Gu Xiancheng

Gu Xiancheng was a Chinese official and scholar who, along with his colleagues, attempted to combat moral and intellectual decline during the late Ming dynasty. In 1604, he founded the Donglin Academy in Wuxi as a center for learning and discussion. The Donglin scholars aimed to return to traditional Confucian values and criticized the influence of Buddhist and Daoist thought on Confucianism.1

Despite their prestige, the Donglin party made enemies due to their moral outrage and criticism of those in power. When a leader attacked the powerful court eunuch Wei Zhongxian, hundreds of Donglin supporters were purged, imprisoned, or executed. Although the party was largely destroyed by 1627, their martyrdom served as an example.1