Zhang Jingda (張敬達)

Overview

Zhang Jingda was a Military Governor and Martyr.

Other names

Type	English	Chinese	Pinyin
Courtesy name	Zhitong	志通	Zhìtōng
Childhood name	Raw Iron	生鐵

Life and dates

Death

Executed · Authority Yang Tan (楊檀) · Cause Beheaded then surrender
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 33, passage 120
Expression beheaded by Yang Guangyuan 光遠斬敬達 · Execution · Authority Yang Tan (楊檀)
Directly stated · History of Liao 76, passage 74
Beheaded by subordinates · Authority Yang Tan (楊檀)
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 70, passages 184, 187
AD 936 清泰三年
Killed · Killed by Yang Tan (楊檀) · Summary Killed by Yang Guangyuan and others who then surrendered to the Khitan.
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 137, passage 110
AD 936 閏月甲子
killed 殺
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 7, passages 99, 134
Killed by own side · Killer Tang generals
Directly stated · History of Liao 73, passage 109

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Died before relief arrived
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 27, passage 116

Attested activity

AD 935 清泰二年
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 33, passages 95, 98
AD 936 清泰三年
Dated from the passage context · Old History of the Five Dynasties 75, passage 129
AD 935 七月乙巳
Dated from the passage context · Old History of the Five Dynasties 47, passage 138
AD 932 三年
Dated from the passage context · Old History of the Five Dynasties 70, passage 166
AD 936 九月
Dated from the passage context · Old History of the Five Dynasties 70, passage 175; Old History of the Five Dynasties 75, passage 146
AD 930 十一月庚午
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 41, passage 226

Show 18 more source-backed claims

AD 935 十一月庚子
Dated from the passage context · Old History of the Five Dynasties 47, passages 199-200
AD 936 十月
Dated from the passage context · Old History of the Five Dynasties 75, passage 160
AD 923 同光初
Dated from the passage context · Old History of the Five Dynasties 70, passage 161
AD 936 唐石敬瑭反於河東
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 75, passages 229-230
AD 933 四年
Dated from the passage context · Old History of the Five Dynasties 70, passage 167
AD 936 夏五月乙卯
Dated from the passage context · New History of the Five Dynasties 7, passage 84
AD 929 天成四年六月
Dated from the passage context · Old History of the Five Dynasties 40, passage 67
AD 936 天顯十一年
Directly stated · History of Liao 76, passage 67
AD 936 to AD 938 天顯末
Directly stated · History of Liao 77, passage 188
AD 936 太原北至晉安寨
Dated from the passage context · History of Liao 73, passage 107
AD 936 張敬達之圍晉陽
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 87, passage 18
AD 936 明日
Dated from the passage context · Old History of the Five Dynasties 75, passage 156
AD 936 清泰三年
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 137, passage 106
AD 934 to AD 936 清泰中
Dated from the passage context · Old History of the Five Dynasties 70, passage 170
AD 936 石敬瑭反太原時
Dated from the passage context · New History of the Five Dynasties 27, passages 115-116
AD 936 紀年語境（天福1年）
Dated from the passage context · New History of the Five Dynasties 8, passage 32
AD 930 to AD 933 長興中
Dated from the passage context · Old History of the Five Dynasties 70, passage 165
AD 936 閏月甲子
Dated from the passage context · New History of the Five Dynasties 7, passage 99

Family

Immediate relationships attested in the translated histories.

Child of Zhang Shen (張審)
father 父
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 70, passage 161
Spouse of Wife of Zhang Jingda (張敬達之妻)
wife 妻子
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 70, passage 196

Kinship Role children · Quantity plural-unspecified
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 70, passage 196

