Zhang Chujin
Encyclopedia
Zhang Chujin (d. 922) was a ruler of Chengde Circuit (成德, headquartered in modern Shijiazhuang
, Hebei
, also known as Zhao) early in the Chinese
Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period
. His father Zhang Wenli
had taken over the circuit after a mutiny that Zhang Wenli encouraged resulted in the death of Zhang Wenli's adoptive father Wang Rong
the Prince of Zhao in 921
. Zhang Wenli subsequently died during the campaign waged by Wang Rong's ally Li Cunxu the Prince of Jin to avenge Wang Rong. Zhang Chujin took over the leadership of the circuit after Zhang Wenli's death and tried to hold out against Jin forces, but was captured and killed in 922
.
had been an army officer at Lulong Circuit (盧龍, headquartered in modern Beijing
), but at one point fled to Chengde Circuit and was adopted by Wang Rong
the military governor (Jiedushi
) of Chengde, who changed his name to Wang Deming. Zhang Chujin had at least two younger brothers, Zhang Chuqiu (張處球) and Zhang Chuqi (張處琪).
In 921
, Wang Rong was killed in a mutiny at Chengde (which was then known as Zhao as well, as Wang Rong carried the title of Prince of Zhao as its ruler), which Wang Deming had encouraged. The mutineers offered governorship of the circuit to Wang Deming, who accepted, slaughtered Wang Rong's family, and changed his name back to Zhang Wenli. Initially, Wang Rong's ally Li Cunxu the Prince of Jin, not wanting to create a new enemy, commissioned Zhang as the acting military governor, but after urging by Wang Rong's former subordinate Fu Xi (符習) (who had been commanding Zhao troops that Wang Rong sent to assist Li Cunxu in his campaigns) and after discovering that Zhang had been communicating with Zhu Zhen
the emperor of Jin's archenemy Later Liang
and Khitan
's Emperor Taizu
, launched a general campaign against Zhang, with his generals Yan Bao (閻寶) and Shi Jiantang (史建瑭) commanding the Jin troops and Fu commanding the Zhao troops. When the combined Jin/Zhao troops captured Zhao Prefecture (趙州, in modern Shijiazhuang
, Hebei
) quickly, Zhang Wenli died in shock. Zhang Chujin kept news of Zhang Wenli's death a secret and took over leadership, continuing to resist the Jin/Zhao troops.
, including:
However, Later Liang refused to aid them. Khitan's Emperor Taizu did try to do so, but after Li Cunxu himself intercepted Khitan troops and defeated them, Khitan troops withdrew as well, leaving the Chengde mutineers without aid. When their food supplies ran out, Zhang Chujin sent emissaries to Li Cunxu, offering to surrender; Li Cunxu did not respond. Soon thereafter, Li Cunxu's adoptive brother Li Cunshen
arrived and continued the siege. The city fell, and Zhang Chujin, his brothers, and Zhang Wenli's wife (it is unclear whether she was Zhang Chujin's mother or not) were all captured by Jin troops and delivered to Li Cunxu after their legs were first broken. It appeared that they were executed, for the people of Zhao requested to eat their flesh.
Shijiazhuang
Shijiazhuang is the capital and largest city of North China's Hebei province. Administratively a prefecture-level city, it is about south of Beijing...
, Hebei
Hebei
' is a province of the People's Republic of China in the North China region. Its one-character abbreviation is "" , named after Ji Province, a Han Dynasty province that included what is now southern Hebei...
, also known as Zhao) early in the Chinese
History of China
Chinese civilization originated in various regional centers along both the Yellow River and the Yangtze River valleys in the Neolithic era, but the Yellow River is said to be the Cradle of Chinese Civilization. With thousands of years of continuous history, China is one of the world's oldest...
Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period
Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period
Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms was between 907–960/979 AD and an era of political upheaval in China, between the fall of the Tang Dynasty and the founding of the Song Dynasty. During this period, five dynasties quickly succeeded one another in the north, and more than 12 independent states were...
. His father Zhang Wenli
Zhang Wenli
Zhang Wenli , known as Wang Deming during the time that he was an adoptive son of Wang Rong, was an army officer who initially served under the late Tang Dynasty warlord Liu Rengong and Liu Rengong's son Liu Shouwen, and later Wang Rong, the only prince of the early Five Dynasties and Ten...
had taken over the circuit after a mutiny that Zhang Wenli encouraged resulted in the death of Zhang Wenli's adoptive father Wang Rong
Wang Rong
Wang Rong , style name Junchong , was a politician of the Jin Dynasty period of Chinese history.Wang Rong served under Jin as the 3rd East General. Wang Rong participated during the final conquest of Eastern Wu, where he led his army as far as to that of Wuchang...
the Prince of Zhao in 921
921
Year 921 was a common year starting on Monday of the Julian calendar.-Africa:* Crushing defeat of the Idrisid dynasty against their Fatimid rivals...
. Zhang Wenli subsequently died during the campaign waged by Wang Rong's ally Li Cunxu the Prince of Jin to avenge Wang Rong. Zhang Chujin took over the leadership of the circuit after Zhang Wenli's death and tried to hold out against Jin forces, but was captured and killed in 922
922
Year 922 was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Julian calendar.- Asia :* The Khitan Empire, led by Abaoji, raids Hebei, China.- Deaths :* March 26 – Mansur Al-Hallaj, Sufi writer...
.
