Zhang Zhao

Illustration in a Qing edition of the Three Kingdoms Story .

Zhang Zhao (* 156 ; † 236 ) was a general and officer of the Wu Dynasty at the time of the three kingdoms in ancient China. He was the brother of the politician Zhang Hong .

He served Sun Jian from the beginning and fought with him against the Yellow Turbans and the usurper Dong Zhuo . After Sun Jian's death while campaigning against Liu Biao , provincial governor Tao Qian summoned Zhang Zhao and asked him to serve him. Zhang Zhao refused and was detained, but Cao Cao was freed after Tao Qian's death . He then went south and served Sun Jian's son, Sun Ce .

When he was fatally wounded in 200, he ordered his brother and successor, Sun Quan , to listen to Zhang Zhao's instructions on internal matters. Eight years later, before the Battle of Chibi , Zhang Zhao suggested submitting to warlord Cao Cao and not resisting. Sun Quan rejected this advice and won the battle, thereby sealing the partition of China.

After the establishment of the empire, Sun Quan first elected the rather insignificant Sun Shao, and after his death (225) Gu Yong as his empire's chancellor. He ignored Zhang Zhao because he had not forgiven him for his advice in the Battle of Chibi. After all, he made him marquis of 10,000 households and gave him the title of general promoting Wu . In his later years, Zhang Zhao devoted himself to studying philosophy and history.

literature

• Rafe de Crespigny : Generals of the South. The foundation and early history of the Three Kingdoms state of Wu ( Memento from April 14, 2012 in the Internet Archive ). National Library of Australia, Canberra 1990, ISBN 0-7315-0901-3 , ( Faculty of Asian Studies monographs NS 16).