Key source chapters

Career and standing

general 將
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 137, passage 106
rebel general 偽將
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 75, passage 230
Deputy northern commander 北面副總管
AD 935 清泰二年 · Appointed
Dated from the passage context · New History of the Five Dynasties 33, passage 99
deputy overall commander of the Northern Front camp 北面行營副總管
AD 935 七月乙巳 · Appointed
Dated from the passage context · Old History of the Five Dynasties 47, passage 138
Jin Prefecture military commissioner 晉州節度使
AD 935 十一月庚子 · Appointed
Dated from the passage context · Old History of the Five Dynasties 47, passage 200
Four-sided pacification commissioner of Taiyuan 太原四面招討使
AD 936 明年夏 · Appointed
Dated from the passage context · New History of the Five Dynasties 33, passage 101

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Feng prefecture military commissioner 鳳州節度使
Appointed
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 40, passage 67
military governor of Yingzhou 應州節度使
Appointed
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 70, passage 166
overall commander of the Hedong horse and foot armies 河東馬步軍都指揮使
Appointed
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 70, passage 165
overall pacification commissioner of the northern campaign 北面行營都招討使
Appointed
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 70, passage 171
Xu Prefecture military commissioner 徐州節度使
AD 935 十一月庚子 · Held
Dated from the passage context · Old History of the Five Dynasties 47, passage 200
Commissioner of the Hall Direct Army 廳直軍使
Held
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 33, passage 96
Jinzhou prefect 晉州刺史
Held
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 75, passage 129
Military governor of Zhangguo and Datong 彰國、大同軍節度使
Held
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 33, passage 97
northern deputy campaign commander 北面副招討使
Held
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 75, passage 129
Overall commander of Hedong horse and foot 河東馬步軍都指揮使
Held
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 33, passage 97
Prefect of Qin 欽州刺史
Held
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 33, passage 97
Xu Prefecture military commissioner 徐州節度使
Held · At Xu Prefecture 徐州
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 47, passage 138
deputy overall commander of the Datong, Zhenwu, Weisai, Zhangguo and other armies 大同、振武、威塞、彰國等軍兵馬副總管
AD 935 十一月庚子 · Retained
Dated from the passage context · Old History of the Five Dynasties 47, passage 200
military governor of Yingzhou 應州節度使
AD 930 十一月庚午 · Transferred from · At Yingzhou 應州
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 41, passage 226
military governor of Yunzhou 雲州節度使
AD 930 十一月庚午 · Transferred to · At Yunzhou 雲州
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 41, passage 226

Places and affiliations

AD 936 唐石敬瑭反於河東
Polity Later Tang 後唐 · Relation Served
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 75, passage 229
Later Tang 唐
Relation Served
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 70, passages 162, 171
Later Tang
Relation Served
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 33, passage 96
Polity Later Tang 後唐 · Relation Served
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 41, passage 226; Old History of the Five Dynasties 47, passage 138
Polity Later Tang 後唐 · Relation Served
Strongly inferred · Old History of the Five Dynasties 47, passage 200
Polity Tang 唐 · Relation Served
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 75, passage 146

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At Daizhou 代州
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 70, passage 160; New History of the Five Dynasties 33, passage 95
AD 930 十一月庚午
At Yunzhou 雲州 · Relation Posted to
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 41, passage 226
AD 935 十一月庚子
At Jin Prefecture 晉州 · Relation Posted to
Dated from the passage context · Old History of the Five Dynasties 47, passage 200
AD 935 十一月庚子
At Xu Prefecture 徐州 · Relation Posted to
Dated from the passage context · Old History of the Five Dynasties 47, passage 200

Learning and skills

Skill mounted archery 騎射 · Level famous
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 70, passage 162

Works and attributed material

Speech · Speaker · With Yang Tan (楊檀)
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 33, passages 118-119
Speech · Speaker · Direct quotation
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 70, passages 181-183

Events and relationships

Arrayed then infantry routed
AD 936 九月 · Military · Commander · At west of the mountain 西山下
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 75, passage 146
Awaited relief
Military · Besieged commander
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 27, passage 116
Besieged
AD 936 清泰三年 · Military · Commander · With Shi Jingtang (石敬瑭) · At Jinyang 晉陽
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 75, passage 129
Besieged
AD 936 清泰三年 · Military · Besieger · With Jin Founder (晉高祖)
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 137, passage 106
Besieged
Military · Commander · At Taiyuan 太原 · With Shi Jingtang (石敬瑭)
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 70, passages 171-172
Besieged
Military · Besieger · At Jinyang 晉陽
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 87, passage 18