Background
It is not known when or where Zhang Chujin was born. His father Zhang WenliZhang Wenli
Zhang Wenli , known as Wang Deming during the time that he was an adoptive son of Wang Rong, was an army officer who initially served under the late Tang Dynasty warlord Liu Rengong and Liu Rengong's son Liu Shouwen, and later Wang Rong, the only prince of the early Five Dynasties and Ten...
had been an army officer at Lulong Circuit (盧龍, headquartered in modern Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
), but at one point fled to Chengde Circuit and was adopted by Wang Rong
Wang Rong
Wang Rong , style name Junchong , was a politician of the Jin Dynasty period of Chinese history.Wang Rong served under Jin as the 3rd East General. Wang Rong participated during the final conquest of Eastern Wu, where he led his army as far as to that of Wuchang...
the military governor (Jiedushi
Jiedushi
The Jiedushi were regional military governors in China during the Tang Dynasty and the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period. Originally set up to counter external threats, the jiedushi were given enormous power, including the ability to maintain their own armies, collect taxes, and pass their...
) of Chengde, who changed his name to Wang Deming. Zhang Chujin had at least two younger brothers, Zhang Chuqiu (張處球) and Zhang Chuqi (張處琪).
In 921
921
Year 921 was a common year starting on Monday of the Julian calendar.-Africa:* Crushing defeat of the Idrisid dynasty against their Fatimid rivals...
, Wang Rong was killed in a mutiny at Chengde (which was then known as Zhao as well, as Wang Rong carried the title of Prince of Zhao as its ruler), which Wang Deming had encouraged. The mutineers offered governorship of the circuit to Wang Deming, who accepted, slaughtered Wang Rong's family, and changed his name back to Zhang Wenli. Initially, Wang Rong's ally Li Cunxu the Prince of Jin, not wanting to create a new enemy, commissioned Zhang as the acting military governor, but after urging by Wang Rong's former subordinate Fu Xi (符習) (who had been commanding Zhao troops that Wang Rong sent to assist Li Cunxu in his campaigns) and after discovering that Zhang had been communicating with Zhu Zhen
Zhu Zhen
Emperor Modi of Later Liang Zhu Youzhen was Emperor of China between 913 and 923. He was the third and last emperor of the first of the Five Dynasties - the Later Liang Dynasty and the youngest son of its founder, Zhu Quanzhong. He changed his name to Zhu Zhen during his time in office...
the emperor of Jin's archenemy Later Liang
Later Liang Dynasty
The Later Liang was one of the Five Dynasties during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period in China. It was founded by Zhu Wen, posthumously known as Taizu of Later Liang, after he forced the last emperor of the Tang dynasty to abdicate in his favour...
and Khitan
Liao Dynasty
The Liao Dynasty , also known as the Khitan Empire was an empire in East Asia that ruled over the regions of Manchuria, Mongolia, and parts of northern China proper between 9071125...
's Emperor Taizu
Emperor Taizu of Liao
The Emperor Taizu of Liao was the first emperor of the Liao Dynasty . His given name was Abaoji . Some sources also suggest that the surname Yelü was adopted during his lifetime, though there is no unanimity on this point....
, launched a general campaign against Zhang, with his generals Yan Bao (閻寶) and Shi Jiantang (史建瑭) commanding the Jin troops and Fu commanding the Zhao troops. When the combined Jin/Zhao troops captured Zhao Prefecture (趙州, in modern Shijiazhuang
Shijiazhuang
Shijiazhuang is the capital and largest city of North China's Hebei province. Administratively a prefecture-level city, it is about south of Beijing...
, Hebei
Hebei
' is a province of the People's Republic of China in the North China region. Its one-character abbreviation is "" , named after Ji Province, a Han Dynasty province that included what is now southern Hebei...
) quickly, Zhang Wenli died in shock. Zhang Chujin kept news of Zhang Wenli's death a secret and took over leadership, continuing to resist the Jin/Zhao troops.
As ruler of Chengde Circuit
The Jin/Zhao troops quickly put Chengde's capital Zhen Prefecture (鎮州) under siege. However, under Zhang Chujin's leadership, the Chengde mutineers inflicted a number of unexpected losses on the forces Li Cunxu sent against them from fall 921 to fall 922922
Year 922 was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Julian calendar.- Asia :* The Khitan Empire, led by Abaoji, raids Hebei, China.- Deaths :* March 26 – Mansur Al-Hallaj, Sufi writer...
, including:
- Killing Shi Jiantang in battle.
- Defeating Yan Bao and forcing his retreat. (Yan subsequently died in shame.)
- Inflicting a mortal injury on Li Cunxu's well-regarded cousin Li SizhaoLi SizhaoLi Sizhao , né Han , known at one point as Li Jintong , courtesy name Yiguang , formally the Prince of Longxi , was a major general under Li Keyong and Li Keyong's son and successor Li Cunxu, the princes of the Chinese Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period state Jin...
. - Killing Li Cunxu's adoptive brother Li Cunjin (李存進) in battle.
However, Later Liang refused to aid them. Khitan's Emperor Taizu did try to do so, but after Li Cunxu himself intercepted Khitan troops and defeated them, Khitan troops withdrew as well, leaving the Chengde mutineers without aid. When their food supplies ran out, Zhang Chujin sent emissaries to Li Cunxu, offering to surrender; Li Cunxu did not respond. Soon thereafter, Li Cunxu's adoptive brother Li Cunshen
Li Cunshen
Li Cunshen , né Fu Cun , often referred to in historical sources as Fu Cunshen , courtesy name Dexiang , was a major general of the Chinese Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period dynasty Later Tang Dynasty and Later Tang's predecessor state Jin...
arrived and continued the siege. The city fell, and Zhang Chujin, his brothers, and Zhang Wenli's wife (it is unclear whether she was Zhang Chujin's mother or not) were all captured by Jin troops and delivered to Li Cunxu after their legs were first broken. It appeared that they were executed, for the people of Zhao requested to eat their flesh.