The essence of Zeng Guofan's and Huxiang's cultural spirit is to forge ahead and forge ahead bravely, and Zeng's thought of "being sage inside and king outside" is the highest realm of this essence.

Therefore, by studying Huxiang scholars, we can find the orthodox characteristics of Confucianism in Huxiang culture. Whether Zhou Dunyi, Zhang Nanxuan, Wang Chuanshan or Zeng Guofan, their academic thoughts and pursuits are all aimed at orthodox Confucianism and Mencius.

Those who study Hunan people will feel the strong and stubborn character of Jingchushan people. Of course, these two cultural combinations are interpenetrating: Hunan people's personality traits are cultivated by Confucian moral spirit, so they can show a kind of personality charm and spiritual sublimation.

Cultural origin:

Huxiang culture is a regional culture. Under the background of the shift of cultural center of gravity to the south, Hunan has become a province with Confucian culture as its orthodoxy, and has been called "Xiaoxiang Bamboo Silk" and "Man Jing Zou Lu" by scholars. Local culture before Tang and Song Dynasties, including Jingchu culture. These two origins affect two levels of Huxiang culture respectively.

On the ideological and academic level, Confucianism in the Central Plains is the source of Huxiang culture, and the plaque of "Daonan Zhengmai" hanging in the lecture hall of Yuelu Academy shows the Confucian orthodoxy represented by Huxiang culture.

From the social and psychological level, such as the folk customs and psychological characteristics of Huxiang, it mainly stems from the local cultural traditions. These two completely different cultures regrouped and formed a unique regional culture.