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Besieged
Military · Besieger · At Taiyuan 太原
Dated from the passage context · New History of the Five Dynasties 33, passage 102
Defeated and encircled
Military · Commander · At Jin'an 晉安 · With Khitan ruler (契丹主)
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 70, passages 175, 178
Defeated Shi Jingtang
AD 936 唐石敬瑭反於河東 · Military · Victor · With Shi Jingtang (石敬瑭) · At Hedong 河東
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 75, passage 229
Defeated
AD 936 九月甲辰 · Military · Commander · At Taiyuan 太原
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 7, passage 94
Defeated
AD 936 清泰三年 · Military · Commander · At Jinyang 晉陽
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 137, passage 108
Defeated
Military · Commander · At Fen Qu 汾曲
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 33, passages 108-110
Fortified
Military · Besieged · At Jin'an 晉安
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 33, passage 111
Made Northern Front camp deputy overall commander
AD 935 七月乙巳 · Appointment · Appointee
Dated from the passage context · Old History of the Five Dynasties 47, passage 138
Pressed city and set stockades ruined by storms
AD 936 及重圍晉陽 · Military · Besieger · At Jinyang 晉陽
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 75, passages 230-231
Sent to suppress Jingtang
Military · Commander · With Shi Jingtang (石敬瑭)
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 8, passage 32
Transferred
AD 930 十一月庚午 · Appointment · Official
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 41, passage 226
Transferred
AD 935 十一月庚子 · Appointment · Appointee
Dated from the passage context · Old History of the Five Dynasties 47, passage 200
Relation Besieger of · Person Shi Jingtang (石敬瑭)
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 75, passage 129
Relation Subordinate of · Person Shi Jingtang (石敬瑭)
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 70, passage 170

Assessments and attributes

Assessment A subject ought to be like this man · Mode named-person-speech Speaker Khitan ruler (契丹主)
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 70, passage 194
Assessment loyal minister who stood firm rather than surrender · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 70, passage 197
Assessment loyal-but-not-martyr-of-integrity · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · New History of the Five Dynasties 33, passages 122-123
Item fields and residences 田宅 · Relation Bestowed on family
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 70, passage 196

Source notes

Yang Guangyuan killed him at dawn when unattended; alternate to joint beheading with An Shenqi
Field death-circumstances · Source Work Khitan State Annals 契丹國志
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 70, passages 186-187
Historicity historical
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 47, passage 138

References in the histories

Search passages

History

61 passages

Old History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 40Volume 40 Book of Later Tang 16: Mingzong Annals 6 · 1 passage

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壬寅，夔州節度使楊漢章移鎮雲州，以北京馬步軍都指揮使兼欽州刺史張敬達為鳳州節度使。 On renyin Yang Hanzhang moved from Kuizhou to Yun and Zhang Jingda of Beijing became Feng commissioner.

Old History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 41Volume 41 Book of Later Tang 17: Mingzong Annals 7 · 1 passage

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庚午，應州節度使張敬達移雲州，以捧聖都指揮使、守恩州刺史沙彥詢為應州節度使； On gengwu Zhang Jingda, military governor of Yingzhou, was transferred to Yunzhou; Sha Yanxun, Pingsheng overall commander and acting prefect of Enzhou, became military governor of Yingzhou;

Old History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 47Volume 47 Book of Later Tang 23: Later Emperors Annals 2 · 2 passages

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乙巳，以徐州節度使張敬達充北面行營副總管。 On yisi Zhang Jingda, Xu Prefecture military commissioner, was assigned as deputy overall commander of the Northern Front camp.

以徐州節度使張敬達為晉州節度使，依前充大同、振武、威塞、彰國等軍兵馬副總管。 Zhang Jingda, Xu Prefecture military commissioner, was made Jin Prefecture military commissioner, continuing as before as deputy overall commander of the horse-and-foot forces of the Datong, Zhenwu, Weisai, Zhangguo, and other armies.

