Zhang Yichao
Encyclopedia
Zhang Yichao (799
?-872
) was an ethnic Han Chinese
resident of Sha Prefecture (沙洲, in modern Dunhuang
, Gansu
), who, with the ruling Tufan state plunged into civil war, led a rebellion against the Tufan and reverted the region to allegiance to China
's Tang Dynasty
. He subsequently conquered the Hexi Corridor
region and governed it as the military governor (Jiedushi
) of Guiyi Circuit (歸義, headquartered in modern Dunhuang) under nominal authority of the Tang emperors.
, Tufan, which had ruled the region since Tang lost the territory to it in the aftermaths of the Anshi Rebellion, was being torn by civil war. Zhang secretly plotted with the other Han Chinese
residents of Sha Prefecture, planning to turn Sha Prefecture to Tang allegiance. One day, he led armed soldiers and approached the city gates, and the Han all rose in response. The Tufan defender of the city, surprised, abandoned the city and fled. Zhang thereafter claimed the title of acting prefect of Sha Prefecture and submitted a petition to then-reigning Emperor Xuānzong
, offering to submit. Emperor Xuānzong thus made him the defender (防禦使, Fangyushi) of Sha Prefecture.
Later in the year, Zhang launched troops to clear 10 other nearby prefectures of Tufan forces — Gua (瓜州, in modern Jiuquan
, Gansu
); Yi (伊州, in modern Hami Prefecture
, Xinjiang
); Xi (西州, in modern Turpan Prefecture, Xinjiang
); Gan (甘州, in modern Zhangye
, Gansu
); Su (肅州, in modern Jiuquan); Lan (蘭州, in modern Lanzhou
, Gansu
); Shan (鄯州, in modern Haidong Prefecture
, Qinghai
); He (河州, in modern Linxia Hui Autonomous Prefecture
, Gansu
); Min (岷州, in modern Dingxi
, Gansu
); and Kuo (廓州, in modern Haidong) — and then prepared the files about and the maps of the 11 prefectures and had his brother Zhang Yize (張義澤) go to the Tang capital Chang'an
to submit the files and maps to Emperor Xuānzong, effectively submitting control of the 11 prefectures to Tang. Emperor Xuānzong established a new Guiyi Circuit (歸義), with its capital at Sha Prefecture, to govern the 11 prefectures, and made Zhang Yichao its military governor, and made his secretary Cao Yijin (曹義金) its secretary general.
, Zhang Yichao led a group of 7,000 Han and non-Han soldiers to capture Liang Prefecture (涼州, in modern Wuwei, Gansu).
In 866
, Zhang submitted a report stating that the Huigu chieftain Gujun (固俊) had recaptured, from Tufan, Xi Prefecture, Ting Prefecture (庭州, in modern Changji Hui Autonomous Prefecture
, Xinjiang
), Luntai (輪台, in modern Ürümqi
, Xinjiang
), and Qingzhen (清鎮, modern location unknown) — apparently implying that Gujun did so under his command.
In 867
, Zhang went to Chang'an to pay homage to then-reigning Emperor Yizong
(Emperor Xuānzong's son). Emperor Yizong made him a general of the imperial guards and kept him at Chang'an. Emperor Yizong also commissioned Zhang's nephew Zhang Weishen (張惟深) to serve as the acting military governor of Guiyi. He died in 872
, apparently while still at Chang'an, and Emperor Yizong commissioned Cao Yijin to be the military governor of Guiyi.
799
Year 799 was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Julian calendar. The denomination 799 for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the Anno Domini calendar era became the prevalent method in Europe for naming years.- Religion :* 29 November – Pope Leo III, aided...
?-872
872
Year 872 was a leap year starting on Tuesday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* Battle of Hafrsfjord: Harald Fairhair becomes the first king of Norway....
) was an ethnic Han Chinese
Han Chinese
Han Chinese are an ethnic group native to China and are the largest single ethnic group in the world.Han Chinese constitute about 92% of the population of the People's Republic of China , 98% of the population of the Republic of China , 78% of the population of Singapore, and about 20% of the...
resident of Sha Prefecture (沙洲, in modern Dunhuang
Dunhuang
Dunhuang is a city in northwestern Gansu province, Western China. It was a major stop on the ancient Silk Road. It was also known at times as Shāzhōu , or 'City of Sands', a name still used today...
, Gansu
Gansu
' is a province located in the northwest of the People's Republic of China.It lies between the Tibetan and Huangtu plateaus, and borders Mongolia, Inner Mongolia, and Ningxia to the north, Xinjiang and Qinghai to the west, Sichuan to the south, and Shaanxi to the east...
), who, with the ruling Tufan state plunged into civil war, led a rebellion against the Tufan and reverted the region to allegiance to China
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...
