Zhang Xian (張憲) | 24 Histories

Overview

Zhang Xian was a Later Tang Fiscal Commissioner.

Other names

Type	English	Chinese	Pinyin
Courtesy name	Yunzhong	允中	Yunzhong

Life and dates

Death

AD 926 天成元年夏四月
Granted death · Cause Lost his post
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 36, passage 20
AD 926 四月二十四日
granted death 賜死 · At Thousand Buddha Monastery in Jinyang 晉陽之千佛院
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 69, passage 62

Attested activity

AD 923 AD 923-925
Dated from the passage context · New History of the Five Dynasties 26, passage 50
AD 925 三年春
Dated from the passage context · Old History of the Five Dynasties 69, passage 26
AD 925 丙子
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 33, passage 168
AD 916 十三年
Dated from the passage context · Old History of the Five Dynasties 69, passage 11
AD 915 十二年
Dated from the passage context · Old History of the Five Dynasties 69, passage 10
AD 918 十五年
Dated from the passage context · Old History of the Five Dynasties 69, passage 12

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AD 923 同光初
Dated from the passage context · Old History of the Five Dynasties 73, passages 101, 106
AD 926 四年二月
Dated from the passage context · Old History of the Five Dynasties 69, passage 44
AD 926 四月二十四日
Dated from the passage context · Old History of the Five Dynasties 69, passage 62
AD 926 天成元年夏四月
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 36, passage 20
AD 923 張憲守魏州
Dated from the passage context · Old History of the Five Dynasties 57, passage 58

Family

Immediate relationships attested in the translated histories.

Parent of Shousu (守素)
eldest son 長子
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 69, passage 67
Kin of Lang (朗)
nephew 從子 · paternal line
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 69, passage 14
Parent of Ning (凝)
young son 幼子
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 69, passage 63

Key source chapters

Career and standing

acting Minister of Personnel 檢校吏部尚書
AD 925 丙子 · Appointed
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 33, passage 168
northern capital deputy regent in charge of regency 北京副留守、知留守事
AD 925 丙子 · Appointed
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 33, passage 168
Taiyuan prefect 太原尹
AD 925 丙子 · Appointed
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 33, passage 168
northern capital intendant 北京留守
AD 925 十一月 · Appointed
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 69, passage 43
deputy garrison commander of Ye 鄴都副留守
Appointed
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 73, passage 108
magistrate of Jiaocheng 交城令
Appointed
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 69, passage 8

Show 5 more source-backed claims

Xingtang prefect 興唐尹
AD 925 丙子 · Held
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 33, passage 168
Yedu deputy regent 鄴都副留守
AD 925 丙子 · Held
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 33, passage 168
Northern Capital deputy and acting military commissioner 北京副留守、知留守事
Held
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 36, passage 20
observation commissioner aide of Weibo 魏博觀察判官
Held
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 73, passage 106
Granted death
Execution
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 36, passage 20

Places and affiliations

Polity Jin (as prince) 晉 · Relation Served
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 69, passages 10-11
Polity Later Tang 後唐 · Relation Served
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 33, passage 168; Old History of the Five Dynasties 69, passage 22
At Jinyang 晉陽
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 69, passage 1
AD 925 丙子
At Taiyuan 太原 · Relation Posted to
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 33, passage 168

Learning and skills

Skill Zuo Commentary 左傳 · Level mastery
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 69, passage 3
Skill zither 彈琴
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 69, passage 66

Works and attributed material

Letter · Author · With Guo Chongtao (郭崇韜)
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 69, passage 36
Memorial · Author · With Emperor Zhuangzong of Later Tang (後唐莊宗)
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 69, passages 28-30
Speech · Speaker · With Guo Chongtao (郭崇韜)
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 69, passage 34
Speech · Speaker · With Zhang Zhao (張昭)
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 69, passage 57
Speech · Speaker · With Lang (朗)
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 69, passage 15
Speech · Speaker
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 69, passages 48-49, 54-55

Events and relationships

Beheaded Zhao Zaili envoy
AD 926 四年二月 · Political · Actor
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 69, passage 46
Fled Huliu
AD 918 十五年 · Military · Participant · At Huliu 胡柳
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 69, passages 12, 14
Transferred
AD 925 丙子 · Appointment · Appointee · At Taiyuan 太原
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 33, passage 168

Assessments and attributes

Assessment deep, calm, few desires; esteemed by scholar-friends · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 69, passages 65-66
Item family library of five thousand volumes 家書五千卷 · Relation Possessed
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 69, passage 65

Source notes

Historicity historical
Directly stated · Old History of the Five Dynasties 33, passage 168

References in the histories

Search passages

History

53 passages

Old History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 33Volume 33 Book of Later Tang 9: Zhuangzong Annals 7 · 1 passage

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以鄴都副留守、興唐尹張憲檢校吏部尚書、太原尹，充北京副留守、知留守事。 Zhang Xian—Yedu deputy regent and Xingtang prefect—became acting Personnel minister, Taiyuan prefect, and northern deputy regent in charge of regency.