Old History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 70Volume 70 Book of Later Tang 46: Biographies 22: Yuan Xingqin, Xia Luqi, Yao Hong, Li Yan, Li Renju, Kang Sili, Zhang Jingda · 13 passages

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張敬達，字志通，代州人，小字生鐵。 Zhang Jingda, courtesy name Zhigong, was a native of Daizhou; his childhood name was Raw Iron.

敬達少以騎射著名，莊宗知之，召令繼父職； Jingda was famed in youth for mounted archery. Zhuangzong knew of him and summoned him to inherit his father's post;

時以契丹率族帳自黑榆林挎剌泊至沒越泊，雲借漢界水草，敬達每聚兵塞下，以遏其衝。 At that time the Khitan led their clans from Heilinlin through Kulabo to Moyuebo, grazing on Han borderlands. Jingda repeatedly massed troops below the passes to block their advance.

未幾，晉高祖建義，末帝詔以敬達為北面行營都招討使，仍使悉引部下兵圍太原，以定州節度使楊光遠副焉。 Before long, when the Jin founder rose in revolt, the Last Emperor appointed Jingda overall pacification commissioner of the northern campaign and ordered him to lead all his troops to besiege Taiyuan, with Yang Guangyuan, military governor of Dingzhou, as his deputy.

末帝自六月繼有詔促令攻取，敬達設長城連柵、雲梯飛炮，使工者運其巧思，窮土木之力。 From the sixth month onward the Last Emperor repeatedly ordered him to take the city. Jingda built long walls and linked palisades, cloud ladders and siege engines, set artisans to every device, and exhausted every effort of engineering.

九月，契丹至，敬達大敗，尋為所圍。 In the ninth month the Khitan arrived. Jingda suffered a crushing defeat and was soon surrounded.

自是敬達與麾下部曲五萬人，馬萬匹，無由四奔，但見穹廬如崗阜相屬，諸軍相顧失色。 From then on Jingda and his fifty thousand men and ten thousand horses had no escape in any direction. They saw only dome tents stretching like linked hills, and the armies looked at one another in dismay.

副將楊光遠、次將安審琦知不濟，勸敬達宜早降以求自安。 The deputy Yang Guangyuan and the second-in-command An Shenqi saw that all was lost and urged Jingda to surrender early and save himself.

敬達曰：「吾受恩於明宗，位曆方鎮，主上授我大柄，而失律如此，已有愧於心也。 Jingda said, "I owe my rise to Mingzong. I have held regional command, and the sovereign entrusted me with great authority. To fail so badly already shames me to the heart.

光遠、審琦知敬達意未決，恐坐成魚肉，遂斬敬達以降。 Guangyuan and Shenqi saw that Jingda had not made up his mind and feared that if they waited they would become helpless prey. They beheaded Jingda and surrendered.

〈（《契丹國志》：楊光遠謀害張敬達，諸將高行周陰為之備，敬達疏於防禦，推遠行周等。 (From the Khitan State Annals: Yang Guangyuan plotted to kill Zhang Jingda. General Gao Xingzhou secretly prepared against it, but Jingda was lax in his defenses and kept Gao Xingzhou and the others at a distance.

清晨，光遠上謁，見敬達左右無人，遂殺之。）〉） At dawn Guangyuan came to call on him, found no one at Jingda's side, and killed him.)〉

時議者以敬達嘗事數帝，亟立軍功，及領藩郡，不聞其濫，繼屯守塞垣，復能撫下，而臨難固執，不求苟免，乃近代之忠臣也。 Commentators held that Jingda had served several emperors, won repeated military honors, and when governing frontier prefectures was never known to abuse his power; he then guarded the border, could still win over his men, and when facing hardship stood firm rather than seek escape—a loyal minister of recent times.

