Zhang Shicheng (張士誠)

Overview

Zhang Shicheng was a Rival Warlord.

PeriodYuan

IdentityHistorical · Male

Roles

Found in

Other names

Type	English	Chinese	Pinyin
Personal name	Shicheng	士诚	Shicheng
Childhood name	Zhang Jiusi	張九四	Zhang Jiusi

Life and dates

Attested activity

AD 1354 至正十四年
Dated from the passage context · History of Yuan 188, passages 223, 237
AD 1358 至正十八年
Strongly inferred · History of Yuan 139, passages 283, 286
AD 1360 to AD 1363 今
Dated from the passage context · History of Ming 135, passages 60, 69, 75-76, 80-81, 83-84, 88
AD 1358 to AD 1362 元末…時太祖已定寧越
Directly stated · History of Ming 135, passage 54
AD 1351 to AD 1367 元末至吳
Directly stated · History of Ming 140, passage 41
AD 1363 to AD 1368 天下用兵
Directly stated · History of Ming 135, passages 278-279

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AD 1356 to AD 1367 張士誠入吳
Dated from the passage context · History of Ming 298, passage 15
AD 1366 to AD 1367 徐達等下淮東、西
Dated from the passage context · History of Ming 135, passages 298, 302
AD 1363 明年
Dated from the passage context · History of Ming 122, passage 146
AD 1356 to AD 1367 至正中後期
Dated from the passage context · History of Yuan 145, passage 136

Family

Sibling of Zhang Shixin (張士信)
younger brother 弟 · Full siblings
Directly stated · History of Ming 298, passages 20, 39

Key source chapters

Career and standing

Declared
Usurped royal title
Directly stated · History of Yuan 145, passage 136
Entered
Surrendered
Directly stated · History of Yuan 139, passage 286

Places and affiliations

Polity Yuan 元 · Relation Nominally used name
Directly stated · History of Ming 135, passage 302
Polity Zhang Shicheng's Wu 張氏 · Relation Ruled
Directly stated · History of Ming 135, passage 75
Polity Id yuan · Relation Submitted to
Directly stated · History of Yuan 139, passage 286
At Hangzhou and Shaoxing 杭、紹 · Relation Controlled
Directly stated · History of Ming 135, passage 75
At Jiangnan 江南 · Relation Held
Directly stated · History of Ming 135, passage 278
At Nantong and Taizhou 通、泰 · Relation Controlled
Directly stated · History of Ming 135, passage 75

Show 3 more source-backed claims

At Pingjiang 平江 · Relation Stronghold
Directly stated · History of Ming 135, passages 75, 81
At Shaoxing 紹興 · Relation Key stronghold
Directly stated · History of Ming 135, passage 83
At Western Zhejiang 浙西 · Relation Held
Directly stated · History of Yuan 145, passage 136

Events and relationships

Contended in Jiangnan with the Founder
Political · Rival · With the Founder (太祖)
Directly stated · History of Ming 135, passage 278
Converted Suzhou yamen to palace
Political · Ruler
Directly stated · History of Ming 140, passage 41
Entered Wu
Military · Commander
Directly stated · History of Ming 298, passage 15
Planned object of the Founder
AD 1358 to AD 1362 元末…時太祖已定寧越 · Military rivalry · Target
Directly stated · History of Ming 135, passage 54
Pursued
Military · Pursuer · With Yuelubuhua (月魯不花)
Directly stated · History of Yuan 145, passage 138
Sent generals to guard Shaoxing
Military · Commander · At Shaoxing 紹興 · With Huang Zhong (黃中)
Directly stated · History of Yuan 188, passage 237

Show 3 more source-backed claims

Relation Sought to recruit · Person Ni Zan (倪瓚)
Directly stated · History of Ming 298, passage 38
Relation Sought to recruit · Person Zhang Jiefu (張介福)
Directly stated · History of Ming 298, passage 19
Relation Received report from · Person Huang Zhong (黃中)
Directly stated · History of Yuan 188, passage 237

