Zhang Zhifang () (died January 23, 881?
[Academia Sinica]
Chinese-Western Calendar Converter ['']Zizhi Tongjian
''Zizhi Tongjian'' () is a pioneering reference work in Chinese historiography, published in 1084 AD during the Northern Song dynasty in the form of a chronicle recording Chinese history from 403 BC to 959 AD, covering 16 dynast ...
'', vol. 254.) was a Chinese military general of the late
Tang dynasty
The Tang dynasty (, ; zh, t= ), or Tang Empire, was an Dynasties in Chinese history, imperial dynasty of China that ruled from 618 to 907 AD, with an Zhou dynasty (690–705), interregnum between 690 and 705. It was preceded by the Sui dyn ...
. Succeeding his father
Zhang Zhongwu Zhang Zhongwu () (died 849''Zizhi Tongjian'', vol. 248.), formally Prince Zhuang of Lanling () (per the '' Old Book of Tang' Old Book of Tang'', vol. 180.) or Duke Zhuang of Lanling () (per the '' New Book of Tang' New Book of Tang'', vol. ...
, he briefly ruled Lulong Circuit (盧龍, headquartered in modern
Beijing
}
Beijing ( ; ; ), alternatively romanized as Peking ( ), is the capital of the People's Republic of China. It is the center of power and development of the country. Beijing is the world's most populous national capital city, with over 21 ...
) as its military governor (''
Jiedushi
The ''jiedushi'' (), or jiedu, was a title for regional military governors in China which was established in the Tang dynasty and abolished in the Yuan dynasty. The post of ''jiedushi'' has been translated as "military commissioner", "legate", ...
'') in ''de facto'' independence from the imperial government, but fearing a mutiny, he fled to the imperial capital
Chang'an
Chang'an (; ) is the traditional name of Xi'an. The site had been settled since Neolithic times, during which the Yangshao culture was established in Banpo, in the city's suburbs. Furthermore, in the northern vicinity of modern Xi'an, Qin Shi ...
and thereafter served as an imperial general. During
Huang Chao
Huang Chao (835 – July 13, 884) was a Chinese smuggler, soldier, and rebel, and is most well known for being the leader of a major rebellion that severely weakened the Tang dynasty.
Huang was a Salt in Chinese history, salt smuggler before ...
's rebellion against
Emperor Xizong, Zhang surrendered to Huang Chao's Qi state but plotted to undermine it; when this was discovered, Qi executed him.
Background
It is not known when Zhang Zhifang was born. He was a son of
Zhang Zhongwu Zhang Zhongwu () (died 849''Zizhi Tongjian'', vol. 248.), formally Prince Zhuang of Lanling () (per the '' Old Book of Tang' Old Book of Tang'', vol. 180.) or Duke Zhuang of Lanling () (per the '' New Book of Tang' New Book of Tang'', vol. ...
, who had seized Lulong Circuit from Zhang Jiang () in 841 with the approval of
Emperor Wuzong but without actual support from imperial troops. Zhang Zhongwu thereafter ruled Lulong in ''de facto'' independence from the imperial government, but followed Emperor Wuzong's orders during Emperor Wuzong's campaigns against the
Huigu
The Uyghur Khaganate (also Uyghur Empire or Uighur Khaganate, self defined as Toquz-Oghuz country; otk, 𐱃𐰆𐰴𐰕:𐰆𐰍𐰕:𐰉𐰆𐰑𐰣, Toquz Oγuz budun, Tang-era names, with modern Hanyu Pinyin: or ) was a Turkic empire that e ...
Khanate remnants and the warlord
Liu Zhen, and therefore enjoyed a strong relationship with the imperial government.
['']Old Book of Tang
The ''Old Book of Tang'', or simply the ''Book of Tang'', is the first classic historical work about the Tang dynasty, comprising 200 chapters, and is one of the Twenty-Four Histories. Originally compiled during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdo ...
'', vol. 180. At some point, Zhang Zhifang became the commander of Zhang Zhongwu's guard troops. Zhang Zhongwu died in 849, during the reign of Emperor Wuzong's successor and uncle
Emperor Xuānzong
Emperor Xuanzong of Tang (July 27, 810 – September 7, 859) (reigned April 25, 846 – September 7, 859) was an emperor in the latter part of the Tang dynasty of China. Personally named Li Yi, later renamed Li Chen (), and known before his rei ...