Old History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 75Volume 75 Book of Later Jin 1: Gaozu Annals 1 · 6 passages

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朝廷以帝不奉詔，降旨削奪官爵，即詔晉州刺史、北面副招討使張敬達領兵圍帝於晉陽。 Because the Emperor did not obey the edict, the court stripped his offices and titles and immediately ordered Jinzhou prefect and northern deputy campaign commander Zhang Jingda to lead troops and besiege him at Jinyang.

時張敬達、楊光遠列陣西山下，士未及成伍，而行周、彥卿為伏兵所斷，舍軍而退，敬達等步兵大敗，死者萬人。 At that time Zhang Jingda and Yang Guangyuan drew up ranks west of the mountain. The troops had not yet formed files when Xingzhou and Yanqing were cut off by ambush troops, abandoned the army, and withdrew. Jingda's infantry were routed, and ten thousand men were killed.

明日，帝與契丹圍敬達營寨，南軍不復出矣。 The next day the Emperor and the Khitan besieged Jingda's camp, and the southern army did not come out again.

十月，幽州節度使趙德鈞領所部萬餘人自上黨吳兒谷合延壽兵屯團柏谷，與敬達寨相去百里，彌月竟不能相通。 In the tenth month, Youzhou military commissioner Zhao Dejun led more than ten thousand men from Shangdang through Wu'er Valley to join Yanshou's troops at Tuanbai Valley. They were a hundred li from Jingda's camp, yet for a full month could not get through at all.

未浹旬，唐石敬瑭反於河東，為後唐張敬達所敗，亟遣趙瑩持表重賂，許割燕雲，求兵為援，契丹主曰：「我非為石郎興師，乃奉天帝敕使也。」）〉 Before ten days had passed, Tang's Shi Jingtang rebelled in Hedong, was defeated by Later Tang's Zhang Jingda, and urgently sent Zhao Ying with a memorial and heavy bribes, promising to cede Yan and Yun and seeking troops as aid. The Khitan ruler said, "I do not raise troops for Master Shi. I obey the Heavenly Emperor's command.".)〉

時援兵未至，偽將張敬達引軍逼城設柵，柵將成，必有大風暴雨，柵無以立。 At that time relief troops had not yet arrived. The rebel general Zhang Jingda led troops against the city and set up stockades. Whenever the stockades were about to be completed, great wind and violent rain would come, and the stockades could not stand.

Old History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 87Volume 87 Book of Later Jin 13: Biographies 2: Imperial Family · 1 passage

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初，張敬達之圍晉陽也，高祖署暉為突騎都將，常引所部，出敵之不意，深入力戰，雖夷傷流血，矢鏃貫骨，而辭氣益厲，高祖壯之。 Earlier, when Zhang Jingda besieged Jinyang, Gaozu appointed Hui commander of the assault cavalry. He often led his men where the enemy did not expect, plunging deep and fighting with all his strength. Though wounded and bleeding, with arrowheads driven through bone, his voice only grew fiercer, and Gaozu admired him.

Old History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 137Volume 137: Foreign States Biographies 1: Khitan · 3 passages

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清泰三年，晉高祖為張敬達等攻圍甚急，遣指揮使何福賫表乞師，願為臣子。 In Qingtai 3 the Jin founder was besieged by Zhang Jingda and others. He sent Commander He Fu with a petition begging for Khitan aid and offering to become their vassal.

德光乃自率五萬騎由雁門至晉陽，即日大破敬達之眾於城下，尋冊晉高祖為大晉皇帝，約為父子之國，割幽州管內及新、武、雲、應、朔州之地以賂之，仍每歲許輸帛三十萬。 Deguang led fifty thousand horsemen through Yanmen to Jinyang and the same day routed Zhang Jingda beneath the walls. He then enthroned the Jin founder as emperor of Great Jin, pledged a father-and-son alliance, ceded the Sixteen Prefectures including Youzhou, Xin, Wu, Yun, Ying, and Shuo, and promised three hundred thousand bolts of silk each year.

