Zhang Da'an
Encyclopedia
Zhang Da'an (died 684) was an official of the Chinese
dynasty Tang Dynasty
, serving as a chancellor during the reign of Emperor Gaozong
.
Zhang Da'an was one of the sons of Zhang Gongjin (張公謹), a key follower of Li Shimin
(the eventual Emperor Taizong) the Prince of Qin, a son and major general of Tang's founder Emperor Gaozu
, who supported Li Shimin in his rivalry with his brother Li Jiancheng
the Crown Prince
. When Li Shimin feared that Li Jiancheng was about to kill him in 626, Zhang Gongjin was a major proponent of launching a preemptive strike against Li Jiancheng and another brother who supported Li Jiancheng, Li Yuanji
the Prince of Qi, and when Li Shimin did so (in an incident known as the Incident at Xuanwu Gate
), Zhang defended Li Shimin's mansion against counterattacks by Li Jiancheng's and Li Yuanji's followers after Li Shimin killed Li Jiancheng and Li Yuanji. Zhang Gongjin died in 632 at the age of 38 and was eventually posthumously created the Duke of Tan and honored in one of the Portraits at Lingyan Pavilion
, reserved for the greatest contributors to Emperor Taizong's reign.
It is not known when Zhang Da'an himself was born, but it is known that he had at least two older brothers, Zhang Daxiang (張大象) and Zhang Dasu (張大素). Less is known about Zhang Da'an's career than his father's. By 677, he was serving on the staff of Li Xian
, the crown prince of Emperor Gaozong (Emperor Taizong's son), when he was given the designation Tong Zhongshu Menxia Sanpin (同中書門下三品), making him a chancellor de facto. He and another staff member, Liu Nayan (劉訥言), were key contributors in a project led by Li Xian in writing commentaries for the Book of Later Han
, the official history of the Eastern Han Dynasty. In 680, Li Xian, who had lost the favor of Emperor Gaozong's powerful wife Empress Wu
(later known as Wu Zetian), was accused of plotting treason, deposed, and exiled. Most of the staff members were pardoned, but Liu was exiled, and Zhang was also accused of flattering the former crown prince and demoted to the post of Pu Prefecture (普州, roughly modern Ziyang
, Sichuan
). He died in 684, while serving as the military advisor to the prefect of Heng Prefecture (橫州, roughly modern Nanning
, Guangxi
).
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...
dynasty Tang Dynasty
Tang Dynasty
The Tang Dynasty was an imperial dynasty of China preceded by the Sui Dynasty and followed by the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period. It was founded by the Li family, who seized power during the decline and collapse of the Sui Empire...
, serving as a chancellor during the reign of Emperor Gaozong
Emperor Gaozong of Tang
Emperor Gaozong of Tang , personal name Li Zhi , was the third emperor of the Tang Dynasty in China, ruling from 649 to 683...
.
Zhang Da'an was one of the sons of Zhang Gongjin (張公謹), a key follower of Li Shimin
Emperor Taizong of Tang
Emperor Taizong of Tang , personal name Lǐ Shìmín , was the second emperor of the Tang Dynasty of China, ruling from 626 to 649...
(the eventual Emperor Taizong) the Prince of Qin, a son and major general of Tang's founder Emperor Gaozu
Emperor Gaozu of Tang
Emperor Gāozǔ of Táng , born Lǐ Yuān , courtesy name Shūdé , was the founder of the Tang Dynasty of China, and the first emperor of this dynasty from 618 to 626. Under the Sui dynasty, Li Yuan was the governor in the area of modern-day Shanxi, and was based in Taiyuan.In 615, Li Yuan was assigned...
, who supported Li Shimin in his rivalry with his brother Li Jiancheng
Li Jiancheng
Li Jiancheng , formally Crown Prince Yin , nickname Pishamen , was a crown prince of the Chinese dynasty Tang Dynasty. He was the oldest son of the founding emperor Emperor Gaozu and therefore was designated crown prince after the founding of the dynasty in 618...
the Crown Prince
Crown Prince
A crown prince or crown princess is the heir or heiress apparent to the throne in a royal or imperial monarchy. The wife of a crown prince is also titled crown princess....