. The soldiers supported Zhang Zhifang to succeed him, and therefore, Emperor Xuānzong initially made him the acting military governor and then military governor.
[''Zizhi Tongjian'', vol. 248.]
As military governor
However, Zhang Zhifang almost immediately alienated the Lulong soldiers by being cruel and devoted to hunts and games. In winter 849, the soldiers were developing a plot to overthrow him. Zhang Zhifang found out about the plot and, in fear, claimed that he was undertaking a hunt. Instead, he took his family and fled to the imperial capital
Chang'an
Chang'an (; ) is the traditional name of Xi'an. The site had been settled since Neolithic times, during which the Yangshao culture was established in Banpo, in the city's suburbs. Furthermore, in the northern vicinity of modern Xi'an, Qin Shi ...
. The soldiers instead supported
Zhou Lin as the acting military governor.
[
]
As imperial general
When Zhang Zhifang arrived at Chang'an, Emperor Xuānzong sent messengers to welcome him, and made him a general of the imperial guards. As Zhang had a large family with him, Emperor Xuānzong awarded the salary of an honorary minister of public works (工部尚書, ''Gongbu Shangshu''). Sometime thereafter, his salary level was increased to that of an honorary ''You Pushe'' (). However, he continued to be violent and cruel in his disposition. On one occasion, when he killed an imperial guard messenger by caning due to a minor fault that should not have been punished with death, he was reduced in title from ''Jinwu Dajiangjun'' () to ''Yulin Tongjun'' (). He continued to hunt repeatedly, and therefore neglected his duties serving in the rotation of imperial guard commanders.['']New Book of Tang
The ''New Book of Tang'', generally translated as the "New History of the Tang" or "New Tang History", is a work of official history covering the Tang dynasty in ten volumes and 225 chapters. The work was compiled by a team of scholars of the So ...
'', vol. 212. As a result, in 851, he was further reduced in title to ''Xiaowei Jiangjun'' (). He continued to be violent, and he often killed household servants due to minor faults. In 852, he was demoted to be the census officer at En Prefecture (恩州, in modern Jiangmen
Jiangmen (), alternately romanized in Cantonese as Kongmoon, is a prefecture-level city in Guangdong Province in southern China. As of the 2020 census, its three urban districts, plus Heshan City being conurbated, with 2,657,662 inhabitants ar ...
, Guangdong
Guangdong (, ), alternatively romanized as Canton or Kwangtung, is a coastal province in South China on the north shore of the South China Sea. The capital of the province is Guangzhou. With a population of 126.01 million (as of 2020) ...
).[''Zizhi Tongjian'', vol. 249.]
A long time thereafter, Zhang was recalled to again serve as ''Yulin Tongjun''. However, thereafter, he was accused of allowing his subordinates to commit banditry, and he was demoted to be the military advisor to the prefect of Kang Prefecture (康州, in modern Zhaoqing
Zhaoqing (), alternately romanized as Shiuhing, is a prefecture-level city in Guangdong Province, China. As of the 2020 census, its population was 4,113,594, with 1,553,109 living in the built-up (or metro) area made of Duanzhou, Dinghu a ...
, Guangdong
Guangdong (, ), alternatively romanized as Canton or Kwangtung, is a coastal province in South China on the north shore of the South China Sea. The capital of the province is Guangzhou. With a population of 126.01 million (as of 2020) ...
). Later, he was allowed to settle at the eastern capital Luoyang
Luoyang is a city located in the confluence area of Luo River (Henan), Luo River and Yellow River in the west of Henan province. Governed as a prefecture-level city, it borders the provincial capital of Zhengzhou to the east, Pingdingshan to the ...
, where he was again well known for his hunting. During the ''Qianfu'' era (874-879) of Emperor Xuānzong's grandson Emperor Xizong, Zhang was recalled to Chang'an to serve as ''Xiaowei Dajiangjun'' (). Because the office did not carry a large salary, the chancellor
Chancellor ( la, cancellarius) is a title of various official positions in the governments of many nations. The original chancellors were the of Roman courts of justice—ushers, who sat at the or lattice work screens of a basilica or law cou ...