Old History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 36Volume 36 Book of Later Tang 12: Mingzong Annals 2 · 1 passage

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是月，北京副留守、知留守事張憲賜死，以其失守故也。 That month Zhang Xian, Northern Capital deputy commissioner, was executed for losing his post.

Old History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 57Volume 57 Book of Later Tang 33: Biographies 9: Gao Chongtao · 2 passages

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乃留李紹宏及租庸使張憲守魏州，大軍自楊劉濟河。 He left Li Shaohong and Zhang Xian, Commissioner of Land Tax, to hold Weizhou, while the main force crossed the river from Yangliu.

如宰輔闕人，張憲有披榛之勞，為人謹重而多識。 If the chief ministers need filling, Zhang Xian cleared the thorns at the founding and is a man of gravity, prudence, and wide learning.

Old History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 69Volume 69 Book of Later Tang 45: Biographies 21: Zhang Xian, Wang Zhengyan, Hu Zhuang, Cui Yisun, Meng Hu, Sun Yue, Zhang Yanlang, Liu Yanhao, Liu Yanlang · 36 passages

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張憲，字允中，晉陽人，世以軍功為牙校。 Zhang Xian, styled Yunzhong, was a native of Jinyang. For generations his family had risen through military service to the rank of yaxiao.

憲始童丱，喜儒學，勵志橫經，不舍晝夜。 From childhood Xian delighted in Confucian learning, applying himself to mastering the classics day and night without respite.

太原地雄邊服，人多尚武，恥於學業，惟憲與里人藥縱之精力遊學，弱冠盡通諸經，尤精《左傳》。 Taiyuan lay in a powerful frontier region where men prized martial prowess and looked down on scholarly pursuits; only Xian and a townsman named Yao Zongzhi devoted their energies to travel and study. By his weak-capping year he had mastered all the classics, with particular mastery of the Zuo Commentary.

既辭，謂憲曰：「子勉之，將來必成佳器。」 When Xian took his leave, Li said to him, "Apply yourself diligently—you will surely become an outstanding talent in time."

莊宗為行軍司馬，廣延髦俊，素知憲名，令朱守殷齎書幣延之。 When Zhuangzong served as acting commander on campaign, he widely gathered eminent talents and, knowing Xian's reputation by name, had Zhu Shouyin bring letters and gifts to invite him.

十五年，王師戰胡柳，周德威軍不利，憲與同列奔馬北渡； In the fifteenth year the imperial army fought at Huliu; Zhou Dewei's army fared ill, and Xian fled north across the river with his colleagues on horseback;

至晚渡河，人皆陷水而沒，憲與從子朗履冰而行； Toward evening they crossed the river; many men sank in the water and drowned. Xian and his nephew Lang walked on the ice;

將及岸，冰陷，朗泣，以馬箠引之，憲曰：「吾兒去矣，勿使俱陷。」 As they neared the bank the ice gave way. Lang wept; Xian pulled him with a riding crop and said, "My boy, go on—do not let us both fall in."

朗偃伏引箠，憲躍身而出。 Lang lay prostrate and held out the crop; Xian leapt free.

是夜，莊宗令於軍中求憲，或曰：「與王緘俱歿矣！」 That night Zhuangzong ordered a search for Xian in the army; someone said, "He perished together with Wang Jian!"

莊宗遷洛陽，以憲檢校吏部尚書、興唐尹、東京副留守，知留守事。 When Zhuangzong moved to Luoyang, Xian was made acting minister of personnel, prefect of Xingtang, deputy eastern capital intendant, and given charge of the intendant's affairs.

憲學識優深，尤精吏道，剖析聽斷，人不敢欺。 Xian's learning was superior and profound; he was especially skilled in administrative practice, dissecting cases in judgment and hearing, and no one dared deceive him.

憲奏曰：「即位壇是陛下祭接天神受命之所，自風燥雨濡之外，不可輒毀，亦不可修。 Xian memorialized, "The accession altar is where Your Majesty sacrificed to receive Heaven's mandate; apart from wind-drying or rain-soaking, it must not be casually destroyed, nor may it be repaired.

