Zhang Xun (Tang dynasty)

For other people named Zhang Xun, see Zhang Xun (disambiguation).

Zhang Xun
Born709[1]
Died24 November 757
OccupationGeneral
In this Chinese name, the family name is Zhang (surname).

Zhang Xun (simplified Chinese: 张巡; traditional Chinese: 張巡; 709 – 24 November 757[2]) was a Chinese general during the Tang dynasty. He was known for defending Yongqiu and Suiyang during the An Shi Rebellion against the rebel armies of Yan, and thus, his supporters asserted, he blocked Yan forces from attacking and capturing the fertile Tang territory south of the Huai River.[3] However, he was severely criticized by some contemporaries and some later historians as lacking humanity due to his encouragement of cannibalism during the Battle of Suiyang.[4] Other historians praised him for his great faithfulness to Tang.[5]

  1. ^ Zhang's biography in volume 192 of New Book of Tang recorded that he was 49 (by East Asian reckoning) when he died. By calculation, his birth year should be 709.
  2. ^ Volume 220 of Zizhi Tongjian recorded that Zhang was executed on the guichou day of the 10th month of the 2nd year of the Zhide era of Tang Suzong's reign. This date corresponds to 24 Nov 757 on the Gregorian calendar.
  3. ^ See, e.g., the defense of Zhang Xun by Li Han (李翰) cited in the Zizhi Tongjian, vol. 220.
  4. ^ See, Wang Fuzhi's criticism, cited in the Bo Yang Edition of the Zizhi Tongjian, vol. 53 [757].
  5. ^ See, e.g., Old Book of Tang, vol. 187, part 2 Archived June 21, 2008, at the Wayback Machine [listing Zhang among the "faithful and righteous"] and New Book of Tang, vol. 192 Archived December 26, 2007, at the Wayback Machine [same].