Yuan Chang

Yuan Chang (, 1846–1900), courtesy name Shuangqiu (爽秋), was a politician and poet of Qing dynasty. He was a prominent figure of the "Tong–Guang genre" (同光體), a poetry genre popular during the Tongzhi and Guangxu era.

He obtained the jinshi in the imperial examination and was appointed the Main Adviser of the Ministry of Revenue (戶部主事) in 1867. Later he had served as the Military Secretary of the Ministry of Zongli Yamen (總理各國事務衙門章京), editor of Collected Statutes Institute (會典館纂修官), assistant director of Jiangxi Department of the Ministry of Revenue (戶部江西司員外郎) and other positions. He was appointed the intendant of Hui–Ning–Chi–Tai-Guang Circuit (徽寧池太廣道道台) in 1892. During his term, he carried out tax reforms, built water conservancy projects, set up post office, and established academies.

The Boxers launched a rebellion in Shandong and massacred foreign priests. Empress Dowager Cixi held an imperial meeting in Yiluan Palace (儀鑾宮) and planned to use the Boxers to start a war against the Westerners.

Yuan Chang and Xu Jingcheng were dismissed from office and later, executed on 28 July 1900. During the negotiations for the Boxer Protocol, Xu Yongyi, Lishan, Xu Jingcheng, Lianyuan and Yuan Chang were posthumously rehabilitated by Qing dynasty. Yuan was given the posthumous name "Zhongjie" (忠節).