's 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...
. He subsequently conquered the Hexi Corridor
Hexi Corridor
Hexi Corridor or Gansu Corridor refers to the historical route in Gansu province of China. As part of the Northern Silk Road running northwest from the bank of the Yellow River, it was the most important route from North China to the Tarim Basin and Central Asia for traders and the military. The...
region and governed it as 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 Guiyi Circuit (歸義, headquartered in modern Dunhuang) under nominal authority of the Tang emperors.
Rebellion against the Tufan
Little is known about Zhang Yichao's early life, other than that he was a resident of Sha Prefecture. By 851851
Year 851 was a common year starting on Thursday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* Vikings plunder London and Canterbury.* Charles the Bald, Louis the German and Lothar meet in Meersen....
, Tufan, which had ruled the region since Tang lost the territory to it in the aftermaths of the Anshi Rebellion, was being torn by civil war. Zhang secretly plotted with the other Han Chinese
Han Chinese
Han Chinese are an ethnic group native to China and are the largest single ethnic group in the world.Han Chinese constitute about 92% of the population of the People's Republic of China , 98% of the population of the Republic of China , 78% of the population of Singapore, and about 20% of the...
residents of Sha Prefecture, planning to turn Sha Prefecture to Tang allegiance. One day, he led armed soldiers and approached the city gates, and the Han all rose in response. The Tufan defender of the city, surprised, abandoned the city and fled. Zhang thereafter claimed the title of acting prefect of Sha Prefecture and submitted a petition to then-reigning Emperor Xuānzong
Emperor Xuanzong of Tang
Emperor Xuanzong of Tang , also commonly known as Emperor Ming of Tang , personal name Li Longji , known as Wu Longji from 690 to 705, was the seventh emperor of the Tang dynasty in China, reigning from 712 to 756. His reign of 43 years was the longest during the Tang Dynasty...
, offering to submit. Emperor Xuānzong thus made him the defender (防禦使, Fangyushi) of Sha Prefecture.
Later in the year, Zhang launched troops to clear 10 other nearby prefectures of Tufan forces — Gua (瓜州, in modern Jiuquan
Jiuquan
- Suzhou town :The administrative center of the "prefecture-level city" of Jiuquan is the "District" of Suzhou , which occupies 3,386 square km in the eastern part of Jiuquan "prefecture-level city", and had a population of 340,000 as of 2002....
, Gansu
Gansu
' is a province located in the northwest of the People's Republic of China.It lies between the Tibetan and Huangtu plateaus, and borders Mongolia, Inner Mongolia, and Ningxia to the north, Xinjiang and Qinghai to the west, Sichuan to the south, and Shaanxi to the east...
); Yi (伊州, in modern Hami Prefecture
Hami Prefecture
Kumul Prefecture, also known as Hami Prefecture is located in eastern Xinjiang, China. It has an area of 140,749 km² and 492,096 inhabitants .- History :...
, Xinjiang
Xinjiang
Xinjiang is an autonomous region of the People's Republic of China. It is the largest Chinese administrative division and spans over 1.6 million km2...
); Xi (西州, in modern Turpan Prefecture, Xinjiang
Xinjiang
Xinjiang is an autonomous region of the People's Republic of China. It is the largest Chinese administrative division and spans over 1.6 million km2...
); Gan (甘州, in modern Zhangye
Zhangye
-Administration:Zhangye has 1 urban district, 4 counties, 1 autonomous county, 97 towns, and 977 villages.-Demographics:Zhangye has a total population of 1,260,000, only 260,000 being urban residents...
, Gansu
Gansu
' is a province located in the northwest of the People's Republic of China.It lies between the Tibetan and Huangtu plateaus, and borders Mongolia, Inner Mongolia, and Ningxia to the north, Xinjiang and Qinghai to the west, Sichuan to the south, and Shaanxi to the east...
); Su (肅州, in modern Jiuquan); Lan (蘭州, in modern Lanzhou
Lanzhou
Lanzhou is the capital and largest city of Gansu Province in Northwest China. A prefecture-level city, it is a key regional transportation hub, allowing areas further west to maintain railroad connections to the eastern half of the country....
, Gansu
Gansu
' is a province located in the northwest of the People's Republic of China.It lies between the Tibetan and Huangtu plateaus, and borders Mongolia, Inner Mongolia, and Ningxia to the north, Xinjiang and Qinghai to the west, Sichuan to the south, and Shaanxi to the east...
); Shan (鄯州, in modern Haidong Prefecture
Haidong Prefecture
Haidong Prefecture is a prefecture of Qinghai province in Western China. Its name literally means "east of the Lake."-Geography:...