. When Li Shimin feared that Li Jiancheng was about to kill him in 626, Zhang Gongjin was a major proponent of launching a preemptive strike against Li Jiancheng and another brother who supported Li Jiancheng, Li Yuanji
Li Yuanji
Li Yuanji , formally Prince La of Chao , more commonly known by the title of Prince of Qi , nickname Sanhu , was an imperial prince of the Chinese Tang Dynasty...
the Prince of Qi, and when Li Shimin did so (in an incident known as the Incident at Xuanwu Gate
Incident at Xuanwu Gate
The Incident at Xuanwu Gate refers to an incident on July 2, 626, when Li Shimin the Prince of Qin, a son of Emperor Gaozu of Tang , in an intense rivalry with his older brother Li Jiancheng the Crown Prince and fearing that Li Jiancheng was about to kill him, set an ambush at Xuanwu Gate, the...
), Zhang defended Li Shimin's mansion against counterattacks by Li Jiancheng's and Li Yuanji's followers after Li Shimin killed Li Jiancheng and Li Yuanji. Zhang Gongjin died in 632 at the age of 38 and was eventually posthumously created the Duke of Tan and honored in one of the Portraits at Lingyan Pavilion
Portraits at Lingyan Pavilion
The Portraits at Lingyan Pavilion refer to the 24 portraits that Emperor Taizong of Tang commissioned the great painter Yan Liben to paint on Lingyan Pavilion in 643, within his palace, to commemorate the 24 great contributors to Tang rule. The commission order was issued on March 23, 643...
, reserved for the greatest contributors to Emperor Taizong's reign.
It is not known when Zhang Da'an himself was born, but it is known that he had at least two older brothers, Zhang Daxiang (張大象) and Zhang Dasu (張大素). Less is known about Zhang Da'an's career than his father's. By 677, he was serving on the staff of Li Xian
Li Xian
Li Xian , courtesy name Mingyun , formally Crown Prince Zhanghuai , named Li De from 672 to 674, was a crown prince of the Chinese Tang Dynasty. He was the sixth son of Emperor Gaozong, and the second son of his second wife Empress Wu...
, the crown prince of Emperor Gaozong (Emperor Taizong's son), when he was given the designation Tong Zhongshu Menxia Sanpin (同中書門下三品), making him a chancellor de facto. He and another staff member, Liu Nayan (劉訥言), were key contributors in a project led by Li Xian in writing commentaries for the Book of Later Han
Book of Later Han
The Book of the Later Han or the History of the Later Han is one of the official Chinese historical works which was compiled by Fan Ye in the 5th century, using a number of earlier histories and documents as sources...
, the official history of the Eastern Han Dynasty. In 680, Li Xian, who had lost the favor of Emperor Gaozong's powerful wife Empress Wu
Wu Zetian
Wu Zetian , personal name Wu Zhao , often referred to as Tian Hou during the Tang Dynasty and Empress Consort Wu in later times, was the only woman in the history of China to assume the title of Empress Regnant...
(later known as Wu Zetian), was accused of plotting treason, deposed, and exiled. Most of the staff members were pardoned, but Liu was exiled, and Zhang was also accused of flattering the former crown prince and demoted to the post of Pu Prefecture (普州, roughly modern Ziyang
Ziyang
Ziyang prefecture-level city in the Sichuan Province, in south central China, with more than 300,000 inhabitants.- Subdivisions :-External links:*...
, Sichuan
Sichuan
' , known formerly in the West by its postal map spellings of Szechwan or Szechuan is a province in Southwest China with its capital in Chengdu...
). He died in 684, while serving as the military advisor to the prefect of Heng Prefecture (橫州, roughly modern Nanning
Nanning
Nanning is the capital of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region in southern China. It is known as the "Green City" because of its abundance of lush tropical foliage.-History:...
, Guangxi
Guangxi
Guangxi, formerly romanized Kwangsi, is a province of southern China along its border with Vietnam. In 1958, it became the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region of the People's Republic of China, a region with special privileges created specifically for the Zhuang people.Guangxi's location, in...
).