26 Facts About Zhang Jiazhen

Zhang Jiazhen, formally Marquess Gongsu of Hedong, was a Chinese military general and politician.

Zhang Jiazhen was an official serving under Wu Zetian's Zhou dynasty and served as a chancellor during the reign of Emperor Xuanzong of Tang.

Zhang Jiazhen was known for being capable but being self-important during his term as chancellor.

Zhang Jiazhen was born in 666, during the reign of Emperor Gaozong.

Zhang Jiazhen had at least one younger brother, Zhang Jiayou, and as Zhang Siyi died early, Zhang Jiazhen and Zhang Jiayou supported each other in their youths.

Zhang Jiazhen passed the imperial examinations in his youth and was made the magistrate of Pingxiang County, but was removed from office for an offense unspecified in historical accounts.

Zhang Jiazhen thus had Zhang Jiazhen draft his report to Wu Zetian as well.

Zhang Xunxian informed her that it was Zhang Jiazhen who drafted it for him, and offered to give his office to Zhang Jiazhen.

Zhang Jiazhen was impressed with him, and thus made him an imperial censor; she promoted Zhang Xunxian for his ability to find Zhang Jiazhen.

Zhang Jiazhen became known for strictness in his governance, and his subordinates feared him.

Early in the Kaiyuan era of Wu Zetian's grandson Emperor Xuanzong, Zhang Jiazhen, who was then still serving as the secretary general at Bing Prefecture, was in then-capital Chang'an on one occasion to report on his prefecture.

Zhang Jiazhen took the opportunity to request that his brother Zhang Jiayou, who was then the secretary general at Shan Prefecture, be moved to a closer location to him, as he missed his brother.

In 718, with a group of Eastern Tujue people having submitted to Tang in the aftermaths of the death of the Eastern Tujue khan Ashina Mochuo, Zhang Jiazhen suggested that a military base be established to help curb in the Eastern Tujue people.

Pursuant to his suggestion, Tianbing Base was established at Bing Prefecture, and Zhang Jiazhen was put in command of the base.

In 718, Zhang Jiazhen was in Chang'an when there were accusations made that he was overly luxurious and corrupt while at Bing Prefecture.

Emperor Xuanzong considered executing the accuser as punishment for the false accusation, but Zhang Jiazhen pointed out that such an execution would have a chilling effect on the report of wrongdoing.

Emperor Xuanzong thus only exiled the accuser, and he came to believe that Zhang Jiazhen was faithful and capable of greater duties, informing Zhang Jiazhen that one day he would likely be chancellor.

Zhang Jiazhen thus modified the edict to commission Zhang Jiazhen instead as Zhongshu Shilang, the deputy head of the legislative bureau, with the designation Tong Zhongshu Menxia PIngzhengshi, making him a chancellor de facto, along with Yuan Qianyao.

Zhang Jiazhen recommended the junior officials Miao Yansi, Lu Taiyi, Yuan Jiajing, and Cui Xun for promotions and entrusted them with many important tasks.

In 722, when Emperor Xuanzong visited Luoyang, an official at the Luoyang County government, Wang Jun, had been building a mansion for Zhang Jiazhen, hoping to ingratiate him enough to be made an imperial censor.

Soon thereafter, Pei Zhouxian the commandant at Guang Prefecture was accused of corruption, and Zhang Jiazhen again advocated caning him.

At Zhang Shuo's suggestion, Zhang Jiazhen wore plain-colored clothes and waited outside the palace for punishment, to show remorse.

Emperor Xuanzong had Zhang Jiazhen join the chancellors for a banquet.

In 729, Zhang Jiazhen requested to be allowed to go to Luoyang on account of illness.

Once Zhang Jiazhen got to Luoyang, he was no longer able to see, and Emperor Xuanzong sent imperial physicians to treat him.

Zhang Jiazhen died in fall that year and was given posthumous honors.