Zhang Chang (; died 48 BC),

courtesy name A courtesy name (), also known as a style name, is a name bestowed upon one at adulthood in addition to one's given name. This practice is a tradition in the East Asian cultural sphere, including China, Japan, Korea, and Vietnam.Ulrich Theob ...

Zigao (子高), was a

Han dynasty The Han dynasty (, ; ) was an imperial dynasty of China (202 BC – 9 AD, 25–220 AD), established by Liu Bang (Emperor Gao) and ruled by the House of Liu. The dynasty was preceded by the short-lived Qin dynasty (221–207 BC) and a warr ...

scholar and official who flourished in the reign of

Emperor Xuan of Han Emperor Xuan of Han (Liu Xun 劉詢, né Liu Bingyi 劉病已; born 91 BC – 10 January 48 BC) was the tenth emperor of the Chinese Han dynasty, reigning from 74 to 48 BC, and was one of the only four Western Han emperors to receive a temple na ...

. He first attracted attention by denouncing the irregular conduct of Prince He of Changyi, who was promptly disgraced upon his representations. He became Governor of Shanyang in Shandong, and successfully coped with the brigandage and rebellious spirit which prevailed. In 61 BC he was promoted to be Governor of the Metropolitan District. In this capacity he took part in all the councils of State; and his advice, based upon his wide knowledge of history, was always received with deference. In every way he ruled wisely and well; and it was said that, owing to his vigilance, "the alarm drum was not struck for nine years." He then became mixed up in the affair of Yang Yun (a grandson of Sima Qian), and was dismissed from office. Whereupon there was such an increase of seditious manifestations throughout Jizhou (冀) in

Zhili Zhili, alternately romanized as Chihli, was a northern administrative region of China since the 14th-century that lasted through the Ming dynasty and Qing dynasty until 1911, when the region was dissolved, converted to a province, and renamed ...

, that the Emperor appointed him governor of that district, and the disturbances came at once to an end. He died just as the Emperor Yuandi was about to bestow upon him further honours. He was especially famous for his acquaintance with the early forms of

Chinese character Chinese characters () are logograms developed for the writing of Chinese. In addition, they have been adapted to write other East Asian languages, and remain a key component of the Japanese writing system where they are known as ''kanj ...

s, and for his profound knowledge of the ''

Spring and Autumn Annals The ''Spring and Autumn Annals'' () is an ancient Chinese chronicle that has been one of the core Chinese classics since ancient times. The ''Annals'' is the official chronicle of the State of Lu, and covers a 241-year period from 722 to 48 ...

''. He made a practice of painting his wife's eyebrows; and when the Emperor enquired him on the point, he replied that this was a matter of the highest importance to women.

References

{{ChineseBioDict, Chang Ch'ang Han dynasty politicians from Shanxi 48 BC deaths Year of birth unknown Politicians from Linfen