Tong Guogang


Tong Guogang was a Qing dynasty official. He was a maternal uncle of Kangxi Emperor.
Tong Guogang was the first son of Tulai. According to the Comprehensive history of Eight Banners, The Tong family from Fushun was a sinicized Jurchen clan, they were incorporated into the Han Chinese Plain Blue Banner. However, Pamela Kyle Crossley stated that they were actually Han Chinese and falsely claimed to be related to the Manchu Tunggiya clan of Jilin, using this false claim to get themselves transferred to a Manchu banner in the reign of the Kangxi Emperor.
In 1662, Tong Guogang succeeded to the hereditary rank Royal and [noble ranks of the Qing dynasty#Pre-standard non-imperial titles|Third class jinkini hafan] and appointed the deputy commander of the imperial bodyguard. In 1675 he assisted Oja in the suppression of the rebellion of the Chahar Mongols led by Bürni and was designated North Pacifying General. In 1677, Tong Tulai was granted the hereditary rank First class Duke posthumously, Tong Guogang inherited this rank in the same time.
Tong Guogang was one of the members of the mission to Russia in 1688 led by Songgotu, which was dedicated to resolving border disputes between China and Russia. In the next year a border treaty was signed in Nerchinsk, the signatories were Songgotu on behalf of the Chinese emperor and Fyodor Alexeyevich Golovin on behalf of the Russian tsars. Songgotu's signature was followed by those of Tong Guogang, Langtan, Bandarša, Sabsu, Mala and Unda.
Tong Guogang was killed in action by Dzungars in the Battle of Ulan Butung. He was given the posthumous name Zhongyong by Kangxi Emperor. After Yongzheng ascended the throne, Tong was awarded posthumous appointment of Grand Tutor.
Tong Guogang and Tong Guowei were said to believe in Christianity, though their political lives prohibited their formal conversions. They maintained close relationships with two Jesuit missionaries, Lodovico Buglio and Gabriel de Magalhães.

Family

  • Father: Tulai
  • Mother: Lady Gioro
  • Siblings:
  • * Eldest sister: Empress Xiaokangzhang
  • * Eldest brother: Tong Guoji ?
  • * Younger brother: Tong Guowei
  • Sons:
  • * Eldest son: Olondai, served as the commander of the imperial bodyguard
  • * Second son: Fahai, served as minister of War from 1726 to 1727
  • * Third son: Kūwadai, served as minister of Works from 1727 to 1729