, Qinghai
Qinghai
Qinghai ; Oirat Mongolian: ; ; Salar:) is a province of the People's Republic of China, named after Qinghai Lake...
); He (河州, in modern Linxia Hui Autonomous Prefecture
Linxia Hui Autonomous Prefecture
Linxia Hui Autonomous Prefecture is in Western China's Gansu Province, south of the capital, Lanzhou. It is an autonomous prefecture for the Muslim Hui people, a large Chinese ethnic group. It also includes two autonomous counties for other Muslim groups, namely Dongxiang, Salar, and...
, Gansu
Gansu
' is a province located in the northwest of the People's Republic of China.It lies between the Tibetan and Huangtu plateaus, and borders Mongolia, Inner Mongolia, and Ningxia to the north, Xinjiang and Qinghai to the west, Sichuan to the south, and Shaanxi to the east...
); Min (岷州, in modern Dingxi
Dingxi
-Geography and climate:Dingxi City is located in central Gansu province, 98 km east of Lanzhou, giving it the nickname the "eastern gateway". The Wei River, a tributary of the Yellow River flows through the district and provides it with the majority of its water. Dingxi is semi-arid, with little...
, Gansu
Gansu
' is a province located in the northwest of the People's Republic of China.It lies between the Tibetan and Huangtu plateaus, and borders Mongolia, Inner Mongolia, and Ningxia to the north, Xinjiang and Qinghai to the west, Sichuan to the south, and Shaanxi to the east...
); and Kuo (廓州, in modern Haidong) — and then prepared the files about and the maps of the 11 prefectures and had his brother Zhang Yize (張義澤) go to the Tang capital Chang'an
Chang'an
Chang'an is an ancient capital of more than ten dynasties in Chinese history, today known as Xi'an. Chang'an literally means "Perpetual Peace" in Classical Chinese. During the short-lived Xin Dynasty, the city was renamed "Constant Peace" ; yet after its fall in AD 23, the old name was restored...
to submit the files and maps to Emperor Xuānzong, effectively submitting control of the 11 prefectures to Tang. Emperor Xuānzong established a new Guiyi Circuit (歸義), with its capital at Sha Prefecture, to govern the 11 prefectures, and made Zhang Yichao its military governor, and made his secretary Cao Yijin (曹義金) its secretary general.
As military governor of Guiyi
In 863863
Year 863 was a common year starting on Friday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* Constantine I succeeds as king of Scotland ....
, Zhang Yichao led a group of 7,000 Han and non-Han soldiers to capture Liang Prefecture (涼州, in modern Wuwei, Gansu).
In 866
866
Year 866 was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Julian calendar.- Asia :* Fujiwara no Yoshifusa becomes regent of Japan, starting the Fujiwara regentship.- Europe :...
, Zhang submitted a report stating that the Huigu chieftain Gujun (固俊) had recaptured, from Tufan, Xi Prefecture, Ting Prefecture (庭州, in modern Changji Hui Autonomous Prefecture
Changji Hui Autonomous Prefecture
Changji Hui Autonomous Prefecture ) is an autonomous prefecture of Xinjiang in the People's Republic of China. It is located in the northeastern part of Xinjiang...
, Xinjiang
Xinjiang
Xinjiang is an autonomous region of the People's Republic of China. It is the largest Chinese administrative division and spans over 1.6 million km2...
), Luntai (輪台, in modern Ürümqi
Ürümqi
Ürümqi , formerly Tihwa , is the capital of Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of the People's Republic of China, in the northwest of the country....
, Xinjiang
Xinjiang
Xinjiang is an autonomous region of the People's Republic of China. It is the largest Chinese administrative division and spans over 1.6 million km2...
), and Qingzhen (清鎮, modern location unknown) — apparently implying that Gujun did so under his command.
In 867
867
Year 867 was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Julian calendar.- Byzantine Empire :* September – Basil I becomes sole ruler of the Byzantine Empire.* Macedonian dynasty is started....
, Zhang went to Chang'an to pay homage to then-reigning Emperor Yizong
Emperor Yizong of Tang
Emperor Yizong of Tang , né Li Wen , later changed to Li Cui , was an emperor of the Tang dynasty of China. He reigned from 859 to 873. Yizong was the eldest son of Emperor Xuānzong...
(Emperor Xuānzong's son). Emperor Yizong made him a general of the imperial guards and kept him at Chang'an. Emperor Yizong also commissioned Zhang's nephew Zhang Weishen (張惟深) to serve as the acting military governor of Guiyi. He died in 872
872
Year 872 was a leap year starting on Tuesday of the Julian calendar.- Europe :* Battle of Hafrsfjord: Harald Fairhair becomes the first king of Norway....
, apparently while still at Chang'an, and Emperor Yizong commissioned Cao Yijin to be the military governor of Guiyi.