The theory and practical application of Zeng Guofan’s Ice Mirror, “Ting Jing,” is the “masterpiece of suppressing cases” by the famous late Qing dynasty minister Zeng Guofan. It records in detail the eighteen principles and theories he summarized during the ups and downs of the officialdom, and is a unique set of basic principles and theories for being an official based on his own successes and failures. The following is a detailed explanation of the theory of “Ting Jing” and its practical application in modern times:

1、 The Theory of the “Ting Jing”
The tenacious spiritual strength
The “Ting Jing” showcases Zeng Guofan’s unwavering spiritual strength. He stood firm in many difficulties such as officialdom and battlefield, and never backed down in the face of setbacks. This resilient spirit is an important support for him to move forward tenaciously in adversity.

A flexible and adaptable way of dealing with people
Zeng Guofan demonstrated exceptional adaptability in complex officialdom and social environments. He is good at adjusting strategies and maneuvering with various forces, maintaining loyalty to the court while also to some extent safeguarding the interests of Han officials. This flexible and adaptable way of dealing with the world allows him to navigate the officialdom with ease.

Self cultivation and the pursuit of inner sage and outer king
Zeng Guofan emphasized self-cultivation, and he persisted in self reflection every day, reflecting on his words and deeds through writing diaries and other means, and mercilessly analyzing his own shortcomings and mistakes. He pursues the path of inner sanctity and outer kingship, applying his inner cultivation to the social relationships and career he engages in.
The philosophy of ‘pretty’
‘Ting’ is one of the core ideas of the ‘Ting Jing’. It means that in the face of difficulties and setbacks, one must grit their teeth, persevere, and rely on their tenacious perseverance to get through. Zeng Guofan, with this determination, suppressed the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom movement and later advocated for Westernization, making important contributions to the revival of Tongzhi in the late Qing Dynasty.

2、 The Practical Application of the “Ting Jing” in Modern Times
Workplace competition
In modern workplace competition, perseverance is one of the keys to success. In the face of difficulties and challenges in work, we need to maintain a firm belief and tenacious perseverance like Zeng Guofan, constantly overcome difficulties, and make progress.
Meanwhile, a flexible and adaptable way of dealing with people is also an indispensable ability in the workplace. We need to learn to establish good relationships with colleagues, leaders, clients, and other parties, and be good at adjusting our communication methods and strategies to achieve better work results.

personal growth
Zeng Guofan’s self-cultivation methods have important reference value for modern personal growth. We need to persist in self reflection and introspection like him, constantly improving our character and abilities.
At the same time, we can also draw inspiration from Zeng Guofan’s pursuit of the path of inner sanctity and outer kingship, apply inner cultivation to practical life, and strive to achieve the unity of personal value and social value.

Team management
In team management, the theory of ‘Ting Jing’ also has guiding significance. Team leaders need to possess the indomitable spirit like Zeng Guofan, leading the team to overcome various difficulties and challenges.
At the same time, leaders also need to have flexible and adaptable ways of dealing with the world, and be good at adjusting the team’s strategies and tactics to adapt to the constantly changing market environment and customer needs.
In addition, leaders need to pay attention to the self-cultivation and growth of team members, encourage them to continuously learn and improve, in order to enhance the competitiveness and cohesion of the entire team.

Dealing with challenges
In modern society, everyone will face various challenges and difficulties. We can draw strength from Zeng Guofan’s resilient spirit, maintain a positive and enterprising attitude.
At the same time, we also need to learn to flexibly respond to various challenges and changes like Zeng Guofan, constantly adjusting our strategies and methods to achieve better response effects.

As the embodiment of Zeng Guofan’s great wisdom throughout his life, the theory of “Ting Jing” still has important guiding significance in modern society. We can draw strength and wisdom from it to better cope with various challenges and opportunities in life.