Talk:Feng Bao

GA review

The following discussion is closed. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page. No further edits should be made to this discussion.

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This review is transcluded from Talk:Feng Bao/GA1. The edit link for this section can be used to add comments to the review.

Nominator: Min968 (talk · contribs) 08:30, 4 July 2026 (UTC)

Reviewer: Векочел (talk · contribs) 06:41, 7 July 2026 (UTC)

GA review (see here for what the criteria are, and here for what they are not)

1. It is reasonably well written.

   a (prose, spelling, grammar, and understandability): b (MoS for lead, layout, word choice, fiction, and lists):

2. It is factually accurate and verifiable, as shown by a source spot-check.

   a (reference section): b (inline citations to reliable sources): c (OR): d (copyvio and plagiarism):

3. It is broad in its coverage.

   a (major aspects): b (focused):

4. It follows the neutral point of view policy.

   Fair representation without bias:

5. It is stable.

   No edit wars, etc.:

6. It is illustrated by images and other media, where possible and appropriate.

   a (images are tagged and non-free content have non-free use rationales): b (appropriate use with suitable captions):

7. Overall:

   Pass/Fail:

Review to follow. Векочел (talk) 06:41, 7 July 2026 (UTC)

• "the highest-ranking eunuch of the Ming dynasty of China". Could you give the dates when he was the highest-ranking eunuch?
• "Along with three or four colleagues, he oversaw the compilation and transmission of imperial edicts." Were these colleagues also eunuchs?
• "Feng was known for his efficiency, capability, and competence." What does the original source say about his competence?
  • Of all the eunuch directors at the Eastern Depot, Feng Bao was unquestionably the most effective and the most powerful, obviously due to his competence, access to the Empress Dowager, his command of Emperor Wanli’s awe and affection, and the collaboration of Zhang Juzheng in the Outer Court. As the top dog of the Inner Court, Feng put all his political skills to work—skills acquired over a lifetime. Under Feng’s management, the Eastern Depot added a new facility and enlarged its field of operation, but inevitably aroused the jealousy and suspicion of many officials as well as eunuchs. Sometime after Emperor Wanli got married, Feng Bao offered to resign, citing his skin diseases and back problems. Indeed, once he broke his right foot, and both his lung and heart required constant care by palace doctors. It would take a heart of stone not to be moved by the stories Feng cited in his resignation memorial. His request was denied. But soon after the death of Zhang Juzheng, an ineluctable power struggle began, and Feng Bao became one of its victims.
• "Furthermore, his brother and adopted son, who held high positions in the central military commissions, were imprisoned and ultimately died." Was it common for eunuchs to adopt children in Ming China?
  • At any rate, Feng Bao was banished to Nanjing, and his brother and an adopted son, both of whom served as high-ranking military commissioners, were also arrested and thrown into jail. Feng died in Nanjing a broken man, while his brother and adopted son starved to death in the state penitentiary. Eight of his former assistants were also demoted to burn incense in imperial mausolea or do other odd jobs. The source does not mention it, and I don't think it needs to be explained in this context.
• "American historian Shih-shan Henry Tsai noted that, despite his love for history and efforts to avoid the mistakes of his predecessors, Feng ultimately lost his power after sixteen years in office." Provide the original quote from Tsai about Feng.
  • The rise and fall of Feng Bao is a well-written script that testifies, without a shred ofdoubt, to the fundamental weakness ofthe despotic Ming system. Here was a man who loved history and had learned about all the pitfalls ofwretched excess and who, during his sixteen years in power, tried not to repeat the same mistakes of his predecessors. But, in the end, even his own eunuch colleagues repeatedly grumbled in Emperor Wanli’s presence that he wielded too much power.

Векочел (talk) 14:23, 13 July 2026 (UTC)

@Векочел Done. Min968 (talk) 15:01, 13 July 2026 (UTC)

• This was an interesting article! Passing. Векочел (talk) 16:36, 14 July 2026 (UTC)

The discussion above is closed. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page. No further edits should be made to this discussion.

Did you know nomination

(

• Comment or view
• Article history

)

• ... that the eunuch Feng Bao was one of only three people the young Wanli Emperor held in great respect?

• Source: Tsai, Shih-shan Henry (1996). Eunuchs in the Ming Dynasty (SUNY series in Chinese local studies ed.). New York: State University of New York Press. ISBN 0791426874. p. 107

• • Reviewed: Template:Did you know nominations/Deng Shi

Improved to Good Article status by Min968 (talk). Number of QPQs required: 1. Nominator has 13 past nominations.

Min968 (talk) 17:39, 14 July 2026 (UTC).

• Article was recently improved to GA status, contains literary/historical sources, good prose, adequate length, neutral POV. Hook is punchy and interesting, well sourced from Tsai. Good work! RabidTuberculosis (talk) 04:44, 15 July 2026 (UTC)