楊光遠等殺張敬達降於契丹，德光戲謂光遠等曰：「爾輩大是惡漢兒，不用鹽酪，食卻一萬匹戰馬。」 Yang Guangyuan and others killed Zhang Jingda and surrendered. Deguang joked to them, "You wicked Han — you won't touch salt or dairy, yet you've devoured ten thousand of our war horses."

History of Liao, Chapter 73Volume 73 Biographies 3: Yelu Helu, Xiao Dilu, Yelu Xieniechi, Yelu Yuwen, Yelu Haili · 2 passages

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石敬瑭破張敬達軍於太原北，時頗德勒兵為援，敬達遁。 Shi Jingtang defeated Zhang Jingda's army north of Taiyuan. Pide led troops in relief at the time, and Jingda fled.

唐諸將懼，殺敬達以降。 The Tang generals were afraid and killed Jingda to submit.

History of Liao, Chapter 76Volume 76 Biographies 6: Yelu Jieli, Yelu Balide, Yelu Shuogu, Yelu Lubugu, Zhao Yanshou, Gao Mohan, Zhao Siwen, Yelu Oulisi, Zhang Li · 9 passages

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帝親率師往援，魯不古從擊唐將張敬達於太原北，敗之。 The emperor led the army in person to relieve him; Lubugu joined the attack on the Tang general Zhang Jingda north of Taiyuan and routed him.

石敬瑭發兵太原，唐遣張敬達往討。 When Shi Jingtang raised an army at Taiyuan, Tang dispatched Zhang Jingda to suppress him.

會敬達敗保晉安寨，延壽與德鈞往救，聞晉安已破，走團柏峪。 When Jingda was beaten back and held Jin'an stockade, Yanshou and Dejun marched to relieve him; learning that Jin'an had already fallen, they fled to Tuanbai Valley.

天顯十一年七月，唐遣張敬達、楊光遠帥師五十萬攻太原，勢銳甚。 In the seventh month of the eleventh year of Tianxian, Tang sent Zhang Jingda and Yang Guangyuan at the head of five hundred thousand men against Taiyuan; their advance was fierce.

九月，征兵出雁門，模翰與敬達軍接戰，敗之，太原圍解。 In the ninth month the army was levied and marched out through Yanmen Pass; Mohan engaged Jingda's force, routed it, and the siege of Taiyuan was raised.

敬達鼠竄晉安寨，模翰獻俘於帝。 Jingda scurried like a rat into Jin'an stockade; Mohan presented prisoners to the emperor.

會敬瑭自立為晉帝，光遠斬敬達以降，諸州悉下。 When Jingtang declared himself emperor of Jin, Guangyuan killed Jingda and surrendered, and every prefecture fell in line.

會石敬瑭起兵，唐主以礪為招討判官，從趙德鈞援張敬達於河東。 When Shi Jingtang rebelled, the Tang ruler made Li judge on the pacification campaign and sent him with Zhao Dejun to relieve Zhang Jingda in Hedong.

及敬達敗，礪入契丹。 After Jingda was defeated, Li went over to the Khitan.

History of Liao, Chapter 77Volume 77 Biographies 7: Yelu Wuzhi, Yelu Hou, Yelu Antuan, Yelu Wa, Yelu Tuiyu, Yelu Talie · 1 passage

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天顯末，帝援河東，窪為先鋒，敗張敬達軍於太原北。 Late in the Tianxian era the emperor marched to aid Hedong; Wa served as vanguard and defeated Zhang Jingda's army north of Taiyuan.

New History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 7Volume 7 Later Tang Annals 4: Deposed Emperors · 4 passages

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夏五月乙卯，建雄軍節度使張敬達為太原四面都招討使，義武軍節度使楊光遠為副。 On yimao of the fifth month, in summer, Zhang Jingda of Jianxiong became grand suppression commissioner for Taiyuan on every side, with Yang Guangyuan of Yiwu as his second.

九月甲辰，張敬達及契丹戰於太原，敗績，契丹圍敬達於晉安。 On jiachen of the ninth month Zhang Jingda met the Khitan at Taiyuan and was shattered; they penned him in at Jin’an.

