In this Manchu name, the given name is Guwanwen. In accordance with Manchu custom, it should be used alone or with titles but not with the clan name Wanggiya.
Guanwen was born in a Manchu clan Wanggiya. He raised the Green Standard Army to fight effectively against the Taiping Rebellion and restored the stability of the Qing dynasty along with other prominent figures, including Zuo Zongtang and Li Hongzhang, setting the scene for the era later known as the "Tongzhi Restoration" (同治中兴). He was known for his strategic perception and administrative skill.
Oversight of the Xiang Army
Guanwen was appointed Viceroy of Huguang from 1856 when the civil war. This was after two previous holders of the post had been killed in battle and another had committed suicide. Guanwen led the 600,000-strong Green Standard Army in the Central Plain.