會憲以公事獲謫，閣門待罪，上怒，戒有司速治行宮之庭，礙事者畢去，竟毀即位壇。 It happened that Xian was demoted for an official matter and waited at the gate for punishment. The emperor was angry and ordered the authorities to quickly prepare the traveling palace courtyard; whatever obstructed the matter was removed, and in the end the accession altar was destroyed.

憲私謂郭崇韜曰：「不祥之甚，忽其本也。」 Xian privately told Guo Chongtao, "This is most inauspicious—neglecting the root."

秋，崇韜將兵征蜀，以手書告憲曰：「允中避事久矣，餘受命西征，已奏還公黃閣。」 In autumn Chongtao was leading troops to campaign in Shu and wrote Xian by hand, "Yunzhong has long avoided affairs; I have received orders for the western campaign and have already memorialized to return you to the Yellow Pavilion."

憲報曰：「庖人之代屍祝，所謂非吾事也。」 Xian replied, "For the cook to stand in for the invocator of the dead—this is what is called not my affair."

時樞密承旨段徊當權任事，以憲從龍舊望，不欲憲在朝廷。 At that time Duan Huai, chief drafter of the Bureau of Military Affairs, held power and managed affairs; because of Xian's old prestige as a follower of the dragon, he did not want Xian at court.

今之取才，非憲不可。」 for selecting talent today, none but Xian will do."

又曰：「憲有相業，然國祚中興，宰相在天子麵前，得失可以改作； He also said, "Xian has the makings of a chief minister, yet with the dynasty's fortunes reviving, a chancellor stands before the Son of Heaven and gains and losses can be revised;

十一月，授憲銀青光祿大夫、檢校吏部尚書、太原尹、北京留守，知府事。 In the eleventh month Xian was appointed Silver Brightness Grand Master of the Palace, acting minister of personnel, prefect of Taiyuan, northern capital intendant, and given charge of prefectural affairs.

時憲家屬在魏，關東俶擾，在禮善待其家，遣人齎書至太原誘憲。 At that time Xian's family were in Wei; the east of the Pass was suddenly in turmoil. Zaili treated his family well and sent a man bearing a letter to Taiyuan to entice Xian.

憲斬其使，書不發函而奏。 Xian beheaded the envoy, did not open the letter's seal, and memorialized about it.

既而明宗為兵眾所劫，諸軍離散，地遠不知事實，或謂憲曰：「蜀軍未至，洛陽窘急，總管又失兵權，製在諸軍之手，又聞河朔推戴，事若實然，或可濟否？」 Soon afterward Mingzong was seized by the troops, the armies scattered, and being far away they did not know the facts. Someone said to Xian, "The Shu army has not arrived; Luoyang is in dire straits; the chief commander has also lost military authority—control is in the hands of the armies. We also hear that Hebei is pushing for enthronement. If matters are indeed so, might it perhaps succeed?"

憲曰：「治亂之機，間不容發，以愚所斷，事未可知。 Xian said, "The pivot of order and chaos admits no interval; as I judge it in my folly, the outcome is not yet known.

憲良久曰：「吾本書生，無軍功而致身及此，一旦自布衣而紆金紫，向來仕宦非出他門，此畫非吾心也。 Xian was silent a long while and said, "I was originally a scholar; without military achievement I have reached this position. In a single day I went from common cloth to gold and purple. My official career has never come through another gate—this plan is not in my heart.

〈（《東都事略·張昭傳》：昭勸憲奉表明宗以勸進，憲曰：「吾書生也，天子委以保厘之任，吾豈苟生者乎！」 (Eastern Capital Epitome, Biography of Zhang Zhao: Zhao urged Xian to submit a memorial to Mingzong to urge his advance to the throne. Xian said, "I am a scholar. The Son of Heaven entrusted me with the charge of guarding and comforting the region—how could I cling to life!"

憲既死，論者以昭能成憲之節。）〉 After Xian died, commentators held that Zhao had been able to bring Xian's integrity to completion.)〉

憲初聞有變，出奔沂州。 When Xian first heard of the disturbance he fled to Yizhou.

明宗郊禮大赦，有司請昭雪，從之。 When Mingzong performed the suburban sacrifice and proclaimed a great amnesty, the authorities requested that Xian be cleared, and it was granted.

憲沈靜寡欲，喜聚圖書，家書五千卷，視事之餘，手自刊校。 Xian was deep and calm, with few desires; he loved to collect books and had five thousand volumes in his family library. In the intervals of conducting affairs he personally collated and proofread them.

時孔謙為租庸副使，常畏張憲挺特，不欲其領使，乃白郭崇韜留憲於魏州，請宰相豆盧革判租庸。 At that time Kong Qian was deputy commissioner of transport and corvée tax; he often feared Zhang Xian's uprightness and did not want him to head the commission, so he told Guo Chongtao to keep Xian at Weizhou and asked the chancellor Dou Luge to take charge of transport and corvée.

