiao, was a Manchu politician, educator and collector who lived in the late Qing dynasty.

Duanfang was a member of the Tohoro clan and the Plain White Banner of the Eight Banners.

Duanfang was actually Han Chinese even though he was under a Manchu banner.

Duanfang passed the Imperial Examination in 1882 during the reign of the Guangxu Emperor, and then served as a yuanwailang before being promoted to langzhong.

Duanfang supported the 1898 Hundred Days' Reform, but when it failed, he was protected by Ronglu and Li Lianying and was not implicated.

The Qing government established the agriculture, commerce, and trade bureau in Beijing, and Duanfang was placed in charge of the bureau.

Duanfang purchased a batch of animals from Germany for the Beijing Zoo.

Since then, Duanfang took the post of Shaanxi provincial judge, administrative commissioner, and agent of the Shaanxi governor.

Duanfang was transferred to a new post as Henan provincial administrative commissioner, and then to governor of Hubei.

In 1902, Duanfang served as acting Viceroy of Liangjiang, Afterward, he was transferred to a new post as Governor of Hunan.

In 1905, Duanfang was recalled to Beijing, and was promoted to Viceroy of Min-Zhe, although when he took office, he was dispatched to do more important tasks.

Duanfang wrote articles against footbinding in support of the Foot Emancipation Society.

The Nanyang industrial exposition took place while Duanfang was Nanyang chancellor.

On May 18,1911, Duanfang was appointed as the Chuanhan and Yuehan railroad's superintendent.

Duanfang was one of the founders of China's modern education.

Duanfang was the founder of the first kindergarten in China and provincial libraries.

Duanfang sent more than 20 girls to Japan to study pedagogy.

Duanfang was a well-known collector of antiques, and maintained a good relationship with Paul Pelliot and others.