Assessments and attributes

Assessment outwardly borrowed the Yuan name yet wavered between two sides · Mode named-person-speech Speaker the Founder (太祖)
Directly stated · History of Ming 135, passage 302
Assessment relies on treacherous schemes, favors spies, commands without discipline · Mode named-person-speech Speaker the Founder (太祖)
Directly stated · History of Ming 135, passage 279

Source notes

Value historical
Directly stated · History of Ming 135, passages 60, 278

References in the histories

Search passages

History

18 passages

History of Ming, Chapter 122Volume 122 Biographies 10: · 2 passages

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明年，張士誠將呂珍圍安豐，林兒告急于太祖。 The following year Zhang Shicheng's general Lü Zhen besieged Anfeng, and Lin'er appealed to the future emperor for help.

太祖曰：「安豐破則士誠益強。」 The future emperor said, "If Anfeng falls, Zhang Shicheng will grow stronger still."

History of Ming, Chapter 135Volume 135 Biographies 23: Chen Yu, Ye Dui, Fan Chang, Song Siyan, Guo Jingxiang, Yang Yuangao, Ruan Hongdao, Kong Keren · 8 passages

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時太祖已定寧越，規取張士誠、方國珍。 At that time the Founder had already secured Ningyue and was planning to seize Zhang Shicheng and Fang Guozhen.

今之規模，宜北絕李察罕，南並張九四。 The design for today should be to break off relations with Chaghan Temür in the north and absorb Zhang Shicheng in the south.

張氏傾覆可坐而待，淮東諸郡亦將來歸。 Zhang's fall can be awaited at leisure, and the commanderies east of the Huai will soon submit as well.

張九四之地，南包杭、紹，北跨通、泰，而以平江為巢穴。 Zhang Shicheng's territory runs south through Hangzhou and Shaoxing, north across Nantong and Taizhou, with Pingjiang as his stronghold.

張氏重鎮在紹興。 Zhang's chief stronghold lies at Shaoxing.

江南則惟我與張士誠耳。 In Jiangnan there are only Zhang Shicheng and myself.

士誠多奸謀，尚間諜，御眾無紀律。 Shicheng relies on treacherous schemes, favors spies, and commands his troops without discipline.

士誠外假元名，反覆兩端。 Shicheng outwardly borrowed the Yuan name yet wavered between two sides.

History of Ming, Chapter 140Volume 140 Biographies 28: Wei Guan, Tao Houzhong, Liu Shihuan, Wang Zongxian, Lu Wensui, Wang Guan, Dao Tong, Lu Xi, Qing Wensheng · 1 passage

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初，張士誠以蘇州舊治為宮，遷府治於都水行司。 Earlier, Zhang Shicheng had turned Suzhou's old government compound into a palace and relocated the prefectural offices to the waterways directorate.

History of Ming, Chapter 298Volume 298 Biographies 186: Recluses · 3 passages

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張士誠入吳，有卒犯其家，危坐不為起。 When Zhang Shicheng entered Wu, a soldier broke into his home, but Jiefu sat upright and would not rise.

士誠聞而欲致之，不可。 Shicheng heard of him and wished to bring him into service, but could not.

張士誠累欲鉤致之，逃漁舟以免。 Zhang Shicheng repeatedly tried to lure him into service, but he escaped aboard fishing boats to avoid capture.

History of Yuan, Chapter 139Volume 139 Biographies 26: Naimantai, Duo'erzhi, Duo'erzhiban, Alutu, Niudegai · 1 passage

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浙西张士诚既降，纽的该处置江南诸事，咸得其宜，士诚大服。 After Zhang Shicheng of Zhexi had submitted, Niudegai disposed of all matters south of the Yangtze fittingly; Shicheng was greatly impressed.

History of Yuan, Chapter 145Volume 145 Biographies 32: Yilianzhenban, Lianhuishanhaiya, Yuelubuhua, Dalimashili · 2 passages

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