Traditional Chinese 張昭 Name Zhang Zhao Simplified Chinese 张昭 Died 236 AD | Pinyin Children Zhang Cheng Wade–Giles Chang Chao | |
Courtesy name Zibu (Chinese: 子布; pinyin: Zibu; Wade–Giles: Tzu-pu) Posthumous name Marquis Wen (Chinese: 文侯; pinyin: Wen Hou; Wade–Giles: Wen Hou) Similar People Zhang Hong, Sun Quan, Cao Cao, Sun Yu | ||
Zhang zhao pi huang by jinzhao xu
Zhang Zhao (156–236), courtesy name Zibu, was an official of the state of Eastern Wu during the Three Kingdoms period of China.
Contents
Life
Zhang Zhao was from Pengcheng (彭城), Xu Province, which is present-day Xuzhou, Jiangsu. A brilliant scholar, he devoted his life mainly to the study of Chinese classic texts. His fame as a scholar spread, and on the advice of Zhou Yu, Sun Ce personally invited Zhang Zhao to serve him as an adviser. Zhang Zhao and Zhang Hong, another adviser to Sun Quan, were collectively known as the "Two Zhangs" during the time.
Zhang Zhao's proficiency in administrating civilian affairs was impressive, as before Sun Ce died, he told his successor Sun Quan, "Consult Zhang Zhao on internal affairs and Zhou Yu on external affairs." In 208, when the warlord Cao Cao led an army to attack Sun Quan, Zhang Zhao suggested to his lord to surrender to Cao Cao, out of consideration for the populace and future of the Sun family. Sun Quan refused and heeded the advice of Zhou Yu to ally with another warlord, Liu Bei, to resist Cao Cao. The allied forces of Sun Quan and Liu Bei defeated Cao Cao's naval fleet at the Battle of Red Cliffs in the winter of 208–209.
Zhang Zhao lived until Sun Quan declared himself emperor and established the state of Eastern Wu in 229. He was famous for his bravery and devotion to Wu, as he viewed the state's interests as more important than his lord's. Whenever Sun Quan implemented a policy that did not benefit Wu, Zhang Zhao would criticise him. However, in 225, Sun Quan appointed Gu Yong as his Imperial Chancellor – despite some of his subjects nominating Zhang Zhao. Zhang Zhao was instead given a nominal appointment, General Who Assists Wu (輔吳將軍). Zhang Zhao then retired from service on the grounds of old age and spent his time reading and writing. However, he still kept himself updated on state affairs and did not hesitate to speak up when necessary. For example, in 232, he strongly opposed Sun Quan's decision to ally with the warlord Gongsun Yuan against Eastern Wu's rival state, Cao Wei.
Zhang Zhao died in 236 at the age of 81 (by East Asian age reckoning). He had made arrangements for a simple funeral before his death, and was put to rest wearing the same set of clothing he wore when he died. Sun Quan donned mourning garments when he attended Zhang Zhao's funeral, and honoured him with the posthumous title "Marquis Wen" (文侯).