李紹宏曰：「邦計國本，時號怨府，非張憲不稱職。」 Li Shaohong said, "State revenue is the root of the realm; it is called the office of complaints—none but Zhang Xian is fit for the post."

張憲才器兼濟，宜以委之。」 Zhang Xian's talent and capacity are comprehensive—he should be entrusted with it."

崇韜即奏憲留守魏州，征王正言為租庸使。 Chongtao immediately memorialized that Xian remain intendant at Weizhou and summoned Wang Zhengyan as commissioner of transport and corvée.

三年冬，代張憲為興唐尹，留守鄴都。 In the winter of the third year he replaced Zhang Xian as prefect of Xingtang and remained intendant at Yedu.

Old History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 73Volume 73 Book of Later Tang 49: Biographies 25: Mao Zhang, Nie Yu, Wen Tao, Duan Ning, Kong Qian, Li Ye · 6 passages

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樞密使郭崇韜舉魏博觀察判官張憲為租庸使，以謙為副，謙悒然不樂者久之。 Guo Chongtao, director of the Bureau of Military Affairs, recommended Zhang Xian, observation commissioner aide of Weibo, as commissioner of taxation and corvée and made Qian his deputy. Qian remained displeased for a long time.

帝既平梁汴，謙徑自魏州馳之行在，因謂崇韜曰：「魏都重地，須大臣彈壓，以謙籌之，非張憲不可。」 After the emperor had pacified Liang and Bian, Qian raced directly from Weizhou to the imperial camp and told Chongtao, "Ye is a critical territory and requires a senior minister to keep order. As I see it, no one but Zhang Xian will do."

崇韜以為忠告，即奏憲為鄴都副留守，乃命宰臣豆盧革專判租庸。 Chongtao took this as sincere counsel, immediately memorialized Zhang Xian as deputy garrison commander of Ye, and ordered chief minister Dou Lüge to oversee taxation and corvée exclusively.

崇韜曰：「孔謙雖久掌貨泉，然物議未當居大任，以臣所見，當委張憲為便。」 Chongtao said, "Although Kong Qian has long managed fiscal affairs, public opinion holds that he should not yet hold great responsibility. In my view Zhang Xian would be the better choice."

憲性精辨，為趨時者所忌，人不祐之。 Zhang was by nature sharp and discerning; those who curried favor resented him, and no one came to his support.

興唐尹王正言無裨益之才，徒有獨行，詔書既征張憲，復以何人為代？」 Xingtang prefect Wang Zhengyan lacks talent of real use and possesses only a reputation for integrity. Now that an edict has summoned Zhang Xian, who is to replace him?"

New History of the Five Dynasties, Chapter 26Volume 26 Later Tang Biographies 6: Fu Xi, Wu Zhen, Kong Qian, Zhang Yanlang, Li Yan, Li Renju, Mao Zhang · 7 passages

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莊宗初建大號，謙自謂當為租庸使，而郭崇韜用魏博觀察使判官張憲為使，以謙為副。 When Zhuangzong took the imperial title, Qian expected to become grain-and-corvée commissioner. Guo Chongtao instead made Zhang Xian, secretary to the Weibo observation commissioner, commissioner—with Qian as his deputy.

既而莊宗滅梁，謙從入汴，謂崇韜曰：「鄴，北都也，宜得重人鎮之，非張憲不可。」 When Zhuangzong destroyed Liang and entered Bian, Qian told Chongtao: “Ye is the northern capital and needs a heavy hand. Only Zhang Xian will do.”

崇韜以為然，因以憲留守北都，而以宰相豆盧革判租庸。 Chongtao agreed. He left Xian at the northern capital and put Chief Minister Dou Lu’ge over grain and corvée.

崇韜曰：「孔謙雖長於金谷，而物議未可居大任，不若復用張憲。」 Chongtao said, “Kong Qian knows the ledgers, but men say he is unfit for high office. Better to recall Zhang Xian.”

乃趣召憲。 They hurried a summons to Xian.

憲為人明辯，人頗忌之，謙因乘間謂革曰：「租庸錢谷，悉在目前，委一小吏可辦。 Xian was sharp-tongued and clear-minded, and many resented him. Qian seized the moment and told Ge, “The grain money is all here in the office. A petty clerk could run it.

革以語崇韜，崇韜罷憲不召，以興唐尹王正言為租庸使。 Ge repeated this to Chongtao. Chongtao dropped the recall and made Xingtang governor Wang Zhengyan grain-and-corvée commissioner.