Zheng Tian spoke on his behalf, pointing out Zhang Zhongwu's contributions during Emperor Wuzong's reign and that the Zhang household was effectively living in poverty. Emperor Xizong therefore made Zhang Zhifang an honorary ''You Pushe'' and also returned him to the title of ''Jinwu Dajiangjun''.[
]
Surrender to Qi and death
Late in 880, the army under the rebel Huang Chao
Huang Chao (835 – July 13, 884) was a Chinese smuggler, soldier, and rebel, and is most well known for being the leader of a major rebellion that severely weakened the Tang dynasty.
Huang was a Salt in Chinese history, salt smuggler before ...
was approaching Chang'an. Emperor Xizong fled to Chengdu
Chengdu (, ; Simplified Chinese characters, simplified Chinese: 成都; pinyin: ''Chéngdū''; Sichuanese dialects, Sichuanese pronunciation: , Standard Chinese pronunciation: ), Chinese postal romanization, alternatively Romanization of Chi ...
. Zhang Zhifang led a group of Tang officials and generals to Bashang (霸上, in modern Xi'an
Xi'an ( , ; ; Chinese: ), frequently spelled as Xian and also known by #Name, other names, is the list of capitals in China, capital of Shaanxi, Shaanxi Province. A Sub-provincial division#Sub-provincial municipalities, sub-provincial city o ...
, Shaanxi
Shaanxi (alternatively Shensi, see #Name, § Name) is a landlocked Provinces of China, province of China. Officially part of Northwest China, it borders the province-level divisions of Shanxi (NE, E), Henan (E), Hubei (SE), Chongqing (S), Sichu ...
) to welcome Huang. Huang thereafter proclaimed a new Qi state as its emperor. Even though Zhang accepted a position in the Qi administration, however, he hid many Tang officials who were unable to follow Emperor Xizong in flight within the walls of his home,[ including the former chancellor Liu Ye and the chancellors ]Doulu Zhuan Doulu Zhuan (豆盧瑑) (died January 24, 881), courtesy name Xizhen (希真), was an official of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, serving as a chancellor during the reign of Emperor Xizong. When the agrarian rebel Huang Chao captured the Tang ...
and Cui Hang
Cui Hang (崔沆) (died January 24, 881), courtesy name Neirong (內融), was an official of the History of China, Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty, serving as a chancellor of Tang Dynasty, chancellor during the reign of Emperor Xizong of Tang, Empero ...
.[''Old Book of Tang'', vol. 177.] Further, he was plotting a surprise attack on Huang, hoping to restore Emperor Xizong.[ When this was discovered, he was executed,][ along with his family.][
]
References
* ''Old Book of Tang
The ''Old Book of Tang'', or simply the ''Book of Tang'', is the first classic historical work about the Tang dynasty, comprising 200 chapters, and is one of the Twenty-Four Histories. Originally compiled during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdo ...
'', vol. 180.
* ''New Book of Tang
The ''New Book of Tang'', generally translated as the "New History of the Tang" or "New Tang History", is a work of official history covering the Tang dynasty in ten volumes and 225 chapters. The work was compiled by a team of scholars of the So ...
'', vol. 212.
* ''Zizhi Tongjian
''Zizhi Tongjian'' () is a pioneering reference work in Chinese historiography, published in 1084 AD during the Northern Song dynasty in the form of a chronicle recording Chinese history from 403 BC to 959 AD, covering 16 dynast ...
'', vols. 248
__NOTOC__
Year 248 ( CCXLVIII) was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Philippus and Severus (or, less frequently, year 1001 '' ...
, 249
__NOTOC__
Year 249 ( CCXLIX) was a common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Gavius and Aquilinus (or, less frequently, year 1002 ''Ab ...
, 254
Year 254 ( CCLIV) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Valerianus and Gallienus (or, less frequently, year 1007 '' Ab urbe ...
.
{{DEFAULTSORT:Zhang, Zhifang
881 deaths
9th-century executions
Executed Chinese people
Qi (Huang Chao)
People executed by China
People from North China
Tang dynasty jiedushi of Lulong Circuit
Year of birth unknown