閏月甲子，楊光遠殺張敬達，以其軍叛降於契丹。 On jiazi of the intercalary month Yang Guangyuan murdered Zhang Jingda and took his army over to the Khitan.

敬達不書死之而書「殺」者，敬達大將，宜以義責光遠而誅之，雖不果而見殺，猶為得死，乃諷光遠殺己以叛，故書之如其志。 Zhang Jingda is not said to have died for the cause but to have been “killed.” As a senior general, he should have rebuked Yang Guangyuan on grounds of duty and executed him; even if he had failed and been killed, that would still have been an honorable death. Instead he urged Guangyuan to kill him and rebel, so the text records the death according to his own intention.

New History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 8Volume 8 Later Jin Annals 1: Gaozu · 2 passages

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廢帝下詔削奪敬瑭官爵，命張敬達等討之，敬瑭求援於契丹。 Congke stripped his titles and sent Zhang Jingda against him. Jingtang turned to the Khitan.

九月，契丹耶律德光入自雁門，與唐兵戰，敬達大敗。 In the ninth month Yelü Deguang came through Yanmen Pass; the Tang forces under Jingda were shattered.

New History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 27Volume 27 Later Tang Biographies 7: Zhu Hongzhao, Liu Yanlang, Kang Sili, Kang Yicheng, Yao Yanchou · 1 passage

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廢帝幸懷州，遣思立將從駕騎兵出團柏谷救張敬達，未至，而敬達死，楊光遠降晉，思立疾，卒於道。 The emperor marched to Huaizhou and sent Sili with the imperial escort through Tuanbai Valley to relieve Zhang Jingda. Jingda died first; Yang Guangyuan surrendered to Jin. Sili fell ill and died on the march.

New History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 33Volume 33 Biographies of Martyrs to Service 13: Zhang Yuande, Xia Luqi, Yao Hong, Wang Sitong, Zhang Jingda, Di Jinzong, Shen Bin, Wang Qing, Shi Yanchao, Sun Cheng · 15 passages

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張敬達 Zhang Jingda

張敬達，字志通，代州人也，小字生鐵。 Zhang Jingda, courtesy name Zhitong, was from Daizhou; his childhood name was Raw Iron.

廢帝疑敬瑭有異志，乃以敬達為北面副總管，以分其兵。 The Deposed Emperor suspected Jingtang and made Jingda deputy northern commander to split his force.

明年夏，徙敬瑭鎮天平，遂以敬達為大同、彰國、振武、威塞等軍蕃漢馬步軍都部署，敬瑭因此遂反。 Next summer Jingtang was moved to Tianping; Jingda took his armies—and Jingtang rebelled.

即以敬達為太原四面招討使。 Jingda was at once made four-sided pacification commissioner of Taiyuan.

六月，兵圍太原，敬達為長城連柵，雲梯飛炮以攻之，所為城柵將成，輒有大風雨水暴至以壞之。 In the sixth month he besieged Taiyuan with linked ramparts, ladders, and catapults—yet whenever the works neared completion, storms smashed them.

敬達陣於西山，契丹以羸騎三千，革鞭木鐙，人馬皆不甲胄，以趨唐軍。 Jingda formed on the western hills; the Khitans sent three thousand unarmored horses with leather whips and wooden stirrups to charge the Tang line.

敬達收軍柵晉安，契丹圍之。 Jingda fell back to Jin’an; the Khitans besieged him.

契丹兵圍敬達者，自晉安寨南，長百餘里，闊五十里，敬達軍中望之，但見穹廬連屬如岡阜，四面亙以毛索，掛鈴為警，縱犬往來。 The Khitan ring around Jin’an ran a hundred li south of the stockade and fifty li wide; inside Jingda’s camp yurts rose like hills; raw ropes and bells guarded every side; dogs patrolled the lines.

敬達軍中有夜出者，輒為契丹所得，由是閉壁不敢復出。 Night sorties from Jingda’s camp were captured; thereafter the walls stayed shut.

延壽等皆有二心，無救敬達意。 Yanshou and the rest were half-hearted and had no will to save him.